“I am looking forward to answering your questions for the next 45 minutes or so,” said Isabel Schnabel, an executive board member of the European Central Bank, on 10 January 2024. She was welcoming public questions live on the ECB’s handle on social media platform X. Photo: Twitter

“I am looking forward to answering your questions for the next 45 minutes or so,” said Isabel Schnabel, an executive board member of the European Central Bank, on 10 January 2024. She was welcoming public questions live on the ECB’s handle on social media platform X. Photo: Twitter

During a live Q&A session on X, previously known as Twitter, Isabel Schnabel, an executive board member of the European Central Bank, surprised Delano’s editorial team by answering some unexpected questions. Here are 5 questions that really caught our attention, along with her replies.

“Hi all, this is @Isabel_Schnabel, executive board member at the ECB. I am looking forward to answering your questions for the next 45 minutes or so. Please join our conversation! #AskECB,” European Central Bank executive board member Isabel Schnabel on social media platform X on Wednesday afternoon.

Schnabel engaged with over 40 questions, some of which were surprisingly unconventional. Here’s a rundown of the top five that stood out:

Topping our list is this intriguing : “When will the ECB start buying bitcoin for its balance sheet?” Schnabel’s response was, “The ECB is very unlikely to ever buy Bitcoin.”

Previously, a user on X , “Do you think the Bitcoin ist better as the Euro CBDC? If not, why?” [sic]. Schnabel’s answer was, “The digital euro is public money issued directly by the European Central Bank. Bitcoin is different – it is a speculative asset that does not fulfil the characteristics of money.”

Another that raised Delano’s eyebrows was, “How is it the ECB, exactly like the EU, wields so much power for NOT be elected by ANYONE?”, with Schnabel’s reply being, “Elected governments decided that central bank independence is the best way to ensure price stability. The ECB must always act within its mandate and is accountable to the European Parliament.”

The , “Are there IT jobs available at the ECB,” also caught the newsroom off guard, to which Schnabel’s response was, “Yes, we are frequently looking for IT experts. Check out our vacancies ”, which may prove to be an effective recruitment technique.

Lastly, Schnabel was also , “Also, how far can BVB go in the Champions League this season?”, referring to the German football team Borussia Dortmund,  to which she cheerfully responded, “All the way!”

Concluding the event, Schnabel , “Time to wrap up for today. Many thanks for your questions – I really enjoyed our chat! Take care,” after 1 hour and 45 minutes. Indeed a lot of people enjoyed, including us.

This session was certainly enlightening and showcased a different side of the ECB’s engagement with the public.

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