The European Central Bank (ECB) has invited industry specialists to join two technical workstreams focused on how a potential digital euro would interact with ATMs, payment terminals and acceptance infrastructure. In a recent announcement the ECB opened applications to participate in these groups under its Rulebook Development Group (RDG).
One workstream will draft implementation specifications for ATM and terminal vendors, addressing communications protocols, offline transaction capabilities and the reuse of existing payment standards. The other will define testing, certification and approval processes for payment solutions and the infrastructure used by payment service providers (PSPs) within a digital euro environment.
The initiative aims to ensure the digital euro can be integrated with today’s payment systems and hardware, support pan-European interoperability and enable offline payments. It marks a move from high-level policy design toward practical implementation planning, with the ECB seeking technical input to build a standardized rulebook.
The RDG — which includes representatives from merchants, PSPs and consumer groups — will receive reports from the workstreams. Selected experts are expected to contribute technical guidance to shape implementation, certification and approval frameworks.
The ECB has indicated it will begin selecting EU-licensed PSPs in advance of a 12-month digital euro pilot now targeted for the second half of 2027. ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said the pilot would involve a limited number of merchants, Eurosystem staff and PSPs. Any final decision to issue a digital euro would follow the adoption of the required legislation.
This article was produced in line with Cointelegraph’s editorial standards; readers are encouraged to verify information independently.