ECB taps open standards to challenge card giants

The European Central Bank signed agreements with European standards bodies to build the digital euro on open infrastructure, reducing reliance on global card networks.

The framework uses standards from European Card Payment Cooperation, nexo, and the Berlin Group to enable tap-to-pay, merchant acceptance, and account-based transfers across the eurozone.

“The open digital euro standards will provide a European free alternative to current proprietary standards,”

Said Piero Cipollone.

The system replaces proprietary rails dominated by Visa and Mastercard with shared protocols that allow providers to operate without paying network fees.

CPACE will handle contactless payments, nexo will connect merchant systems and acquirers, and Berlin Group standards will support transfers and integrations already used by most European banks.

The move could allow national payment schemes to scale across borders and reuse existing terminals, aligning with initiatives like Wero aimed at reducing dependence on US-based providers.

However, the rollout depends on EU lawmakers approving digital euro legislation, without which adoption remains optional and large-scale deployment uncertain.