ECB Executive Board member discusses digital euro and cash: pilot planned to begin in the second half of 2027
Piero Cipollone: Cash and the digital euro: two sides of the same coin
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ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said the digital euro pilot is planned to begin in the second half of 2027, testing technical functionality, operational processes and user experience. The pilot will use a beta version that does not have legal tender status and involve 36 payment service providers and selected merchants; the date of the digital euro’s first issuance can only be determined after the relevant legislation is passed. The ECB also supports legislation to safeguard the mandatory acceptance of cash, access to cash and the resilience of cash infrastructure.
The remarks link the digital euro’s technical preparations, pilot arrangements and legislative progress, while also making clear that cash acceptance and infrastructure resilience remain part of euro payment policy.
Source:European Central Bank · ecb.europa.eu