The digital euro: no usage restrictions nor costs for the general public
20/01/2026
As noted in other Bank Customer Portal publicationsAbre en ventana nueva, the digital euro would be a new form of money issued by the European Central Bank, designed to help you make payments easily and securely, just like cash, but in a digital format.
Some people wonder if the digital euro would be programmable money, i.e. whether someone other than you could decide on what, when and how you spend your money. The answer is a resounding no. You would continue to have full control over your money.
Programmable money is a form of digital money that can only be used for a predefined purpose, like a voucher, with limitations as to when and where it can be used. A good example of programmable money is a restaurant card, which allows you to pay in restaurants or certain food outlets.
However, the digital euro is designed to work like cash: you decide how and when you use it, as freely as you use normal banknotes and coins, only in a digital version.
When we talk about the digital euro’s programmability, we refer to the possibility of making conditional payments. For instance, the digital euro could allow the money for an online purchase to be transferred only when you receive the item you bought. This does not mean the digital euro would be programmable money, but rather that it would enable more secure and convenient payment options for users.
Another common question is whether fees or commissions would be charged for its use. As a public good, it would be free for basic use by individual users.
Banks and payment service providers could offer their customers additional, paid services. Such value-added services, like conditional payments, could make the digital euro more attractive to users and allow them to shop more safely online.
In sum, the digital euro will not be programmable money and you will be able to use it freely. In addition, basic services will be free of charge for the general public.
You can find more information about the digital euro in this section of the Banco de España website.Abre en ventana nueva
