The Eurosystem has invited e-commerce and mobile-commerce merchants to apply for participation in a planned pilot of the digital euro, expanding preparations for a potential central bank digital currency for the euro area.
The call for expressions of interest follows the selection of 36 payment service providers (PSPs) in July 2026 to participate in the initiative. Merchants selected for the pilot will work with the European Central Bank (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, giving merchants an opportunity to provide feedback that could influence its future technical and operational design.
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. Participants will include staff from Eurosystem central banks, selected PSPs and participating merchants.
Pilot to test technical and operational functions
The program will use a beta version of the digital euro that is intended to be technically and functionally close to the system outlined in draft European Union legislation. However, the pilot version will not have legal tender status.
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. They will also provide feedback on the merchant experience, technical requirements and operational processes associated with accepting digital euro payments.
The ECB has indicated that merchant feedback will be used to inform future design decisions. The exercise is intended to help ensure that the requirements of businesses are considered as preparations progress toward a potential digital euro issuance.
Any decision to issue the digital euro remains dependent on the adoption of relevant EU legislation. The Eurosystem has said its preparatory work will continue to evolve alongside the legislative process.
Applications open through October
Participation in the pilot will be voluntary and unpaid. Merchants selected for the program will be required to enter into a participation agreement with the ECB and establish or modify a contractual relationship with an acquiring PSP involved in the pilot.
Applications will be assessed according to eligibility requirements and weighted criteria that include market reach, operational preparedness and overall suitability for the initiative.
The ECB has also published frequently asked questions to help prospective participants understand the requirements and application process. An information session is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2026, where the central bank is expected to provide additional details about the pilot and participation procedure.
Merchants will have the opportunity to submit written questions through a dedicated form before the application deadline. The ECB has set Oct. 27, 2026, as the deadline for applications.
Twelve-month pilot planned for 2027
The pilot is expected to operate for 12 months, beginning in the second half of 2027. It will be conducted within a controlled environment designed to reproduce key characteristics and functions proposed for the future digital euro.
For merchants and payment providers, the exercise could provide practical insight into integration requirements, checkout processes and customer interactions before any potential large-scale deployment of the digital euro.
The merchant initiative forms part of the Eurosystem’s broader preparatory work on a possible digital currency for the euro area. The effort is proceeding in parallel with EU legislative discussions concerning the framework that would govern the digital euro.
The Eurosystem has positioned the preparation as part of wider efforts to strengthen European payment sovereignty while developing infrastructure capable of supporting digital payments across the region. The outcome of the legislative process will remain a key factor in determining whether and when the digital euro moves from preparation and testing toward issuance.