The Eurosystem has opened a call for expressions of interest inviting e-commerce and mobile-commerce merchants to take part in a planned pilot of the digital euro, broadening preparations for a potential central bank digital currency for the euro area. The project would make central bank money available in digital form for everyday payments, alongside cash and the privately operated payment methods currently used across the region.

The invitation follows the selection of 36 payment service providers (PSPs) in July 2026 to participate in the initiative. With merchants now invited, the pilot extends beyond payment infrastructure to the acceptance side of transactions, where customer-facing checkout experiences take shape. Merchants chosen for the pilot will work alongside the European Central Bank (ECB) and national central banks to evaluate how digital euro payments might function in real-world commercial settings.

The pilot is designed to test payment journeys, merchant integration and user experience under conditions intended to closely replicate the proposed digital euro, giving participating merchants an opportunity to provide feedback that could shape the currency's future technical and operational design.

Testing will cover remote e-commerce and mobile-commerce transactions, as well as 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 the merchants taking part.

Technical and operational testing

The program will run on a beta version of the digital euro intended to be technically and functionally close to the system set out in draft European Union legislation, although the pilot version will not carry legal tender status.

Selected 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 offer feedback on the merchant experience, technical requirements and operational processes involved in accepting digital euro payments. Testing the consumer-facing journey and the back-end acceptance processes in a single exercise is intended to surface integration questions while design choices can still be revised.

The ECB has indicated that merchant feedback will inform future design decisions, with the exercise intended to ensure that business requirements are factored in as preparations advance toward a potential issuance. Any decision to issue the digital euro remains contingent on the adoption of relevant EU legislation, and the Eurosystem has said its preparatory work will continue to evolve in step with the legislative process.

Applications open through October

Participation in the pilot will be voluntary and unpaid. Merchants selected for the program must 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 evaluated against eligibility requirements and weighted criteria, including market reach, operational preparedness and overall suitability for the initiative.

The ECB has also published a set of frequently asked questions to help prospective participants understand the requirements and application process. An information session is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2026, at which the central bank is expected to provide additional details about the pilot and the participation procedure. Merchants will be able to submit written questions through a dedicated form before the application deadline, which the ECB has set for Oct. 27, 2026.

Twelve-month pilot planned for 2027

The pilot is expected to run for 12 months beginning in the second half of 2027. It will take place in a controlled environment designed to reproduce the key characteristics and functions proposed for the future digital euro.

For merchants and payment providers, the exercise yield practical insight into integration requirements, checkout processes and customer interactions ahead of any potential large-scale deployment.

The merchant initiative forms part of the Eurosystem's broader preparatory work on a possible digital currency for the euro area, an effort proceeding in parallel with EU legislative discussions on the framework that would govern the digital euro. The Eurosystem has framed the preparation as part of wider efforts to strengthen European payment sovereignty while building infrastructure capable of supporting digital payments across the region.

The outcome of the legislative process remains a key factor in determining whether and when the digital euro advances from preparation and testing toward issuance. Merchant selection after the October application window and the start of testing in 2027 mark the next steps on the preparatory side.