De Nederlandsche Bank published a payments blog arguing that the Netherlands and the wider euro area are vulnerable because electronic and online payments depend heavily on non-European service providers. The blog sets out DNB’s push for European solutions, citing developing private initiatives such as Wero and EuroPA alongside the potential role of a digital euro as a form of public money. The blog notes that non-European firms such as Visa and Mastercard, and wallet providers such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, currently handle end-to-end card payments and accounted for about two-thirds of euro area card payments in the first half of 2024, with the Netherlands close to 100%. While cash payments infrastructure remains fully Dutch, cash use is declining and represents about 20% of point-of-sale payments. The digital euro is described as an additional form of central bank money alongside cash, operating on independent European infrastructure, usable across the euro area for in-store and online purchases, and capable of offline payments during power outages; it would also provide more privacy than other digital payments, with limits on anonymous payments to mitigate money laundering risks. The legislative framework for the digital euro is being considered by the European Council and the European Parliament, and the blog indicates that if this is completed in 2026 the digital euro could be introduced from 2029 at the earliest. Wero, presented as the successor to iDEAL, is expected to become available in the Netherlands in 2026.
De Nederlandsche Bank 2025-10-10
De Nederlandsche Bank highlights payment-system reliance on non-European providers and points to Wero in 2026 and digital euro from 2029
De Nederlandsche Bank highlighted the euro area's reliance on non-European payment providers, advocating for European solutions like Wero and EuroPA, and the potential introduction of a digital euro. The digital euro, under consideration by the European Council and Parliament, could launch by 2029, offering privacy and offline capabilities. Wero, succeeding iDEAL, is anticipated to be available in the Netherlands by 2026.