More choice essential for stronger payment systems

Press release Read aloud De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) aims to broaden the range of options in the payments landscape. Consumers, retailers and payment service providers should have sufficient options available to execute payments. This is crucial to make our payment system more resilient and reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers or systems. We therefore encourage the market to innovate, and are working on our own innovations such as a digital euro and a DLT solution for the financial sector so that new digital assets can develop securely.

Published: 09 March 2026

© DNB

This is stated in the new DNB Payment Strategy 2026-2028, which sets out the priorities and ambitions for the coming years. Compared to the timeframe of the previous strategy (2022-2025), our society has become more vulnerable due to increased geopolitical tensions worldwide. In parallel, innovations using novel technologies such as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to emerge.

These trends are one of the main reasons for the updated strategy. Naturally, DNB remains committed to ensuring access to payment systems for people in a vulnerable position, and we encourage banks to continue paying attention to and assisting these groups.

Strengthening resilience and autonomy

Strengthening resilience and autonomy in the payment chain is the new strategy’s first priority. The goal is to reduce dependence on non-European players in critical parts of the payment chain. This applies to payment instruments that people use every day and to payment transaction processing that takes place in the background. Together with the sector, we are working to make the payments system resilient to cyberattacks. We are doing so through monitoring, testing, crisis management exercises and sharing insights.

Strengthening resilience requires investment and efforts from all parties in the payment chain. We are working to raise awareness and public support for this important topic. In the future, consumers should be able to opt for European-originated digital payment instruments that can be used to pay anywhere in the euro area. We want euro banknotes and coins – as the only current form of public money – to also be available in electronic form – the digital euro – so that public money can be used everywhere, both in brick-and-mortar shops and online. At the same time, we will ensure that cash remains available in the future for anyone who wants to use it.

Encouraging innovations

A second priority is encouraging innovations in the payment landscape. DNB supports market initiatives that contribute to a wider range of digital payment means and methods. This will make the payment system more resilient in case of outages while also addressing end-user needs. We also aim to make consumers and retailers payment-savvy – they should know the pros and cons of different types of payment instruments. They are also alert to payment fraud, which is becoming increasingly sophisticated due to criminals’ use of AI.

Payment scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated as criminals use AI for voice cloning and other forms of deception. We are therefore actively working with the sector to fight payment fraud. We expect the sector to use AI responsibly, which means that payment service providers are transparent about their use of AI, can explain it in plain language and manages any related risks. Future payments with AI agents will require market participants to reach agreements so that responsibilities in payment transactions are always clear to consumers and retailers.

As a central bank, we ensure that our services for commercial banks and payment service providers respond appropriately to trends and innovations in payment systems. For instance, we want to make it possible to settle transactions on DLT platforms in central bank money, known as wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (wCBDC). This will provide greater certainty and security for all market participants, while also preventing fragmentation of European capital markets.

In our view, the broad financial ecosystem is best served by various new manifestations of the euro as private and public money: from stablecoins and tokenised bank deposits to the digital euro.  As a central bank, we are committed to ensuring that the payment system remains reliable, secure and accessible to maintain public confidence in payments in the future.

Media representatives can contact Tobias Oudejans by email at t.t.oudejans@dnb.nl or by telephone at +31 6 2 49 69 61.

More information

• See the DNB Payments Strategy 2026-2028

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