The European Central Bank (ECB) confirmed on 10 November 2026, through Governing Council member Piero Cipollone, that preparations for the digital euro pilot are progressing according to schedule. This pilot, set to begin in the second half of 2027, will test a beta version of the digital euro without legal tender status to assess its technical functionality, operational processes, and user experience.
The pilot will involve staff from the European System of Central Banks (Eurosystem), 36 payment service providers (PSPs) selected from over 50 applicants, and chosen merchants, notably in collective catering services such as canteens, within the ECB and participating national central banks.
This announcement comes in a context where the European Parliament adopted a favorable position in July 2026 on the Single Currency Package, which will provide a legal framework for the digital euro. Mr Cipollone emphasized the need for a swift conclusion of trilogue negotiations to adopt this regulation by the end of the year, in line with the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap. A delayed adoption could postpone the digital euro issuance, increasing Europe’s dependence on foreign providers and complicating innovation for European companies.
Furthermore, the ECB recently launched Pontes, an infrastructure connecting distributed ledger technology (DLT) market platforms to the Eurosystem’s TARGET services, facilitating central bank money settlement of tokenized transactions. This innovation has already enabled the settlement of a 1 billion digital bond issued by the European Stability Mechanism, marking a milestone in European tokenized finance.
The digital euro pilot represents a crucial step in preparing for a potential official issuance, which can only be set after the regulatory framework is adopted. The ECB thus highlights the importance of this project to strengthen European monetary sovereignty and modernize payment methods, complementing cash, which remains a key element of the economy.
The digital euro project is part of a broader dynamic of payment innovation in Europe, aiming to offer citizens and businesses a secure, accessible digital currency aligned with European values.