The German Bundesbank has launched a nationwide event series, “Bits & Bargeld – how will we pay tomorrow?”, to engage citizens, retailers and businesses in discussions on the future of payments across Germany. The programme is positioned against pressures on payments from digitalisation, geopolitical developments and changing consumer behaviour, including rising online shopping and declining cash use at physical checkouts. Executive Board member Burkhard Balz linked the debate to the European Central Bank and Eurosystem work on introducing a digital euro, describing it as a simple, secure and free way to pay across borders that would complement euro cash while preserving consumer choice. The series opens with a panel discussion on 13 March 2025 in Heidelberg featuring Balz, Baden-Württemberg Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz and dm-drogerie markt executive Martin Dallmeier, moderated by journalist Sissi Hajtmanek, with audience questions, followed by an event on 14 May 2025 at the Bundesbank branch in Chemnitz as part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 programme.

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