Christine Lagarde

Money Moves

Announced departure for February 7, 2027

Christine Lagarde will leave the European Central Bank on February 7, 2027, about nine months before her term was set to end. She announced the early departure on Thursday, saying she wants freedom to speak and act on matters beyond monetary policy.

Updated 39 minutes ago

Money Moves

Deciding whether to hike again at October 29 meeting

Eurozone inflation hit 3.8% in September, a three-year high, with energy prices up 18.8% as the Iran war disrupts fuel supplies. ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane called the shock "mid-sized" and backed a measured response, citing contained spillovers and moderate wage deals.

Updated Oct 14

Rule Changes

Chairs the Governing Council that approved the 2026 framework changes

The European Central Bank is rebuilding how the euro area's money moves. In late September 2026, its Governing Council approved a stricter collateral framework, switched on Pontes, a system that settles tokenised assets in central bank money, and expanded the digital euro pilot to merchants.

Updated Oct 12

New Capabilities

Oversees the Eurosystem's tokenization strategy

The European Central Bank switched on a new settlement system Monday for tokenized securities. Pontes links commercial blockchain platforms to TARGET, the Eurosystem's payment backbone, so trades settle in central bank reserves rather than a private ledger's own token.

Updated Sep 22

Money Moves

Weighing a September rate hike

The European Central Bank spent early 2026 cutting interest rates. An oil shock, and now a surprise growth spurt, have flipped its direction toward another hike.

Updated Jul 31

Rule Changes

Leading the ECB's turn from cutting to hiking

The European Central Bank cut interest rates for two years. On Thursday it reversed, raising its key deposit rate to 2.25% from 2.0%. It is the first hike since September 2023.

Updated Jun 11

Rule Changes

Welcomed Bulgaria as 21st eurozone member; presided over ECB expansion

Bulgaria became the 21st eurozone member on January 1, 2026, replacing the lev at a fixed rate of 1.95583 per euro. Euro banknotes and coins began circulating at midnight, ending nearly three decades under a currency board.

Updated May 19