The European Central Bank (ECB) selects 36 payment service providers to participate in a digital euro trial. According to multiple reports, the ECB’s next phase involves testing a beta version of a digital euro, with participation from banks and payment providers such as Deutsche Bank, Revolut, and UniCredit. The ECB will work with its own central bank staff as users, alongside the selected firms, to evaluate how the digital euro could function in real payment settings.
The pilot is designed to test the digital euro across several payment channels, including online transactions, offline payments, in-store payments, and e-commerce. The selection follows a larger pool of applicants, with reports indicating the project attracted more than 50 applications before the ECB chose the final group of providers.
The ECB’s broader timeline aims toward a pilot phase beginning in or around 2027, though the selected firms are participating now to support preparation and technical and operational testing.
