ECB Seeks Merchants for 2027 Digital Euro Pilot

The European Central Bank (ECB) is inviting online and mobile merchants to participate in a 12-month pilot of the digital euro, which is expected to begin in the second half of 2027.

The ECB announced that e-commerce and mobile-commerce businesses operating within the euro area can submit applications until Oct. 27. Selected merchants will accept beta digital euro payments in remote commerce settings and explore how the currency could be incorporated into their existing checkout processes.

Digital Euro pilot to test payments and user experience

The pilot will evaluate several aspects of the digital euro, including user experience, technical performance and operational processes. According to the ECB, the beta version used during the trial will closely resemble the digital euro outlined in draft EU legislation. However, it will not have legal tender status during the testing period.

Participation will be voluntary and unpaid. Applicants will be evaluated based on factors including their market reach, operational preparedness and overall suitability for the pilot. Selected merchants will also need to establish or adapt a relationship with one of the payment service providers participating in the trial.

Revolut, Stripe and major banks join pilot

In July, the ECB selected 36 payment service providers from a pool of more than 50 applicants to participate in the digital euro pilot. The group includes Revolut, Stripe, Deutsche Bank and UniCredit. Participating companies have been assigned roles involving user access, merchant acceptance or a combination of both. Their involvement will help the ECB test how the digital euro could function across different payment environments and integrate with existing financial infrastructure.

Feedback to shape digital Euro design

Feedback from participating merchants will be used to inform future design decisions for the digital euro. The pilot does not mean that the ECB has made a final decision to issue the currency. According to the central bank, any decision to launch a digital euro will only be taken after the necessary European Union legislation has been adopted.

Sources:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/ecb-online-merchants-2027-digital-euro-pilot

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/intro/news/html/ecb.mipnews260915.sl.html