EU must keep ahead of digital currency curve, says top EU official

The European Union cannot afford to be "behind the curve" in moves by central banks to issue digital versions of their currency, a top EU official said on Wednesday. The euro is the world's second most traded currency, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference to propose a legal underpinning for a digital euro if the European Central Bank decides in October to issue one.

"It's not an area we can afford to stay behind the curve," Dombrovskis said.