(Alliance News) - The European Central Bank has taken a new step towards the digital euro, pending EU regulation expected in mid-2026.

As Il Sole 24 Ore explains on Friday, suppliers have been selected for five key areas: apps and software, risk and fraud management, data tracking, offline payments, and security in information exchange.

Among the winners are Italian companies Almaviva and Fabrick, tasked with developing the official app and software kit to integrate the digital euro into payment services. Other contracts have been awarded to groups such as Sapient, Worldline, Feedzai, Capgemini, Giesecke+Devrient - in collaboration with Nexi - and Senacor.

The preparation phase, which began in November 2023, will end on October 31, 2024. If the regulation is approved, technical development will begin in 2026, with field testing in 2028 and a possible launch of the digital euro in early 2029.

It will be a unique currency in the world: digital cash, usable both online and offline throughout the euro area.

By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter

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