Status
PLANNED
Program Snapshot
Current status fields and timeline data from the profile record.
Type
RETAIL
Program classification
Wallets
Not listed
Annual Volume
Not listed
Status and Timeline
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Announced | 2021-07-14 |
| Pilot start | 2027-07-01 |
| Launch | Not listed |
| Last verified | 2026-04-18 |
Availability
- Retail
- planned
- Wholesale
- none
Central Bank
European Central Bank
Technical Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Retail |
| Architecture | two-tier |
| Access model | account based |
| Technology base | dlt |
| Legal tender | none |
Capabilities
offline payments: Yes
programmability: No
cross border: Yes
interest bearing: No
transaction limits: Yes
Cross-Border Projects
No cross-border project entries are listed for this profile.
Recent Updates
According to the European Central Bank (ECB), the digital euro moved to the next preparation phase in late 2025 and now has a defined pilot roadmap. The ECB's official pilot page states that, assuming the digital euro Regulation is adopted in 2026, the Eurosystem plans to run a 12-month pilot starting in the second half of 2027 and aims to be ready for a potential first issuance during 2029. The pilot will involve selected euro-area payment service providers, merchants, and Eurosystem staff testing a beta version of the digital euro in real-life payment situations. Because the project now has an official implementation timetable but no live pilot yet, it is tracked as planned rather than generic research.
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does European Union have a CBDC?
According to listed sources, European Union is developing EU Digital Euro, currently in planned phase.
What is the current status of European Union's CBDC?
EU Digital Euro is in planned phase as of 2026-04-18.
When did European Union start CBDC pilot activity?
Pilot activity is listed from 2027-07-01.
How many users or wallets are reported for European Union's CBDC?
Wallet metrics are not listed in the current dataset.
Is European Union's CBDC retail, wholesale, or hybrid?
EU Digital Euro is categorized as retail.
Which institution manages EU Digital Euro?
EU Digital Euro is managed by European Central Bank.
Related CBDCs
Sources
Sources
Last verified: 2026-04-18
Digital Euro - European Central Bank
central bank
ECB Digital Euro Progress Report
central bank
Digital Euro Pilot - European Central Bank
central bank
Eurosystem moves to next phase of digital euro project - ECB Press Release
central bank
Digital Euro Regulation - European Parliament Legislative Train
regulator
ECB framework agreement with Giesecke+Devrient, Nexi, Capgemini for offline solution
news
Digital Euro Legislative Progress: Parliament signals support for dual digital euro
research