Isabel Schnabel

Stories

ECB president Lagarde to step down in February, nine months early

Leaving January 3, 2027, for the IMF

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 1 hour ago

ECB revamps collateral rules, launches tokenised settlement pilot

Rule Changes

Announced resignation effective 3 January 2027; will take a senior IMF role

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