Inetum, a leading European digital services company, has been selected by the Bank of Spain as its technology consultant to support them in the development of initiatives related to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), including the Digital Euro.  

The project involves reinforcing the Bank of Spain's business team in the design and implementation of the Digital Euro platform, as well as in the experimentation, research, and deployment of technological solutions for wholesale initiatives, such as Pontes and Appia. 

At a recent event on the Digital Euro, held at the Bank of Spain, Juan Ayuso, Director General of Operations, Markets, and Payment Systems at the institution, highlighted that our monetary system is based on the coexistence of two types of assets: money issued by the central bank and private money. In his opinion, this model has proven to be robust and reliable and, as such, requires central banks to work to adapt it to the needs of an increasingly digital society so that we can continue to benefit from it. 

“At Inetum,” says Ion Ander Bordonaba, CEO of Inetum in Spain, “we are proud to be supporting the Bank of Spain in this process, which allows us to fulfill our purpose of putting technology at the service of society. Furthermore, our track record of more than 25 years working with the institution reflects our commitment to excellence and to the financial sector.”  

Inetum brings its expertise in payment methods, innovation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, working closely with the Bank of Spain to ensure secure and efficient implementation, as well as compliance with other specific requirements, such as citizen privacy in the Digital Euro. In addition to participating in project management and technical and functional consulting, Inetum will provide operational support, governance mechanisms, and documentation to ensure continuity of knowledge.  

Inetum is supported by Laminar (laminarpay.com), a company specialized in digital assets and financial infrastructure, which provides a team committed to transforming global markets through the design, development and operation of advanced payment, issuance and value settlement architectures. This collaboration reinforces and complements Inetum's value proposition.

The Digital Euro is designed as an electronic form of cash, complementary to physical money, which will allow citizens to make digital payments with complete security, privacy, and accessibility throughout the euro area. Its development responds to the need to update the European payment system to an increasingly digitized society, reducing dependence on international providers and strengthening European monetary sovereignty. 

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced the start of a new phase in the development of the Digital Euro, following the successful completion of the preparatory stage that began in 2023. This decision marks a decisive step towards a possible issuance of the Digital Euro in 2029, subject to legislative approval expected in 2026.

About Inetum 

Inetum is a European leader in digital services. Inetum’s team of 27,000 consultants and specialists strive every day to make a digital impact for businesses, public sector entities and society. Inetum’s solutions aim at contributing to its clients’ performance and innovation as well as the common good. Present in 19 countries with a dense network of sites, Inetum partners with major software publishers to meet the challenges of digital transformation with proximity and flexibility. Driven by its ambition for growth and scale, Inetum generated sales of 2.4 billion euros in 2024. For more information: www.inetum.com