The European Central Bank (ECB) argues that Europe must reduce its reliance on non-European payment providers amidst rising e-commerce and geopolitical tensions. ECB executive board member Piero Cipollone stated that a digital euro would provide a sovereign payment infrastructure, allowing citizens to pay digitally with central bank-issued money as they do with physical cash. Currently, two-thirds of card transactions in the eurozone are governed by non-European companies, and the ECB aims to strengthen European autonomy by offering a pan-European digital payment solution that is resilient, cost-effective, and independent of foreign infrastructure.