On Oct. 30, in a paper released by the Association of German Banks (Bankenverband), which represents more than 200 private commercial banks and eleven member associations, banks stated that the "economy needs a programmable digital euro."

Monetary policy is the state's responsibility, says Bankenverband

The paper states that the responsibility for the monetary system lies with sovereign nation-states and that any currency provided by banks or private companies must fit into a state-determined system. "Anything else would ultimately lead to chaos and instability," the paper reads.

The banks make the case for a cryptography-based digital euro which, they state, should be created on the condition that a concurrent, common, pan-European payments platform is also established, further adding:

"The user of a digital euro – whether man or machine – must be clearly identifiable. This requires a European or, better still, a global identity standard. With every form of digital money, customers should be identified using a standard that is just as strict as that which banks and other obligated entities are required to apply under current legal framework pursuing the combat against money laundering and terrorist financing."