14 July 2026

• Pilot to take place at the ECB and several Eurosystem national central banks to test digital euro functionalities
• Over 50 applications received, reflecting strong market interest and engagement
• Selected participants span a broad range of business models and sizes and offer broad geographical coverage

The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected 36 payment service providers (PSP) from across the euro area to participate in the digital euro pilot. The pilot exercise is crucial for testing the digital euro’s technical functionality and operational processes, as well as for refining user experience. The pilot aims to support the ongoing preparatory work for the potential issuance of a digital euro, and is due to start during the second half of 2027 for a period of 12 months.

Following a call for expression of interest in March 2026, the Eurosystem received more than 50 applications from PSPs, reflecting strong interest and engagement from the market. Applicants were…