The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched a new program to explore the possibility of using artificial intelligence with the future digital euro for payments, including micropayments and machine-to-machine interactions.
On September 28, the ECB announced that companies, payment systems, fintech firms, merchants, government institutions and researchers can apply to take part in the next stage of the digital euro innovation platform, with work set to begin in 2027.
The project will explore payment systems using artificial intelligence, AI agents interacting with one another, micropayments and new features in payment applications. Participants are expected to take privacy, user control and data protection into account when developing their ideas.
Applications will be accepted until November 9, 5:00 PM Central European Time. The ECB has split the work into two programs: one focuses on developing working payment features, while the other explores technologies that may prove useful in the future.
Can AI agents make digital euro payments?
As part of the research program, the study will examine how artificial intelligence could interact with a possible digital euro, without any specific commitment to a future launch.
Among the areas the ECB wants participants to explore are AI agents capable of interacting with payment systems and with other AI agents. The central bank did not state that autonomous AI-powered payments would necessarily become part of the digital euro.
In the first and second quarters of 2027, workshops will be held at the ECB’s headquarters in Frankfurt. Selected organizations will discuss potential use cases involving consumers, merchants, businesses and public services.
Micropayments fall under the same line of research. Such payments may involve very small amounts that are difficult or costly to process with some traditional payment methods. The ECB’s statement did not specify transaction sizes or provide a technical model for how AI agents would authorize them.
Machine-to-machine interaction is another area under consideration. The ECB describes this program as exploring future possibilities, meaning it is not announcing that devices or AI systems will be given unlimited rights to spend digital euros.
Privacy requirements will be addressed during the discussions. The ECB states that when proposing AI-based payment features, participants should consider privacy-by-design principles, user control and data protection.
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