ECB seeks experts to draft digital euro rules for ATMs and in-store card terminals

The European Central Bank (ECB) opened applications for experts to help write rules for how a potential digital euro would work at ATMs and in-store card terminals across the euro area, preparing for a possible launch of a central bank digital currency.

The call targets contributors to specific sections of the digital euro rulebook that cover cash withdrawals and point-of-sale payments. The ECB is advancing technical groundwork while EU legislation is under review by the European Council and the European Parliament, and while the Governing Council has yet to decide on issuance. If authorized, a rollout could begin by 2029.

One workstream will define how ATMs and payment terminals process digital euro transactions, including how devices connect to payment systems, support offline payments when internet access is unavailable, and use existing industry standards. The aim is to let people pay with a digital euro at checkout or withdraw it from ATMs using familiar equipment across the euro area.

A second workstream will set up a certification process for acceptance tools and network infrastructure. It will outline how providers test and approve software and devices so systems can accept the digital euro consistently and securely across the region.

The ECB frames the project as creating a public digital means of payment to stand alongside cash and private digital options. In December, President Christine Lagarde described the bank’s technical and preparatory work as complete and noted that it was “now up to political institutions to act.”

Separately, a group of 12 European banks has formed the Qivalis project, which plans to launch MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin in the second half of 2026. Participants include BBVA and ING. The token would support blockchain-based payments denominated in euros without relying on dollar-backed assets.

The rulebook work is aimed at interoperability with existing payment infrastructure so merchants and consumers would not need entirely new devices to use a digital euro. The focus on ATM and terminal requirements outlines how the currency could reach consumers in stores and at cash machines if policymakers authorize issuance.