European payment: digital euro, free instant transfers... How to anticipate the new rules of the game?

The rules of the payment game in Europe are about to undergo a major transformation. Between the imminent arrival of theDigital euro And the generalized free instant transfers, e-retailers are at a strategic crossroads. To remain competitive and optimize their cash flow, it is becoming imperative to reinvent your payment strategy and to anticipate these changes.

How to anticipate the impact of the digital euro and free instant transfers?

These innovations are not simple adjustments; they represent a potential upheaval in consumer habits and financial transactions.

The digital euro: a central bank currency at your fingertips

The digital euro is a central bank digital currency (CBDC) project issued by the European Central Bank (ECB). It aims to offer a digital form of the euro, complementary to cash and bank deposits.

Project schedule

The final decision on the issuance of the digital euro is expected after October 2025, with potential implementation starting in 2027.

Impact on consumers

It could offer a universal, secure, and privacy-friendly digital payment solution that is accessible to everyone, even without a traditional bank account. This could increase financial inclusion and offer an alternative to private payment giants.

But citizen support is still a key condition. In March 2025, the European Central Bank published a study based on a survey of 19,000 people in 11 eurozone countries. Respondents express high expectations for the confidentiality of transactions. Transparency on the conditions of use, the protection of personal data and the guarantee of a clear ceiling on the amounts held are among the elements considered decisive. The study also reveals a strong preference for a solution that is simple to use and easily integrated into current payment habits.

The digital euro will only develop if it gains the trust of citizens and proves that it brings a real plus compared to current solutions.

Impact on e-retailers

The digital euro could simplify cross-border payments in the eurozone, reduce transaction costs (potentially those associated with current intermediaries), and offer a new direct payment channel. It could also influence competition by offering a strong public payment option. Its adoption will depend on its ease of use and the incentives put in place.

Free instant transfers: a new standard

The European regulation on instant transfers, which came into force in April 2024, makes instant transfers in euros mandatory and free (or at the same price as a standard transfer) for banks in the eurozone. This measure aims to generalize the use of this technology.

Since January 9, 2025, banks in the eurozone must allow their customers to receive instant transfers at no additional cost, or at the same price as a traditional bank transfer. From October 9, 2025, they will also have to Suggest the issuance of instant transfers under the same conditions.

This new rule, resulting from European regulation 2024/886, aims to make instant transfers a standard, more accessible for everyone.

Impact on consumers

This makes bank payments faster and more convenient for online purchases, reducing the waiting time for transaction confirmation.

Impact on e-retailers

Optimized cash flow : the immediate receipt of funds (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) allows better cash management and faster access to liquidity.

Cost reduction : potentially, this could reduce the costs associated with card payments or other intermediaries, if free instant transfers become a common payment method on e-commerce sites.

New uses : bank transfer initiation (offered by SlimPay, GoCardless, Fintecture), payments by link or QR code, accelerated refunds... so many use cases that streamline the customer journey. facilitates instant refunds, improves order management and can encourage new forms of direct payment via bank transfer initiation.

Faced with these changes, a proactive strategy is essential. The architecture of your payment system must become more agile.

How to adapt your payment strategy?

Payment orchestration

Flexibility above all. Adopting a payment orchestration solution is key. Instead of managing direct and complex integrations with each new method or regulation, an orchestration platform like Purse allows you to:

• Connect easily : thanks to Purse's unique API, you activate more than 80 PSPs and payment methods in a single entry point, without technical complexity.
• Manage eligibility dynamically : adapt the proposed methods according to the country, the product, the amount, and the specific rules of the digital euro or Wero.
• Optimizing financial flows : Centralize reporting and reconciliation, even with multiple payment sources.
• Will allow you to simply add the digital euro to your payment strategy.

Integration strategies for e-retailers: collaboration with payment service providers (PSPs) or the use of payment orchestration solutions is essential to facilitate the adoption of these new methods.

Focus on Open Banking and EPI

The digital euro and instant transfers fit perfectly into the Open Banking ecosystem, offering e-merchants opportunities for faster and secure payments. Open Banking allows third-party applications to access bank data (with the customer's consent) and to initiate payments directly from the bank account, with instant transfers being part of this logic.

THE EPI (European Payments Initiative) is an ambitious project to create a unified pan-European payment solution for in-store, online and peer-to-peer payments. It seeks to compete with American giants and should use instant transfers as a backbone.

Wero is the commercial name of the EPI payment solution, developed by a consortium of European banks. It is intended to become a credible European alternative to PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard.

Update : Wero was launched in 2024 in Germany and Belgium for payments between individuals (P2P), and its deployment in France also started in autumn 2024. The launch of online payments for e-commerce is scheduled for summer 2025 in Germany, followed by Belgium in October, and deployment in France is expected in early 2026.

Implications for e-retailers : the integration of Wero could become a major asset to target the European market with a native, reliable and potentially less expensive payment solution. It would embody European sovereignty in terms of payments.

Vigilance : the pace at which Wero is launched and its adoption by consumers and banks will be crucial. Its deployment and popularity will have to be monitored to decide the best time to integrate it.

Digital sovereignty issues and challenges

The digital euro and Wero aim to reduce Europe's dependence on non-European payment systems such as Visa, Mastercard or PayPal, thus strengthening European digital sovereignty. However, technical and adoption challenges remain. Upgrading banking infrastructures, managing cybersecurity risks, and the need for consumer education are crucial to foster the adoption of the digital euro and Wero.

Conclusion: Payment, a growth engine for tomorrow

The European payments ecosystem is changing rapidly. The digital euro and free instant transfers are not distant prospects, but realities that require preparation. For e-retailers, anticipating these changes and turning them into opportunities is essential to optimize cash flow, improve the customer experience and remain competitive.

sourcing

1. European Central Bank - The digital euro
2. European Commission - The digital euro
3. Council of the European Union - Council adopts new law to make instant transfers accessible to all EU and EEA citizens and businesses
4. European Payments Council (EPC) - SEPA Instant Credit Transfer
5. Wero - Wero Wallet
6. European Payments Initiative (EPI) - European Payments Initiative
7. European Banking Authority (EBA) - Revised Payment Services Directive
8. Statista - Digital payments in Europe

👉 And you, what are your challenges for tomorrow?

Contact us to anticipate and optimize your European payment strategy!