Almaviva, an Italian digital innovation Group, and Fabrick, a Sella Group company active in Open Finance at an international level, have been selected by the European Central Bank (ECB), as part of the Digital Euro project, to develop the mobile app and its technological infrastructure that will enable European citizens to use the European digital currency.

The app, designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, will be accessible via smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch, offering all European Union citizens a uniform and secure experience for digital payments. The part of the project entrusted to the two Italian companies also includes the development of an infrastructure that will be open and interoperable thanks to dedicated SDKs and APIs, enabling European Payment Service Providers to smoothly integrate their services with the Digital Euro platform. This approach will ensure widespread adoption of the new currency and foster innovation throughout the payments ecosystem, strengthening Europe’s technological autonomy.

Issued and guaranteed by the Eurosystem, the digital euro is intended to make payments simpler, safer, and more accessible, complementing cash and reinforcing financial inclusion across the euro area. The official digital euro app will be identical for all EU countries and can be used for electronic payments in physical stores, online, or between individuals, ensuring a simple, secure, and accessible experience for everyone

The initial duration of the contract, awarded to Almaviva and Fabrick as a temporary joint venture through a tender reserved for European companies, is four years, with the possibility of extensions up to ten years. The first two years will be dedicated to the development of the Digital Euro and the gradual rollout of various use cases; in the following two years, development will be completed and a stable operational phase ensured. Any extensions will allow for the completion of all functionalities, user base growth support, and the provision of maintenance and assistance. The maximum value of the framework agreement is approximately €153 million.

The digital euro represents a further step toward European cohesion, strengthening the strategic autonomy and monetary sovereignty of the euro area, improving the efficiency of the entire payments ecosystem, promoting innovation, and increasing resilience against cyberattacks or possible technical disruptions.