BCE: the large-scale test of the digital euro is being prepared for 2027
The European Central Bank is moving on to merchants. Starting September 15, it will accept applications from e-commerce and mobile commerce companies to test the digital euro. The pilot will begin in the second half of 2027 and last 12 months. It will bring together merchants, banks, payment providers, and members of the Eurosystem. A possible issuance is planned for 2029, provided the European legislative framework is adopted.
Merchants can apply until October 27, 2026.
The pilot will last one year starting in the second half of 2027.
The ECB has already selected 36 payment service providers.
The ECB is now looking for merchants
The project had already cleared an initial stage in July. The ECB then selected 36 payment service providers, after receiving more than 50 applications. Since then, banks and non-bank players have been preparing the necessary infrastructure for the pilot. Cointribune detailed this selection in its article about the 36 partners chosen to test the digital euro.
Now the missing piece is merchants. The ECB is targeting companies that sell online or through mobile applications in the euro area. Candidates have until October 27 at 5:00 p.m. CET to submit their application. An information session is scheduled for October 6.
Selected companies will have to accept payments with the digital euro’s beta version. They will work with one of the providers already selected by the Eurosystem. The ECB will pay particular attention to their market presence, operational capability, and their ability to integrate the new means of payment.
The test will no longer be limited to checking code. A purchase will be carried out. A merchant must receive it. A refund may be processed. And teams will be able to observe where the bottlenecks occur.
$BCEM.ETF
$ELON
$TRAX.US
#BCE
The European Central Bank is moving on to merchants. Starting September 15, it will accept applications from e-commerce and mobile commerce companies to test the digital euro. The pilot will begin in the second half of 2027 and last 12 months. It will bring together merchants, banks, payment providers, and members of the Eurosystem. A possible issuance is planned for 2029, provided the European legislative framework is adopted.
Merchants can apply until October 27, 2026.
The pilot will last one year starting in the second half of 2027.
The ECB has already selected 36 payment service providers.
The ECB is now looking for merchants
The project had already cleared an initial stage in July. The ECB then selected 36 payment service providers, after receiving more than 50 applications. Since then, banks and non-bank players have been preparing the necessary infrastructure for the pilot. Cointribune detailed this selection in its article about the 36 partners chosen to test the digital euro.
Now the missing piece is merchants. The ECB is targeting companies that sell online or through mobile applications in the euro area. Candidates have until October 27 at 5:00 p.m. CET to submit their application. An information session is scheduled for October 6.
Selected companies will have to accept payments with the digital euro’s beta version. They will work with one of the providers already selected by the Eurosystem. The ECB will pay particular attention to their market presence, operational capability, and their ability to integrate the new means of payment.
The test will no longer be limited to checking code. A purchase will be carried out. A merchant must receive it. A refund may be processed. And teams will be able to observe where the bottlenecks occur.
$BCEM.ETF
$ELON
$TRAX.US
#BCE
