ECB Selects 36 Payment Providers for Digital Euro Pilot Starting in H2 2027

The European Central Bank (ECB) said it has selected 36 euro area payment service providers (PSPs) to take part in a digital euro pilot. According to PANews, the pilot is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027 and run for 12 months, involving the ECB and 19 euro area central banks. The pilot will test digital euro payment functions including offline payments, e-commerce, and in-store spending, and will also focus on improving user experience in preparation for a potential future issuance of a digital euro. The ECB said it issued a call for expressions of interest to euro area PSPs in March 2026, receiving more than 50 applications. The final selection includes PSPs from multiple member states, such as Deutsche Bank, Adyen, Revolut Bank, Stripe Technology Europe, and Worldline.