The ECB advances its digital euro project by awarding a major contract for offline payment systems and developing AI-driven fraud detection, aiming to enhance privacy, resilience, and security in digital transactions.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has wrapped up its framework agreements covering five key parts of its digital euro project—an important move forward, I’d say. One thing that stands out is the contract they awarded for the offline payment system of the digital euro. This went to a consortium led by Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and included partners like Nexi and Capgemini. Now, this offline feature is seen by the ECB as pretty important because it aims to mimic the privacy and resilience features you'd expect from cash. Basically, it’s about enabling transactions without needing an internet connection or involving third parties like banks or payment providers, which is pretty revolutionary.

The offline payment option enables transactions to be settled directly between devices—whether smartphones, cards, or other compatible hardware—without relying on an active internet connection or even power. According to the ECB, this method does a couple of things: it boosts privacy by preventing third parties from recording transaction details, and it also makes the system more resilient—so, even if connectivity drops, payments can still go through. It’s designed to make sure the digital euro is accessible across the entire euro area, working alongside physical cash but offering more digital flexibility.

So, the framework they’ve set up involves designing, developing, and partly managing the offline system, and then integrating it into the bigger digital euro setup via the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP). G+D brings decades of expertise in security tech and currency systems, Nexi is known for innovative payment solutions and point-of-sale tech, and Capgemini is a major player in tech consulting and digital transformation. Dr. Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of G+D Currency Technology, emphasized how they’re committed to delivering a secure and innovative solution that keeps cash-like privacy and trust. Renato Martini from Nexi also pointed out the importance of building resilient payment systems that work even when offline—something that quite a few people probably find reassuring.

This all ties into the ECB’s larger plan to boost the eurozone’s financial independence while introducing a digital payment option that’s modern, inclusive, and trustworthy. It’s part of a broader trend among central banks around the world to develop Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) that preserve the core features of cash, but in a digital format—pretty fascinating, isn’t it?

And it’s not just the offline payments that the ECB is working on. They’re also making strides in other areas of their digital euro infrastructure. For example, they’ve teamed up with Feedzai, a Portuguese AI startup, along with PwC, to develop a sophisticated AI system designed to detect fraud risks. This system will analyze behavioral patterns to spot and assess potential fraud in digital euro transactions—helping payment service providers make better decisions about approval. The contract for this fraud detection tech is valued at up to €237.3 million over four years, which shows just how seriously the ECB takes security and fraud prevention in this new digital currency setup.

All in all, these contracts paint a picture of a layered, robust approach by the ECB. While the offline payment system ensures privacy and usability even under less-than-ideal conditions, the AI-based fraud detection adds a crucial security layer for an increasingly digital financial world. The whole strategy seems to be about building trust and acceptance, making sure that once the digital euro is rolled out, it’s both safe and user-friendly. Honestly, it’s pretty impressive, right? I find it surprising that they’re covering all these bases so thoroughly, but that’s likely the key to success here.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is based on a press release from Capgemini dated October 2, 2025, announcing the conclusion of a framework agreement with the European Central Bank (ECB) for the development of an offline solution for the digital euro. (capgemini.com) This indicates high freshness, as the information is current and directly from the involved parties.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative includes direct quotes from Dr. Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of Giesecke+Devrient, and Renato Martini, Digital Banking Solutions Director of Nexi. These quotes are present in the Capgemini press release dated October 2, 2025. (capgemini.com) No earlier usage of these quotes was found, suggesting they are original to this release.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from Capgemini, a reputable global business and technology transformation partner. The press release is accessible on Capgemini's official website, indicating a reliable source. (capgemini.com)

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims about the ECB's selection of Giesecke+Devrient, Nexi, and Capgemini for the digital euro offline solution are corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including the ECB's official announcement and Reuters. (ecb.europa.eu) The narrative's language and tone are consistent with official communications, and the details align with known developments in the digital euro project.

Overall assessment

Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is based on a recent press release from Capgemini, dated October 2, 2025, announcing the conclusion of a framework agreement with the ECB for the development of an offline solution for the digital euro. The quotes from Dr. Wolfram Seidemann and Renato Martini are original to this release. The source is reliable, and the claims are corroborated by multiple reputable outlets. The language and tone are consistent with official communications, and the details align with known developments in the digital euro project. Therefore, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.