Digital Euro, the ECB Accelerates: 36 Partners for the 2027 Test

The ECB has selected 36 partner companies for the digital euro pilot, chosen from over 50 applications: among the Italian names are Banca Sella, UniCredit, Poste Italiane, Nexi, Isybank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and Numia. The project remains aligned with the central bank's official timeline, with the pilot phase starting in the second half of 2027 and a possible issuance in 2029, provided the regulation is approved in 2026.

The list of partners is not limited to traditional banking circuits and also includes entities active in digital payments and stablecoin-related experiments, signaling that the ECB aims to test the digital euro in real-use scenarios, from payments in stores to transactions between individuals. The point is not merely technical: the project also aims to strengthen payments in the euro area and offer a public infrastructure that remains usable both online and offline.

The ECB's official pilot project page explains that the goal is to test a beta version under real conditions, with a 12-month trial period and a selection of authorized payment service providers in the euro area. For those looking to reconstruct the overall picture, we refer you to the in-depth analysis by Edge9, Beyond Cash and Crypto: All About the Digital Euro and New European Monetary Sovereignty, which frames the topic within the scope of European monetary sovereignty and the comparison with private payments.

EU official sources: The ECB has dedicated an updated page for the digital euro pilot project, with timelines, documentation for PSPs, and technical materials available for public consultation. On the same topic, the central bank reiterated that preparations are proceeding flexibly, in parallel with the European legislative process, and that any issuance depends on the adoption of the regulation.