Two groups selected for Digital Euro network; issuance decision deferred until after legislat

The European Central Bank has selected two provisional groups to supply connectivity infrastructure for its digital euro pilot, though the announcement does not constitute a decision on whether to issue the digital currency. In an October 30, 2026 notice, the ECB named a group involving Nexi Payments and Deutsche Telekom Business Solutions as first choice, with a provisional group comprising two Telefónica subsidiaries and one Indra subsidiary selected as second choice. The groups' role is to connect pilot-participating payment service providers and national central banks to the digital euro service platform, as well as support communications between platform components. The selection advances the technical groundwork for the digital euro while leaving the issuance decision pending legislation. Watch for the EU legislative process on the digital euro and subsequent ECB decisions on pilot rollout and issuance timing.