FRANKFURT: Euro zone citizens expect the European Central Bank's proposed digital euro to be private, safe and cheap, an ECB survey showed on Wednesday.

"What the respondents want most from a digital euro is privacy (43%), security (18%), usability across the euro area (11%), the absence of additional costs (9%) and offline use (8%)," the ECB said in a report presenting the results of its consultation.

The ECB is working on creating an electronic form of cash to complement banknotes and coin but a digital euro is unlikely to be a reality for four to five years at a minimum.