The digital euro’s first users will be central-bank staff

Netzpolitik’s reporting follows the digital euro from policy debates into practical questions: who gets to use it, where they can pay, and which situations the trial will actually test.

Individual participants will be staff at the ECB and participating national central banks, using services supplied by selected payment providers. Merchants will participate too. This is a controlled beta with real payment workflows, rather than general public access.

The ECB’s September 15 FAQ places the operational phase in the second half of 2027, lasting 12 months with a possible six-month extension.

Offline transfers between people are included: nearby devices exchange value using NFC without an internet connection. In-store merchant payments also use NFC, but require an online connection. Netzpolitik highlights the missing case of paying offline at a shop, despite offline use being part of the broader resilience promise.

The ECB says the selected cases still exercise both online and offline systems. That is compatible with the narrower point that they do not test every intended everyday use.

Preparing the pilot does not itself authorize a digital euro. The ECB says a decision on issuance will follow the relevant EU legislation.