In Brussels, during final negotiations on the digital euro, Italy has put forward a proposal that could be a game-changer for small merchants: fees for transactions up to 10 euros would be almost eliminated. Instead of the usual percentages, a maximum of 0,02 euros or no fee at all. This is not just a technical detail, but an attempt to make the new form of money attractive precisely where traditional payment systems hit the wallet hardest.
The digital euro, which the ECB plans to launch no earlier than 2029, is intended as a complement to cash, not a replacement. Basic operations for citizens should be free, but intermediaries—banks and terminals—usually charge merchants. For small businesses, where dozens of small purchases occur daily, even small fees eat into a noticeable portion of margins. Italy, citing ECB data, points out that small shops have payment processing costs three to four times higher than large chains.
The proposal is supported by the European Central Bank. It fits into the overall strategy of reducing Europe's dependence on American giants Visa and Mastercard. If small payments become truly cheap or free, the digital euro will more quickly enter the daily lives of cafes, newsstands, and street vendors—the very places that shape the character of European cities.
Behind this is not only concern for small businesses. States are interested in accelerating CBDC adoption to maintain control over payment infrastructure and reduce the outflow of fees abroad. Banks, on the other hand, fear losing revenue from traditional cards. A compromise in the form of a symbolic fee of two cents looks like an attempt to balance interests: not completely zeroing it out, but making the effect close to zero.
The analogy is simple: imagine a river where small streams feed a large flow. If you place a toll gate on each stream, the water will bypass it. By removing or lowering the toll on small sections, you can direct the entire flow into the desired channel—in this case, into the European digital currency.
For now, this is only a proposal within the trilogue between the Council of the EU, the European Parliament, and the Commission. The final decision will determine how much the digital euro becomes a real alternative to cash and cards for everyday spending. For the average buyer and seller, a difference of a few cents on a cup of coffee could prove decisive.
