FinanceFebruary 1, 2026
Digital Euro Enter Pilot Phase: Testing Offline Payments
The European Central Bank (ECB) has officially kicked off the consumer pilot for the Digital Euro across France, Germany, and Spain. The headline feature? True offline payments. Users can now tap phones to transfer currency without any internet connection, mimicking the privacy and reliability of physical cash.
Key details
* Scope: Selected banks and merchants in 3 countries.
* Privacy: Offline transactions are peer-to-peer and not traced by the central bank.
* Limit: Currently capped at €500 per offline transaction to prevent money laundering.
Why it matters
* Digital Sovereignty: Reduces Europe's reliance on US-based payment processors like Visa/Mastercard.
* Cash Alternative: Provides a public digital money option as physical cash usage declines.
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