The European Central Bank has signed agreements with the European Card Payment Cooperation, nexo standards, and the Berlin Group to support the future rollout of digital euro payments. Existing open technical standards will be reused to process transactions, to make implementation more accessible for payment service providers and merchants across Europe.
CPACE supports contactless payments, nexo standards help connect merchants with providers, while the Berlin Group supports account-based transactions using identifiers such as mobile numbers. Together, these standards are intended to create a more consistent technical environment for digital euro transactions across devices and platforms.
Reliance on open standards is designed to reduce costs and limit dependence on proprietary systems controlled by global card schemes and digital wallets. The ECB says this should help European payment providers expand beyond domestic markets without requiring major upgrades to point-of-sale infrastructure, while also improving interoperability and competition.
The final impact still depends on the adoption of the digital € regulation by the EU co-legislators, which the ECB says is necessary to unlock the initiative’s full potential and provide market actors with greater certainty for future investment.
Why does it matter?
Adoption of open standards by the European Central Bank reduces reliance on global payment providers and lowers costs for banks and merchants. Regulatory clarity on the digital euro would enable European solutions to scale across borders and strengthen control over the payments infrastructure.
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The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled Appia, a strategic roadmap for developing Europe’s tokenised financial ecosystem anchored in central bank money. The initiative aims to guide the shift from traditional finance to tokenised markets while ensuring stability and interoperability.
A key component of Appia is Pontes, the Eurosystem’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) settlement solution. Pontes, set for Q3 2026 pilots, will enable central bank money transactions and connect DLT infrastructures with the Eurosystem’s TARGET2, T2S, and TIPS services.
The ECB has opened a public consultation inviting feedback and proposals from both public and private sector stakeholders. Respondents’ input will help refine the roadmap and shape the long-term blueprint for Europe’s tokenised financial system.
Appia also complements ongoing efforts on the digital €, with payment service provider selection planned for 2026 and a 12-month pilot trial in the second half of 2027.
The initiative highlights the ECB’s commitment to integrating emerging technologies while preserving financial stability.
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The European Central Bank (ECB) has joined forces with Spain’s ONCE Foundation to ensure the digital euro app is accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities, older adults, and those with limited digital skills.
The partnership focuses on technical advice, design collaboration, and testing prototypes for accessibility.
ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said accessibility is a core principle of the digital euro, designed to empower all citizens in the digital age. ONCE Foundation Director Jesús Hernández Galán said experts with lived disability experience are helping make the digital euro app practical and user-friendly.
The collaboration supports an ‘accessibility by design’ approach, going beyond minimum legal requirements under the European Accessibility Act.
Features under consideration include voice-controlled transactions, large-font displays, guided onboarding, and multiple support options to ensure clarity, simplicity, and control for users less confident with digital tools.
Public input will also shape the app’s development, with focus groups and vulnerable consumer feedback guiding design choices. The partnership follows European accessibility and digital regulations, promoting a user-friendly and inclusive digital euro for all.
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Euro-denominated stablecoins have surpassed $1 billion in circulating supply, according to industry data, marking a significant milestone but remaining relatively insignificant within Europe’s broader monetary system. The total represents just 0.006% of the eurozone’s estimated $15.5 trillion M2 money supply.
Issuance activity was limited during 2020 and 2021, before accelerating from late 2023 onwards. Growth has continued through 2024 and into 2025, signalling renewed interest in tokenised euro products despite their small overall footprint.
Ethereum still hosts the largest share of euro stablecoins, although issuance has expanded to other blockchain networks, including Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum, Base, Avalanche, and Stellar. The shift reflects a move toward multi-chain deployment, focusing on payments, settlement, and cross-border transfers.
Euro stablecoins remain far smaller than dollar-based tokens, which continue to dominate on-chain liquidity and settlement. The euro’s limited digital presence highlights growth potential if regulation and institutional adoption advance.
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Technology and payment companies chosen include Sapient GmbH, Tremend Software Consulting, equensWorldline, Feedzai, Capgemini, Almaviva, Fabrick, Giesecke+Devrient, and Senacor FCS.
Their roles cover services such as risk and fraud management, app development, offline solutions, and secure exchange of payment information. Second-ranked firms will only be engaged if required.
The ECB underlined that a decision on whether to issue the digital € has not been taken. Progress depends on the Digital Euro Regulation and approval by the ECB Governing Council, with development moving forward only once both are secured.
Framework agreements signed with the chosen providers involve no payments at this stage. They also include safeguards to allow adjustments, ensuring alignment with any future changes in European legislation.
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The European Central Bank (ECB) has emphasised that its proposed digital euro will enhance Europe’s resilience against cyber threats and infrastructure disruptions while ensuring broad access to digital payments.
Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB’s Executive Board, told the European Parliament that resilience and inclusiveness are central to the project. The digital euro is intended to complement physical cash, providing spare capacity alongside private payment systems.
Safeguards include multi-region transaction processing, a mandatory ECB-run app, and offline functionality to allow peer-to-peer payments during network or power outages.
The ECB also highlighted the importance of accessibility. Millions of Europeans with visual or hearing impairments or limited digital literacy could benefit from adaptive interfaces, voice commands, large-font displays, and mandatory support from payment providers.
Public institutions such as post offices and libraries may offer free assistance for those less familiar with digital tools.
Lawmakers received the ECB’s 14th update on the digital euro, underscoring the central bank’s commitment to combining security, inclusivity, and technological innovation in Europe’s evolving payments landscape.
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The European Union is accelerating work on a digital euro after the United States introduced new legislation to regulate the $288 billion stablecoin market. Brussels officials warn the euro may lose ground to dollar-backed tokens without swift action.
Sources told the Financial Times that regulators are revisiting issuing the digital euro on public blockchains such as Ethereum or Solana. Privacy concerns had blocked the option, but US developments have led Europe to reconsider.
The European Central Bank warned that reliance on foreign payment systems could weaken Europe’s financial sovereignty. A digital € would provide strategic autonomy, countering the risk of deposits flowing abroad and reinforcing the euro’s role in international settlements.
China has already rolled out its digital yuan, while the UK is evaluating a digital pound. The US market is dominated by companies such as Circle and Tether, with banks like Citi and JPMorgan preparing their own tokens.
Although smaller euro stablecoins exist, ECB officials say a digital € would cement Europe’s competitive position in the evolving global financial system.
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Cash will stay central to the eurozone’s financial system, the ECB confirmed, as work on the digital euro moves forward. A board member Piero Cipollone said euro banknotes and coins will be supplemented, not replaced, by a digital version to protect payment autonomy in Europe.
The ECB’s commitment follows a surge in the use of private digital currencies and stablecoins, which are increasingly used for daily transactions and international transfers. They see the digital euro as a secure answer to the rising influence of foreign stablecoins, especially US dollar-backed ones.
Despite the digital push, Cipollone stressed cash is vital, especially in crises when digital systems might fail. The ECB wants Europeans to have access to physical cash and digital euros alike, all with legal tender status and full usability.
Meanwhile, the ECB has acknowledged lukewarm interest from the public. A March study revealed Europeans were reluctant to allocate significant funds to a digital euro.
Separately, ECB adviser Jürgen Schaaf warned that Europe must implement unified regulation to avoid dominance by US dollar-backed stablecoins and preserve monetary sovereignty.
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The XRP community is abuzz after crypto influencer Amelie claimed Europe is trialling the digital euro on the XRP Ledger. Citing the Frankfurter Stock Exchange, she suggested institutional interest is growing rapidly, potentially leading to a sharp price increase.
In her tweet, Amelie included a video featuring analyst Oliver, who predicted XRP could reach $18 within weeks.
Oliver pointed to XRP Ledger’s speed and scalability as key factors that could meet the European Central Bank’s needs for a digital euro. He claimed successful testing would spark broader adoption and a surge in market value.
XRP was trading at $3.04 at the time of the post, meaning a rise to $18 would mark a 492% increase.
Such a leap would require strong capital inflows and confirmation of real-world adoption. Although no official statement has been released by the Frankfurter Stock Exchange, the speculation has fuelled excitement in the XRP community.
Amelie concluded that 2025 could be pivotal for XRP. Analysts believe the asset’s growing role in tokenisation and cross-border payments could soon extend into central bank digital currencies, potentially solidifying its institutional appeal.
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Fabio Panetta, the Governor of the Bank of Italy, has emphasised that a digital euro is more effective than regulation alone. It can better address the growing risks associated with cryptocurrencies.
In his annual economic remarks, Panetta said the EU must advance the CBDC project to protect financial stability and meet growing demand for secure digital payments.
Panetta noted that the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which came into full force in late 2024, has had minimal influence on stablecoin adoption in Europe.
Only a small number of electronic money tokens (EMTs) have been issued, with limited circulation and little interest from supervised intermediaries in Italy. Although MiCA encourages transparency, it has not stimulated significant crypto development in the region.
The governor also warned that European citizens remain exposed to risks due to inconsistent regulatory standards worldwide.
He urged stronger international cooperation, saying only a central bank-backed digital euro can ensure trust, efficiency, and security in digital payments.
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