The European Central Bank has laid out a clear schedule for the digital euro. Board members confirmed on February 18, 2026 that the project is aimed at a mid-2029 public launch, provided European lawmakers pass the required rules by the end of 2026.
The project entered its “Preparation Phase” in November 2025. At this stage, the ECB is focused on the technical buildout, with speed and low cost at the center of the design. The digital euro is being framed as a digital form of cash for everyday use, with an emphasis on convenience and payment security.
A 12-month pilot is planned for the second half of 2027
Before any full rollout, the ECB plans to run a real-world trial. The pilot is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027 and last for 12 months, bringing in banks, merchants, and consumers. The point is practical testing, not a limited demo: the ECB wants to see whether the currency works as smoothly in daily payments as coins and banknotes do.
Pricing is another major part of the plan. The ECB says transaction fees for the digital euro will come in below the levels typically charged by major credit cards. Fees may be slightly higher than some domestic payment apps, but the structure is expected to reduce costs for merchants handling cross-border payments.
Offline payments, accessibility work, and holding limits
The design also includes offline payment capability, allowing users to pay without an internet connection in a way that mirrors cash usage. The ECB is working with groups including the Once Foundation to make the app easier to use for elderly people and users with disabilities.
To protect banking system stability, the central bank plans to place a cap on how much digital euro any one person can hold. That fits the ECB’s stated approach: this is meant for spending rather than saving. Under the current plan, the digital euro will not pay interest to users.
Reducing reliance on non-European payment firms
The policy goal goes beyond launching a new payment tool. At present, nearly 70% of card payments in Europe are handled by non-European companies. The ECB wants the digital euro to give merchants and consumers a local option that works across the euro area by 2029.
If the current timeline holds, more banks are expected to join the pilot and prepare their systems over the next few years. The message from the ECB is straightforward: the project is being built as digital cash infrastructure for the euro area, not simply as another payments app.