Digital euro pilot set
The ECB has launched a new phase of work on a digital euro, recruiting experts and pencilling in a 2027 pilot while stressing that actual issuance depends on European legislative negotiations. The focus is on ensuring interoperability, security, and privacy across the euro area as regulators and lawmakers decide whether the project moves from pilot to live currency. (cointribune.com)
The ECB’s Governing Council decided on 30 October 2025 to move the digital‑euro project into a technical‑readiness phase after a preparation phase that ran from November 2023 to October 2025. (ecb.europa.eu) The Eurosystem plans a 12‑month pilot starting in the second half of 2027 and says it aims to be ready for a potential first issuance in 2029 if the EU Regulation on the digital euro is adopted in the course of 2026. (ecb.europa.eu) On 18 March 2026 the ECB opened calls for candidates to join two Rulebook Development Group workstreams, setting an application deadline of 10 April 2026 and asking submissions to be sent to Digitaleuro‑scheme‑rulebook@ecb.europa.eu. (ecb.europa.eu) Workstream G5 has been tasked with drafting implementation specifications for ATMs and payment terminals — including offline digital‑euro integration, multiple communication technologies and reuse of existing standards — and is scheduled to start regular meetings in April 2026. (ecb.europa.eu) A renewed call for Workstream B1 targets experts to design testing, certification and approval procedures for payment and acceptance solutions and infrastructure used by payment service providers in the digital‑euro ecosystem. (ecb.europa.eu) The Rulebook Development Group (RDG), established in January 2023 and composed of senior representatives from payments associations, consumers, merchants, PSPs and Eurosystem members, has already produced a draft rulebook to harmonise rules and standards across the euro area. (ecb.europa.eu) Separately, the Eurosystem opened a call for expressions of interest for licensed payment service providers on 5 March 2026 to select a limited, representative pool of PSPs for the pilot, with the selection exercise intended in early 2026 ahead of the H2 2027 test. (ecb.europa.eu)
