ECB Opens Digital Euro Pilot to Merchants, Weighs Pix Link
ECB invites euro-area merchants to join the 2027 digital euro pilot and studies linking TIPS instant payments with Brazil's Pix, among other September decisions.
The story in focus
The ECB is inviting euro-area e-commerce and mobile merchants to apply by 27 October 2026 to join its digital euro pilot, with usability and accessibility testing to start in 2027. It also approved assessing a possible link between its TIPS instant payment platform and Brazil's Pix.
- Merchants in the euro area may apply until 27 October 2026 for the digital euro pilot, with testing planned for 2027.
- A separate call for private firms to explore digital euro infrastructure closes 9 November 2026.
- The Governing Council approved a feasibility assessment for interlinking TIPS with Brazil's Pix system.
Merchant pilot participation
On 15 September 2026 the ECB issued a call for expression of interest inviting e-commerce and mobile commerce merchants operating in the euro area to take part in the digital euro pilot. Applications are due by 27 October 2026. A second call, issued 28 September 2026, invites private companies and organisations to explore how digital euro infrastructure could support their innovation work, with a deadline of 9 November 2026.
The ECB said on 30 July 2026 that the digital euro app's accessibility features will exceed the requirements of the European Accessibility Act, and that usability and accessibility testing would begin as part of the pilot in 2027.
Payments infrastructure and oversight
On 24 September 2026 the Governing Council approved starting an assessment of the feasibility of interlinking the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement platform with other fast payment systems globally, including Brazil's Pix. It also considered a Market Infrastructure Board recommendation on pricing for the TIPS interlinking service.
Separately, on 24 August 2026 the Council adopted a decision identifying the Visa Europe Payment System as systemically important under Regulation (EU) 2025/1355, making the Eurosystem its overseer with the ECB as lead overseer. On 11 August 2026 it approved an agreement for the initial launch of Pontes, which settles wholesale tokenised-asset transactions in central bank money; the launch was scheduled for 21 September 2026.
When can euro-area merchants apply to join the digital euro pilot?
Applications were invited from 15 September 2026 and are due by 27 October 2026. Testing of usability and accessibility is planned to start as part of the pilot in 2027.
Sources & further reading
- Decisions taken by the Governing Council of the ECB (in addition to decisions setting interest rates) ↗ecb.europa.eu
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