ECB Invites Online Merchants to Test Digital Euro Pilot Program
The European Central Bank (ECB) is inviting online and mobile commerce merchants across the euro area to participate in a digital euro pilot program. This follows the earlier selection of payment service providers for the exercise.
Selected merchants will test a beta version of the digital euro, which closely resembles the proposed version under draft EU legislation but does not carry legal tender status. The pilot aims to evaluate the technical functionality, operational processes, and user experience of the digital euro in real e-commerce and m-commerce settings.
The ECB has announced that the pilot will begin in the second half of 2027 and run for 12 months. Participating merchants must sign a participation agreement with the ECB and work with a payment provider that can accept digital euro payments on their behalf. The program is voluntary and unpaid, and more details on how to apply are available on the ECB's website.