The ECB has invited euro-area e-commerce and mobile-commerce merchants to join a 12-month digital euro pilot beginning in the second half of 2027.The pilot will test online, mobile, in-store and person-to-person payments using a beta currency that will not be legal tender.Merchants will participate alongside 19 euro-area national central banks and 36 banks and payment firms already selected for the testing program.The ECB is targeting possible digital euro issuance in 2029, subject to EU legislation and a separate decision by its Governing Council.Merchant incentives could be needed to support acceptance, with lower payment processing fees among the options raised by Hedera policy executive Isadora Arredondo.