ECB Names 36 Payment Providers for Year-Long Digital Euro Pilot

The European Central Bank selected 36 payment-service providers from more than 50 applicants for a controlled digital-euro pilot. Participants include Deutsche Bank, UniCredit, Revolut and other banks and payment firms. The 12-month pilot is expected to begin in the second half of 2027 and test person-to-person, merchant, online and offline functionality using a beta digital euro without legal-tender status.