The European Central Bank (ECB) has signalled confidence in Digital Euro with the selection of Almaviva and Fabrick to build the official app and infrastructure.
The Digital Euro is a new form of central bank digital currency (CBDC) issued and guaranteed by the Eurosystem. It is designed to complement cash, make payments simpler, safer and more accessible, and to strengthen financial inclusion across the region.
EU citizens will be able to use it for electronic payments in stores, online, or peer-to-peer, ensuring a uniform and secure experience.
The two Italian firms joined the broader Digital Euro project on October 3, tasked with developing the official mobile app for smartphones, tablets and smartwatches. They will also build an open, interoperable infrastructure with dedicated SDKs and APIs, enabling European Payment Service Providers to integrate services.
The contract was awarded as a temporary joint venture through a tender reserved for European companies and is initially set for four years, with the possibility of extensions up to ten years.
The first two years will focus on app development and the gradual rollout of use cases, followed by two years completing development and stabilising operations. Any extensions would support full functionality, user base growth, and ongoing maintenance and assistance.
According to a release, the framework agreement is valued at approximately €153m, highlighting the ECB’s commitment to preparing for the launch of a digital currency.
A growing team
Almaviva and Fabrick join a list of companies selected by the ECB to support the development of the Digital Euro. Each firm has been tasked with building a critical component of the future CBDC.
Portuguese AI company Feedzai has been chosen as the lead provider for fraud detection and risk management. Capgemini Deutschland was named as a secondary provider in this area. Their systems will analyse transaction patterns and user behaviour to help payment providers assess risk and prevent suspicious activity.
German firm Giesecke+Devrient will lead the development of the offline payment solution, designed to allow users to make secure payments without internet access, replicating the privacy and resilience of cash.
Other selected partners include Sapient GmbH and Tremend Software Consulting, who will support alias lookup and app development, and Senacor FCS and equensWorldline, who are working on secure data exchange and risk management systems.
Full steam ahead despite pending approval
While the Digital Euro has not yet received formal legislative approval, the ECB is continuing its preparation phase, signalling strong confidence in the project’s future.
Formal approval requires the adoption of the Digital Euro Regulation by EU member states and subsequent endorsement by the European Parliament. ECB President Christine Lagarde has consistently urged lawmakers to accelerate the legislative process, emphasising that a European CBDC cannot launch without these steps.
According to ECB Executive Board Member Piero Cipollone, the Digital Euro is tentatively scheduled for launch around mid-2029. He noted the European Parliament, Council, and Commission may finalise their positions by mid-2026, after which joint legislative work can begin.
Member states are currently negotiating key design features, including consumer holding limits, with further updates expected later this year
