ECB explores AI agent payments for digital euro

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The European Central Bank (ECB) has invited fintechs and payment companies to explore how AI agents could be used with the digital euro.

The ECB opened applications on Monday for a new innovation programme covering hands-on testing and workshops. The testing phase will run from January to June 2027 and will include prototypes for e-receipts, multiparty transactions, conditional payments and new payment interfaces.

Workshops will examine AI-enabled payments, micropayments, machine-to-machine transactions and potential public-sector uses of the digital euro. The ECB said the results could help shape future features and use cases.

The digital euro is a proposed central bank digital currency for retail payments across the euro area. Any issuance would require EU legislation and a subsequent ECB decision.