ECB Opens Digital Euro Pilot to E-Commerce Merchants
The European Central Bank (ECB) has opened a digital euro pilot to e-commerce merchants, expanding preparations for a potential central bank digital currency. The call for expressions of interest follows the selection of 36 payment service providers in July 2026.
Merchants selected for the pilot will work with the ECB and national central banks to assess how digital euro payments could operate in real-world commercial environments. The pilot is designed to test payment journeys, merchant integration, and user experience in conditions intended to closely replicate the proposed digital euro.
The initiative will involve remote e-commerce and mobile-commerce transactions, alongside everyday payment environments such as cafeterias and restaurants operated at the ECB and national central banks. Participating merchants will assess how customers move through digital payment journeys and examine how the proposed payment method could be incorporated into existing checkout systems.