De Nederlandsche Bank survey finds Dutch merchants see value in an offline digital euro but want costs kept low

De Nederlandsche Bank published findings from a survey of Dutch merchants showing interest in an “offline” digital euro that could be used without electricity or an internet connection, with the key condition that transaction and implementation costs remain low. In a representative survey of 1,023 merchants across sectors including retail, hospitality, fuel and charging stations, and services, security ranked as the most important prerequisite for a digital euro, followed by resilience during disruptions and customer privacy. The ability to keep payments running during outages was particularly valued by high-volume point-of-sale businesses such as supermarkets, street vendors and fuel and charging stations. Cost concerns were prominent: 79% fear digital euro transaction fees could exceed those of existing payment methods, and two-thirds are wary of investments such as new software or payment terminals, preferring to reuse existing infrastructure where possible. Awareness is limited, with 46% not familiar with the digital euro, 43% having heard of it but not knowing what it is, and 11% considering themselves well informed. The update notes that any introduction depends on EU-level political agreement and legislation negotiated by EU Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission; once a final legal framework is in place, the European Central Bank can proceed with developing the payment system for the euro area.