The Global Crypto Race Is Leaving a Divided Europe Behind

When Christine Lagarde addressed a central bank conference late last year, her frustration was clear. Europe had been debating a digital euro for years, but it was still nowhere close to being done.

Progress was so slow that it was likely her eight-year term would be up before the project saw the light of day. “This is too long,” she said. “We don’t want to be left in the dust.”