ECB Selects Payment Standards for Digital Euro

ECB advances digital euro with new payment standard agreements.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has taken another step towards launching the digital euro by signing agreements with three European payment standardisation organisations.

The ECB has signed agreements with three leading European standard setters to facilitate digital euro online payments.

By reusing existing standards, we can help private European payment solutions minimise costs and increase their geographical reach https://t.co/iktYHKCDz5 pic.twitter.com/4SczJhlumz

— European Central Bank (@ecb) April 24, 2026

The technologies of European Card Payment Cooperation (ECPC), nexo standards, and Berlin Group are planned to be integrated for online payments in the future CBDC system of the eurozone.

This involves reusing existing open standards to reduce the cost of implementing the digital euro for banks, payment services, and retailers. The ECB believes this approach will expedite the launch of the infrastructure and reduce Europe’s reliance on international card systems and global digital wallets.

Selected Technologies

According to the regulator’s statement:

• CPACE from ECPC will be used for contactless tap-to-pay operations via NFC;
• nexo standards will ensure integration between merchants’ point-of-sale equipment and payment providers;
• Berlin Group will provide solutions for transactions via phone number and mobile applications.

Future Plans

The ECB anticipates that unified open standards will allow European payment solutions to scale beyond national markets without costly terminal and infrastructure upgrades.

ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone stated that the digital euro should become “a European free alternative to existing proprietary standards,” providing banks and businesses with the confidence to invest and innovate.

The regulator is still aiming for a potential first issuance of the digital euro in 2029, provided the necessary EU legislation is passed by the end of this year.

Earlier in January, Cipollone explained the need for a European digital payment system as part of the EU’s sovereignty efforts.