The European Central Bank (ECB) is preparing a pilot project for the digital euro, focusing on payments made through AI agents and machine-to-machine interactions. The launch of the new program took place on Monday, and the ECB is inviting companies from the fintech and payment processing sectors, as well as other organizations, to participate in research on the application of AI agents in payments with the digital euro.
The experimental track will run from January to June 2027. Selected participants will develop prototypes for electronic checks, multi-party transactions, conditional payments, and new interface features. In the first half of 2027, workshops are planned to discuss new possibilities such as AI-enabled payments, micropayments, machine interactions, and the application of the digital euro in public services. It is important to note that the results obtained may contribute to future improvements and the use of the digital euro.
Some participants will present their developments at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt. The digital euro that the ECB is considering will function as digital cash alongside traditional banknotes and coins. Currently, the ECB has already selected 36 banks and payment companies, including well-known names like Revolut, Stripe, and Deutsche Bank, for a separate 12-month pilot that will begin in the second half of 2027. However, any further issuance of the digital euro will depend on legislative decisions at the EU level and the final decision of the ECB itself.
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