The Central Bank of Paraguay has opened a public consultation on a proposed regulation for interoperability and interconnection in the payment cards system. The draft would set the rules for credit, debit and prepaid card arrangements under Paraguay’s new National Payments System law, with the stated aim of ensuring equitable access, security, efficiency and competition. The consultation follows the enactment on June 27 of Law No. 7503/2025, which authorizes the central bank to require interoperability and interconnection between services or systems when it considers this appropriate and to define the related technical and security standards. The bank linked the proposed framework to broader policy objectives in card payments, including a more competitive and transparent environment, lower operating costs for merchants that accept digital payments, and greater financial inclusion through an interoperable ecosystem that expands user choice and supports innovation in payment services.