The European Central Bank is preparing a controlled pilot for digital euro checkout payments, even though the legal framework required for issuance has not yet been approved. Online merchants can apply to participate by Oct. 27, with the pilot planned for 2027. The initiative will allow selected businesses to test checkout-related use cases for the prospective central bank digital currency. However, the ECB’s pilot timetable does not itself authorize the issuance of a digital euro. Any launch remains dependent on the adoption of relevant European Union legislation. The application window gives merchants an opportunity to engage with the project before the legal process is complete, while the ECB continues preparatory work on the payment system. CryptoSlate reported the application deadline and the conditions attached to the planned pilot.
