Overview
EU central bank digital currency initiative led by european-central-bank. Moving from technical PSP pilots to merchant checkout integration.
Timeline
- 2026-03: PSP call for interest opened; closed May 14
- 2026-06: PSP partners selected
- 2026-09-15: E/m-commerce merchant call opened; deadline Oct 27
- H2 2027: 12-month pilot with beta digital euro (non-legal tender)
Key Players
- european-central-bank
- Acquiring pilot PSPs
- Euro-area e-commerce merchants
Analysis
First merchant-facing checkout pilot is critical path-to-production milestone. DEAN/alias payment flows and acquiring PSP APIs will shape EU payment rail evolution. Contrast with US cbdc moratorium.