European Central Bank invites e-commerce platforms to trial digital euro in 2027
Euro-area online and mobile commerce businesses are being called upon by the ECB to participate in a year-long testing phase for digital euro payments beginning in 2027.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced it is looking for merchants operating in the online and mobile commerce sectors to take part in a year-long pilot program for the digital euro, which is anticipated to launch during the latter half of 2027.
In an announcement made on Tuesday, the ECB revealed that businesses involved in e-commerce and mobile-commerce activities within the euro area have the opportunity to submit applications through Oct. 27. Those chosen for the program will integrate beta versions of digital euro payment capabilities into remote shopping platforms and evaluate how the digital currency could be incorporated into existing checkout workflows.
The testing initiative will evaluate aspects including user experience, the technical performance, and the operational workflows associated with the digital euro. According to the ECB, the beta iteration will closely resemble the currency outlined in draft legislative proposals, though it will not carry legal tender designation.
The ECB has stated that involvement in the program will be on a voluntary, unpaid basis, with candidate selection based on criteria including their market presence, operational capabilities, and overall fit for the program. Those who are accepted into the pilot must also create or modify an existing partnership with a payment service provider that is participating in the initiative.
During July, the ECB made its selection of 36 payment service providers from a pool exceeding 50 applications. Major names in the selected cohort include Revolut, Stripe, Deutsche Bank and UniCredit, with each participant designated to facilitate either user access capabilities, merchant acceptance features, or both functionalities.
The ECB has indicated that input received from participating merchants will play a role in shaping design choices. Any conclusive determination regarding the issuance of a digital euro will only occur following the formal adoption of the corresponding EU legislative framework.