ECB Weighs AI Agent and Machine-to-Machine Payments for Digital Euro, to Start Proof-of-Concept Next Year

The European Central Bank is considering adding artificial intelligence agents and machine-to-machine payment technology to digital euro payments.

Cointelegraph reported on September 29 that the ECB has started recruiting new participants for its digital euro innovation platform. The central bank plans to test new uses for the digital euro with fintech and payments companies, including AI agent payments, micropayments and machine-to-machine payments.

The proof-of-concept program will run from January to June next year. Participating companies will develop related technologies such as electronic receipts, transactions involving multiple parties, payments that execute automatically when specific conditions are met, and new payment interfaces.

Separately, the ECB will hold workshops in the first half of next year to discuss AI-based payments, micropayments, automated machine-to-machine payments and the use of the digital euro in public services. Some participants will present their results at the ECB's headquarters in Frankfurt.

The ECB has also selected 36 banks and payments companies, including Revolut, Stripe and Deutsche Bank, for a separate digital euro pilot program that will run for 12 months starting in the second half of next year. Still, any actual issuance of a digital euro would require the passage of relevant European Union legislation and a final decision by the ECB.