PANews reported on March 19th, citing Cointelegraph, that the European Central Bank (ECB) has launched two digital euro working groups to solicit proposals from industry experts, focusing on how to implement the digital euro in ATMs, self-service terminals, and various payment acceptance infrastructures. The first working group is responsible for developing technical specifications for ATM and payment terminal providers, including communication technologies, offline transaction capabilities, and the reuse of existing payment standards. The second working group is responsible for designing a testing, certification, and approval framework for payment solutions and infrastructure. This work will report to the Rulebook Development Group, which includes representatives from merchants, payment service providers, and consumers. The ECB previously planned to launch a 12-month digital euro pilot program in the second half of 2027; its final implementation will depend on the passage of relevant legislation.

