Eurosystem Sets Out Comprehensive Strategy for Future of European Payments

ECB Press Releases

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected March 31st, 2026

Summary

The Eurosystem published its comprehensive payments strategy outlining the vision for Europe's payment ecosystem amid technological transformation. The strategy covers wholesale, business-to-business, retail and cross-border payments, and takes into account tokenisation and distributed ledger technology adoption. It establishes four strategic aims: maintaining central bank money's role, enhancing payment autonomy, promoting integrated and competitive payments, and supporting the euro's international role.

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What changed

The Eurosystem released a comprehensive payments strategy document that establishes a forward-looking framework for European payments. The strategy addresses wholesale transactions, business-to-business payments, retail payments and cross-border payments, incorporating considerations for tokenised settlement assets including tokenised deposits and stablecoins. Key recommendations include maintaining central bank money at the core of wholesale settlement, ensuring private settlement assets are EU-governed and euro-denominated, and pursuing standardisation and automation in business-to-business payments.

The strategy does not impose immediate compliance obligations but serves as a policy framework for future regulatory and market developments. Payment service providers, banks and financial institutions should monitor this strategy as it shapes the direction of European payment infrastructure. The document complements the digital euro initiative, work on Pontes and Appia platforms, and cross-border payment enhancements. While no specific deadlines are set, entities involved in payment services should begin assessing how emerging tokenisation technologies and the strategy's recommendations may affect their operations and future compliance requirements.

What to do next

Monitor developments in tokenisation and distributed ledger technology as they relate to settlement assets
Review business-to-business payment processes for opportunities to implement standardisation and automation
Track digital euro and cross-border payment initiative developments for future compliance implications

Source document (simplified)

PRESS RELEASE

Eurosystem sets out comprehensive strategy for future of European payments

31 March 2026

Holistic strategy covers wholesale, business‑to‑business, retail and cross‑border payments
Forward-looking approach promotes competitive, innovative and resilient European payments
Eurosystem outlines position on tokenised settlement assets, including tokenised deposits and stablecoins The Eurosystem has today published its comprehensive payments strategy, outlining its vision for the evolution of Europe’s payments amid rapid technological change. It complements the Eurosystem’s cash strategy and extends the Eurosystem’s retail payments strategy by covering wholesale, business-to-business and cross-border payments. It takes into account the gradual adoption of new technologies such as tokenisation and distributed ledger technology, and ensures that innovation can advance while central bank money remains the anchor of trust and stability.

“Payments are critical for society, and they are changing rapidly,” said Piero Cipollone, member of the ECB’s Executive Board. “Whether it’s retail, wholesale or business-to-business payments, both domestic and cross-border, the ECB is working to ensure that they continue to be reliable, fast, competitive and open for innovation.”

The strategy has four main strategic aims: maintaining the key role of central bank money in retail and wholesale markets to ensure the effectiveness of monetary policy, financial stability and the smooth functioning of payment systems; making Europe’s payment system more robust and autonomous; encouraging more integrated, innovative and competitive payments for people and businesses; and supporting the international role of the euro.

The strategy recommends that the innovative potential of tokenisation should be seized and outlines the Eurosystem’s position on tokenised settlement assets. For the settlement of wholesale transactions, central bank money should remain at the core, complemented by private settlement assets like tokenised deposits and stablecoins that are EU‑governed, euro‑denominated and properly designed and regulated. The strategy also calls for standardisation, automation and process integration in business‑to‑business payments, so that companies can benefit from efficient and innovative solutions.

Regarding retail payments, the strategy highlights how the digital euro can play a key role in fostering the development of pan-European private retail payment solutions, therefore underscoring the complementarity between the two.

The strategy brings together all major Eurosystem initiatives – the digital euro, the work on Pontes and Appia, as well as enhancements to cross‑border payments – in a comprehensive framework to ensure that central bank money adapts to the digital age while supporting private sector initiatives in both the wholesale and retail space.

It complements the ECB’s efforts to ensure that euro cash remains widely available, accessible and accepted. As part of its commitment to cash, the ECB is developing a new series of euro banknotes that will feature a new design, and supports legal initiatives aimed at reinforcing the legal tender status of cash.

To ensure that Europe’s payments remain secure and innovative, the Eurosystem will continue to monitor market and technological developments and adjust its strategy where needed.

For media queries, please contact Alessandro Speciale , tel.: +49 172 1670791.

European Central Bank

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