Woofun AI reports that the European Central Bank has chosen 36 payment service providers to join the digital euro pilot program, scheduled for the second half of 2027. The initiative follows a March 2026 call for interest that attracted over 50 applications from euro area entities.

The 12-month trial will operate across the ECB and central banks of 19 member states, evaluating capabilities including offline payments, e-commerce, and point-of-sale transactions. Selected participants include Deutsche Bank, Adyen, Revolut Bank, Stripe Technology Europe, and Worldline, aiming to refine user experience ahead of potential official issuance.