ECB Says Digital Euro Pilot Will Bring 36 Payment Providers Into 2027 Testing
Summary
The European Central Bank selected 36 payment providers from more than 50 applicants for a planned digital euro pilot starting in the second half of 2027 and lasting 12 months. Testing will cover the payment ecosystem, including wallets, merchant acceptance, integration, usability, resilience and security. The pilot is not approval to issue a digital euro: legislation and a separate issuance decision remain outstanding. The ECB says a first issuance could come in 2029 if the legislative timetable proceeds as expected. The project could shape how a public digital currency relates to private stablecoins and payment services.
