The European Central Bank (ECB) is looking for industry experts to join work focusing on the functioning of the central bank’s digital euro currency in ATMs, payment terminals and acceptance infrastructure.
In the ECB’s statement published on Wednesday opened proposals for two workstreams within the Rulebook Development Group (RDG), covering implementation specifications for ATM and terminal providers, as well as a framework for the certification and validation of payment solutions.
The roles focus on defining how a potential digital euro will integrate with existing payment systems and hardware, including offline transaction support and interoperability with standards used across Europe.
The move signals a shift from policy design to implementation planning, as the ECB seeks information on how the digital euro will function within existing infrastructure.
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The workstreams address the integration of ATM and certification frameworks
According to the ECB, one line of work will focus on developing implementation specifications for ATM and terminal providers. This includes communication technologies, offline functionality and the reuse of existing payment standards.
The second work stream will develop proposals for processes for testing, certification and validation of payment solutions and infrastructure used by payment service providers within the euro digital ecosystem.
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The working groups will report to the RDG, which includes representatives of merchants, payment service providers and consumers.
The ECB stated that selected experts would be expected to provide technical input to support the development of the harmonized rulebook.
The ECB is planning a digital Europilot for 2027
The ECB has previously outlined plans to start selecting European Union-licensed payment service providers (PSPs) ahead of the 12-month digital Europilot, which is expected to start in the second half of 2027.
On February 18, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said that the pilot would cover a narrow number of merchants, Eurosystem employees and payment service providers.
While developments point to further progress on the digital euro, the ECB stated that a final decision on its issuance will only be taken once the relevant legislation has been adopted.
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