ECB selects 36 providers for digital euro pilot

The European Central Bank has selected 36 payment service providers to participate in a large-scale pilot program for a digital euro, marking a significant step toward the potential launch of a central bank digital currency. The yearlong pilot is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027 and will involve testing the currency's infrastructure with staff from the ECB and 19 national central banks.

Selected from more than 50 applicants across the euro area, the participants include a mix of traditional banks, digital banks, and payment companies. Confirmed participants include Deutsche Bank, UniCredit, Revolut, Adyen, Stripe, SumUp, and Worldline. The pilot will test a beta version of the digital euro in real-world scenarios, including online and offline person-to-person transfers, in-store payments, and e-commerce transactions. Selected restaurants, cafeterias, and online merchants will accept payments during the testing phase.

ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone stated that the strong market interest demonstrates the private sector's readiness to help shape the project. The pilot is intended to assess technical infrastructure, operational processes, and user experience...