The European Central Bank (ECB) has reached framework agreements with seven technology providers to support components of a potential digital euro, with a launch possibly occurring in 2029. The agreements do not involve any payments at this stage and are part of the ECB’s preparation phase for the central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Among the selected companies are Feedzai, specializing in AI-driven fraud detection, and Giesecke+Devrient, a security technology firm. These entities will provide services related to fraud and risk management, secure payment information exchange, and software development for the digital euro. An additional provider is expected to be announced soon.
Planning and development of digital euro components
Following the framework agreement conclusion, G+D and other successful tenderers will work with the ECB to finalize planning and timelines. This work will cover the design, integration, and development of the Digital Euro Service Platform under the guidance of the ECB Governing Council and in line with EU legislation.
The ECB has been exploring a digital euro since 2021 and moved into the preparation phase in late 2023. While framework agreements define roles and responsibilities, the actual development of components and any payments will depend on the ECB Governing Council’s decision once the Digital Euro Regulation is adopted.
Key features and additional services
Technology partners will also provide “alias lookup,” allowing users to send or receive digital euros without knowing the recipient’s payment service provider. Giesecke+Devrient is responsible for engineering functionality enabling offline payments with digital euros.
EU authorities raise stablecoin concerns
As the ECB prepares for a digital euro, EU financial regulators have highlighted potential risks from certain stablecoins. ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasized that lawmakers should address risks from stablecoins jointly issued under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework or by non-EU companies. The European Systemic Risk Board has issued a non-legally binding recommendation to ban similar jointly issued stablecoins, reflecting a cautious regulatory approach compared with the United States, where a stablecoin bill was signed into law in July 2025.