ECB Digital Euro Pilot Seeks Online Merchants for Beta Test

The European Central Bank (ECB) has opened applications for online and mobile merchants to test its digital euro in a 12-month pilot. The move marks a significant step towards making the digital euro a reality.

Merchants who participate in the pilot will need to add a dedicated checkout flow and work with an acquiring pilot Payment Service Provider (PSP). The PSPs will provide acceptance tools, onboarding, integration guidance, and operational support.

The ECB aims to test whether the beta digital euro can be integrated into existing payment journeys without creating excessive merchant friction. Merchants will report on their experience, including setup work, payment performance, customer experience, support needs, and operational burden.