The European Central Bank (ECB) continues to advance its digital euro project. Recently, the ECB released a recruitment announcement regarding the integration of the digital euro into automated teller machines (ATMs) and payment terminals, marking a substantial phase in the project's development.
This recruitment aims to standardize the application of the digital euro and establish a set of common usage rules, standards, and operational procedures within the Eurozone. Eligible institutions can submit their applications to the ECB by April 10, 2026.
The ECB's announcement indicates that the current focus is on developing the Rulebook for the Digital Euro (RDG). To this end, two working groups have been established, each responsible for defining specific technical and operational details.
Specifically, the G5 working group will concentrate on specifications for ATM and payment terminal providers. This group will review and propose regulatory recommendations for the technical specifications of these devices, covering communication technologies, offline integration of the digital euro, and the application of existing standards.
Candidates participating in this work must have experience in developing or providing interfaces for ATMs or payment terminals.
Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB's Executive Board, stated at a meeting in February of this year that the main objective of this phase is to assess the practical conditions for the digital euro's use and to make corresponding adjustments at the technical and organizational levels based on expected outcomes. According to the plan, a pilot project for the digital euro is expected to launch in 2027.