ECB Invites Market Input on Secure Hardware Standards for Offline Digital Euro
Key Takeaways
- 01The ECB launched a call for expressions of interest on 18 August 2026 on standards for secure hardware supporting offline digital-euro payments.
- 02The purpose is to prepare a hardware-based model that could allow payments without an active internet connection while protecting transaction and payment data.
- 03Relevant technology providers, hardware suppliers and standards experts can provide feedback that may influence the design of a potential 2027 pilot.
- 04The consultation is preparatory only: it does not establish binding standards, and the 2027 pilot remains potential rather than confirmed.
The European Central Bank (ECB) published a call for expressions of interest on 18 August 2026, asking market participants to provide feedback on technical standards for an offline digital euro. The work concerns secure hardware that could enable digital-euro payments when no active internet connection is available.
The exercise is intended to support the deployment and design of hardware-based offline payment functionality. Secure hardware would be used to protect payment data and transactions while allowing payments to be made without connecting to the internet.
Technology providers, secure-payment hardware suppliers, standards specialists and other technically qualified participants can submit input on the standards under consideration. Their feedback may help shape the technical framework for a potential digital-euro pilot planned for 2027.
The call does not set final or binding technical requirements, and the 2027 pilot is not confirmed. It is a preparatory market-engagement step that signals the ECB is continuing practical design work on offline digital-euro capability.