CME aims for 24/7 crypto derivatives trading by 2026 to meet rising demand

CME Group plans to introduce around-the-clock trading for crypto futures and options in early 2026, responding to rising institutional demand and aiming to reduce price gaps, despite regulatory hurdles and operational challenges.CME Group is gearing up to introduce 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options sometime in early 2026, but of course, that’s all contingent on getting the go-ahead from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Right now, CME’s crypto markets shut down on weekends and holidays, which is quite different from the overall crypto market, which runs nonstop. The plan is for these new trading hours to happen on the CME Globex platform — with a two-hour maintenance window each weekend — and, interestingly enough, trades made during weekends or holidays will be tagged with the next business day’s date, with clearing, settlement, and reporting handled accordingly. Basically, this move seems to be a response to rising institutional demand for uninterrupted risk management tools across the entire week. This decision follows a pretty remarkable year for CME’s crypto derivatives business in 2025. For example, in August alone, the exchange processed around 411,000 contracts daily—an eye-popping 230% jump compared to the previous year—worth nearly $15 billion. During the third quarter, daily averages sat at 340,000 contracts, roughly $14.1 billion in value. And by mid-September, open interest hit a new high of $39 billion, fueled by more than 1,000 big traders holding open positions, which really points to growing institutional involvement. CME currently dominates the Bitcoin and Ethereum futures scene, with open interests of $16.8 billion and $9.8 billion respectively, clearly establishing its leading role in regulated crypto derivatives. One of the big reasons for moving toward continuous trading is to do away with what’s known as “CME gaps.” These are the price discrepancies that pop up when Bitcoin’s price moves during CME’s weekend closures and the market reopens. Interestingly enough, it’s been shown that roughly 65% of these gaps get filled eventually, so offering round-the-clock trading could reduce these discrepancies, potentially winding up changing how Bitcoin futures prices behave. CME’s boss, Terry Duffy, shared a pretty broad vision for 24/7 trading — not just for crypto, but more generally for finance. He said at the September joint SEC-CFTC meeting that eventually, continuous trading will probably become normal in financial markets overall, with crypto markets being kind of a stepping stone toward that future. Many exchange leaders seemed to agree, though they also acknowledged some operational hurdles. For instance, Nasdaq’s CEO Adena Friedman pointed out they’re preparing for longer trading hours but highlighted the complexity of the task, while Jeff Sprecher of Intercontinental Exchange emphasized that market-driven decisions will ultimately determine which products deserve continuous trading. Of course, regulatory approval is still a must before this can happen. And, well, things aren’t exactly smooth sailing — the ongoing U.S. government shutdown that started on October 1, 2025, has slowed down the CFTC’s operations to just the essential functions, which probably will delay the review process. But, given their goal for early 2026, there’s still quite a bit of time to get clearance once government agencies are running normally again. This move by CME aligns with broader industry trends aiming to make crypto trading more accessible and seamless. For instance, Coinbase has recently added 24/7 futures trading for U.S. customers and even bought Deribit, a major options marketplace, for about $2.9 billion. Meanwhile, Cboe is planning to launch continuous Bitcoin and Ethereum futures later this year, which will ramp up competition among regulated exchanges. CME itself has expanded its product lineup in 2025 — adding XRP and Solana futures, both gaining popularity fast. And they’re planning to launch options trading for Solana and XRP futures in October, broadening the toolkit for institutional traders managing crypto risk. For traders, the biggest perk of round-the-clock trading is the ability to react immediately to market moves — no need to wait until markets reopen after weekends or holidays. This feature also means less reliance on offshore exchanges offering continuous trading, which, while tempting, lack the same level of regulation, making it potentially riskier for institutional players. That said, supporting uninterrupted clearing and settlement systems will require significant upgrades to existing infrastructure, and as Don Wilson from DRW Holdings pointed out at a recent regulatory roundtable, enabling 24/7 trading demands systems capable of handling collateral movements at all hours — so, yeah, operational challenges are definitely on the horizon. CME’s push into 24/7 crypto trading marks a key step in blending digital assets with traditional finance. Since pioneering Bitcoin futures back in 2017, the exchange has grown its crypto derivatives into a multi-billion dollar market that now parallels many established financial products. Bringing regulated crypto offerings closer in line with the always-active spot markets could encourage even more institutional participation by making risk management available whenever needed — instead of having to shift funds out to less regulated venues. While regulatory approval and technical upgrades are still underway, CME is clearly positioning itself at the forefront of this major transformation in market infrastructure. It’s pretty interesting, right? This could really shake things up in the way we think about continuous trading — and maybe, just maybe, set a new standard for the entire financial industry down the line. References: - [1] BitRSS - [2] PR Newswire - [3] CME Group News - [4] Investing.com - [5] Blockworks - [6] MEXC News - [7] Bloomberg Law Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://bitrss.com/cme-group-to-launch-24-7-crypto-trading-in-2026-132377 - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cme-group-to-offer-around-the-clock-trading-for-cryptocurrency-futures-and-options-302573425.html - CME Group has announced plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. This decision responds to growing client demand for continuous cryptocurrency trading, enabling market participants to manage risk every day of the week. The trading will occur on the CME Globex platform with a two-hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend. All holiday or weekend trading from Friday evening through Sunday evening will have a trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting processed accordingly. https://www.cmegroup.com/news/2025/coming-soon-24-7-crypto-futures-and-options.html - CME Group has announced plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. This decision responds to growing client demand for continuous cryptocurrency trading, enabling market participants to manage risk every day of the week. The trading will occur on the CME Globex platform with a two-hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend. All holiday or weekend trading from Friday evening through Sunday evening will have a trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting processed accordingly. https://www.investing.com/news/cryptocurrency-news/cme-group-plans-247-cryptocurrency-and-options-trading-starting-early-2026-432SI-4268919 - CME Group has announced plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. This decision responds to growing client demand for continuous cryptocurrency trading, enabling market participants to manage risk every day of the week. The trading will occur on the CME Globex platform with a two-hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend. All holiday or weekend trading from Friday evening through Sunday evening will have a trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting processed accordingly. https://www.blockworks.co/news/cme-group-crypto-derivatives-expansion - CME Group has announced plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. This decision responds to growing client demand for continuous cryptocurrency trading, enabling market participants to manage risk every day of the week. The trading will occur on the CME Globex platform with a two-hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend. All holiday or weekend trading from Friday evening through Sunday evening will have a trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting processed accordingly. https://www.mexc.com/en-GB/news/cme-group-expands-crypto-futures-with-round-the-clock-trading-in-2026/117283 - CME Group has announced plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. This decision responds to growing client demand for continuous cryptocurrency trading, enabling market participants to manage risk every day of the week. The trading will occur on the CME Globex platform with a two-hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend. All holiday or weekend trading from Friday evening through Sunday evening will have a trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting processed accordingly. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/cme-group-plans-24-7-crypto-futures-and-options-trading-in-2026 - CME Group has announced plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. This decision responds to growing client demand for continuous cryptocurrency trading, enabling market participants to manage risk every day of the week. The trading will occur on the CME Globex platform with a two-hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend. All holiday or weekend trading from Friday evening through Sunday evening will have a trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting processed accordingly. 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 recent press release from CME Group dated October 2, 2025, announcing plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. (prnewswire.com) This indicates high freshness. Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: The direct quotes from Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group, and Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group, are sourced from the official CME Group press release dated October 2, 2025. (prnewswire.com) No earlier usage of these quotes was found, suggesting originality. Source reliability Score: 10 Notes: The narrative originates from a press release issued by CME Group, a reputable and authoritative source in the financial industry. This enhances the reliability of the information presented. Plausability check Score: 10 Notes: The announcement aligns with CME Group's recent initiatives to expand its cryptocurrency offerings, such as the launch of XRP futures on May 19, 2025. (investor.cmegroup.com) The plan to introduce 24/7 trading for crypto futures and options in early 2026 is consistent with industry trends towards continuous trading and meets the growing demand for uninterrupted trading hours. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH Summary: The narrative is based on a recent press release from CME Group, dated October 2, 2025, announcing plans to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. (prnewswire.com) The quotes from CME Group executives are original and sourced directly from this press release. The source is highly reliable, originating from CME Group itself. The information is plausible and aligns with CME Group's recent initiatives in the cryptocurrency market. Therefore, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.

Sweden and the United States are considering establishing national Bitcoin reserves, marking a potential shift in how governments integrate digital assets into their financial strategies and prompting a possible global race for digital gold.Swedish opposition MPs from the Sweden Democrats have recently submitted a parliamentary motion urging the Swedish government to explore the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve. Presented on October 2, the motion frames Bitcoin as a strategic diversification asset alongside the Swedish krona and gold, with part of the reserve potentially seeded using seized cryptocurrencies. The proposal is also notable for its expressed skepticism of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Concurrently in the United States, Representative Nick Begich revived efforts to establish a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,” echoing the BITCOIN Act reintroduced in March 2025, which proposes a five-year programme to acquire up to one million Bitcoin through budget-neutral funding mechanisms. These parallel political signals from two advanced economies suggest a growing interest among policymakers in sovereign Bitcoin holdings. The United States has already taken significant steps towards formalising Bitcoin as a reserve asset. In March 2025, then-President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. This initiative aimed to position the U.S. as a leader in government digital asset strategy by treating Bitcoin as a reserve asset capitalised with Bitcoin seized by the Department of the Treasury from criminal and civil forfeiture proceedings. The government reportedly holds roughly 200,000 Bitcoin, approximately 1% of Bitcoin’s fixed supply, which it intends to maintain as a store of value rather than sell. The executive order also tasked the Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce with developing strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers, highlighting a concerted federal policy shift towards integrating digital assets into the national financial system. Other federal agencies are reviewing their authority to transfer their Bitcoin holdings to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, signalling a potential consolidation and expansion of official digital asset reserves. Sweden’s motion, while not specifying target reserve sizes, reflects a similar reasoning to other proposals such as that of the Czech central bank governor who suggested allocating up to 5% of the country’s foreign exchange reserves to Bitcoin. This would translate to approximately €7 billion or about 63,000 BTC at an assumed price of $120,000 per Bitcoin, equivalent to roughly 0.3% of the total supply. By contrast, the U.S. proposal envisages acquiring one million Bitcoins, about 4.76% of the fixed 21 million supply, representing a dramatic increase in sovereign Bitcoin exposure. Even smaller sovereign accumulations, like El Salvador’s current holdings of just over 6,260 BTC (0.03% of supply), have already increased global visibility for Bitcoin as a reserve asset and demonstrated the potential policy implications. The materialisation of these proposals would require clear statutory authority to purchase, hold, and manage Bitcoin reserves with transparent mandates covering custody, auditing, and reporting. In the United States, the BITCOIN Act proposes funding through Federal Reserve remittances and balance sheet revaluation rather than direct taxpayer appropriations, a move designed to mitigate fiscal impact. Similarly, Sweden’s approach could involve government and central bank coordination under existing frameworks for foreign exchange and gold reserves. Crucially, adopting funding rules that allow regular programmed Bitcoin acquisitions would make sovereign demand predictable, reducing Bitcoin price volatility linked to speculative trading and enhancing market maturity. The introduction of scheduled sovereign Bitcoin disclosures analogous to foreign exchange reserve data would further anchor markets, potentially reducing Bitcoin’s historic sensitivity to real yields by partially substituting policy-driven demand for risk appetite-driven demand. Moreover, guidelines permitting the lending, swapping, or strategic liquidity provision of Bitcoin reserves could integrate the cryptocurrency more deeply into public finance mechanisms, increasing the presence of price-insensitive buyers on the bid side and fundamentally altering how Bitcoin interacts with traditional assets like real yields, currencies, and risk instruments. The aggregate effects of these potential sovereign moves herald a significant reframing of Bitcoin’s role in global financial infrastructure. Should parliaments and legislatures transform these proposals into actionable purchase authorities, funding frameworks, and disclosure regimes, the resultant rebalancing could lead to a 'race' for Bitcoin reserves between Europe and the United States. This race would not merely push Bitcoin prices higher due to increased government buying but would recalibrate Bitcoin’s market dynamics through the introduction of a new class of structurally price-insensitive holders, thereby influencing correlations with real yields and other macroeconomic variables over the long term. 📌 Reference Map: - Paragraph 1 – [1] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7] - Paragraph 3 – [1] - Paragraph 4 – [1] - Paragraph 5 – [1] - Paragraph 6 – [1] Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/bitcoin/will-a-europe-us-btc-reserve-race-actually-happen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=will-a-europe-us-btc-reserve-race-actually-happen - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-u-s-digital-asset-stockpile/ - In March 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. This initiative aims to position the United States as a leader in government digital asset strategy by treating Bitcoin as a reserve asset. The reserve will be capitalized with Bitcoin seized by the Department of the Treasury from criminal and civil asset forfeiture proceedings, ensuring that taxpayers bear no financial burden. The U.S. government currently holds approximately 200,000 Bitcoin, which will be maintained as a store of reserve assets and not sold. Other federal agencies are evaluating their legal authority to transfer any Bitcoin they own to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Additionally, the order directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce to develop strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers. This move signifies a significant shift in U.S. digital asset policy, reflecting a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies at the federal level. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/establishment-of-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-united-states-digital-asset-stockpile/ - On March 6, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order titled 'Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile.' The order establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to treat Bitcoin as a reserve asset, capitalized with Bitcoin owned by the Department of the Treasury that was forfeited as part of criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. The United States will not sell Bitcoin deposited into this reserve; it will be maintained as a store of reserve assets. Other federal agencies are reviewing their authorities to transfer any Bitcoin they own to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The order also establishes a United States Digital Asset Stockpile to hold other confiscated cryptocurrencies. The Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce are tasked with developing strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers. This executive order marks a significant step in integrating digital assets into the U.S. financial system. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-u-s-digital-asset-stockpile/ - In March 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. This initiative aims to position the United States as a leader in government digital asset strategy by treating Bitcoin as a reserve asset. The reserve will be capitalized with Bitcoin seized by the Department of the Treasury from criminal and civil asset forfeiture proceedings, ensuring that taxpayers bear no financial burden. The U.S. government currently holds approximately 200,000 Bitcoin, which will be maintained as a store of reserve assets and not sold. Other federal agencies are evaluating their legal authority to transfer any Bitcoin they own to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Additionally, the order directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce to develop strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers. This move signifies a significant shift in U.S. digital asset policy, reflecting a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies at the federal level. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/establishment-of-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-united-states-digital-asset-stockpile/ - On March 6, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order titled 'Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile.' The order establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to treat Bitcoin as a reserve asset, capitalized with Bitcoin owned by the Department of the Treasury that was forfeited as part of criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. The United States will not sell Bitcoin deposited into this reserve; it will be maintained as a store of reserve assets. Other federal agencies are reviewing their authorities to transfer any Bitcoin they own to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The order also establishes a United States Digital Asset Stockpile to hold other confiscated cryptocurrencies. The Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce are tasked with developing strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers. This executive order marks a significant step in integrating digital assets into the U.S. financial system. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-u-s-digital-asset-stockpile/ - In March 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. This initiative aims to position the United States as a leader in government digital asset strategy by treating Bitcoin as a reserve asset. The reserve will be capitalized with Bitcoin seized by the Department of the Treasury from criminal and civil asset forfeiture proceedings, ensuring that taxpayers bear no financial burden. The U.S. government currently holds approximately 200,000 Bitcoin, which will be maintained as a store of reserve assets and not sold. Other federal agencies are evaluating their legal authority to transfer any Bitcoin they own to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Additionally, the order directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce to develop strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers. This move signifies a significant shift in U.S. digital asset policy, reflecting a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies at the federal level. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/establishment-of-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-united-states-digital-asset-stockpile/ - On March 6, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order titled 'Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile.' The order establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to treat Bitcoin as a reserve asset, capitalized with Bitcoin owned by the Department of the Treasury that was forfeited as part of criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. The United States will not sell Bitcoin deposited into this reserve; it will be maintained as a store of reserve assets. Other federal agencies are reviewing their authorities to transfer any Bitcoin they own to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The order also establishes a United States Digital Asset Stockpile to hold other confiscated cryptocurrencies. The Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce are tasked with developing strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin without imposing costs on taxpayers. This executive order marks a significant step in integrating digital assets into the U.S. financial system. 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: 8 Notes: The narrative presents recent developments, including Sweden's parliamentary motion from October 2, 2025, and the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve established in March 2025. The U.S. initiative was widely reported in March 2025, with sources such as the White House's official announcement (whitehouse.gov) and coverage by Reuters (reuters.com). The Swedish motion is a new development, indicating high freshness. However, the U.S. initiative has been previously reported, suggesting some recycled content. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Quotes check Score: 9 Notes: The report includes direct quotes from the U.S. executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which are consistent with the official text (whitehouse.gov). No discrepancies or variations in wording were found, indicating accurate and consistent quoting. Source reliability Score: 7 Notes: The narrative originates from BitcoinEthereumNews.com, a platform that aggregates cryptocurrency news. While it provides timely updates, its reputation for original reporting is unclear, which may affect the reliability of the information presented. Plausability check Score: 8 Notes: The claims about Sweden's parliamentary motion and the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve are plausible and align with known developments. The U.S. initiative was established in March 2025 (whitehouse.gov), and the Swedish motion is a recent development. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and there are no excessive or off-topic details. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM Summary: The narrative presents recent developments regarding sovereign Bitcoin reserves in Sweden and the U.S. While the Swedish motion is a new and plausible development, the U.S. initiative has been previously reported, indicating some recycled content. The quotes are accurate and consistent, and the language is appropriate. However, the source's reliability is uncertain, and the lack of supporting details from other reputable outlets raises concerns. Therefore, the overall assessment is OPEN with medium confidence.

The ECB has selected Portuguese AI firm Feedzai to develop a centralised fraud detection system for the digital euro, marking a pivotal step towards a secure and trusted digital currency infrastructure across the eurozone.The European Central Bank (ECB) has taken a pretty clear step forward in its digital euro plans by choosing Portuguese AI firm Feedzai to develop a centralised system aimed at detecting and preventing fraud in online digital euro transactions. This move is really important—it's designed to boost security and, honestly, foster trust among users, which is key for people to actually start using the digital euro widely. As part of the deal, Feedzai, with support from its subcontractor PwC, will build a real-time service that handles payment requests from payment service providers (PSPs). This system will analyze transaction data on the spot using AI techniques to come up with a risk score. That score then helps PSPs decide—quickly and effectively—whether a transaction might be fraudulent. It’s meant to supplement existing controls and improve their ability to identify and block scams. Plus, Feedzai will offer post-transaction fraud analysis and detailed reports, giving a comprehensive picture of risks across the network of PSPs. The initial contract between the ECB and Feedzai is valued at nearly $92 million, but it could grow to as much as $278 million over four years, with options to extend up to fifteen years—because, well, this is a long-term project with plenty of complexities involved. Feedzai, which processes around $8 trillion in payments yearly across Europe and the US, has been positioned as the primary provider, with Capgemini standing by as a backup. The ECB plans to roll out the system gradually, after roughly two years of development. Now, the digital euro will work in a two-layer setup, where commercial banks and other PSPs will handle distributing the digital currency to end-users. Feedzai’s central platform will provide insights into fraud risk based on data that's much richer than what individual PSPs could collect on their own. Basically, this centralised view aims to add an extra layer of protection by giving intelligence that might be out of reach for smaller players. Along with the Feedzai deal, the ECB has awarded framework agreements for four other key parts of the digital euro system. These include an alias lookup service to make payments easier—using identifiers like phone numbers or emails—reducing the chances of fraud in peer-to-peer transfers. There’s also an offline payment solution that will depend on hardware-based bearer instruments, so transactions can go through even when there's no internet connection. The ECB is also supporting the development of an app and SDKs to help integrate digital euro features into existing platforms, plus a secure way to exchange payment information via tokenisation methods like QR codes. Leading European companies, such as Giesecke+Devrient for offline payments and Senacor for secure info exchange, have been awarded contracts for these parts. Right now, the digital euro is still in the preparation phase, which started back in November 2023. The ECB has involved around seventy market players—including banks, fintechs, merchants, and startups—in an innovation platform aimed at testing technical features like conditional payments and exploring different use cases. The goal is to promote financial inclusion and innovation. These participants are divided into groups called “pioneers” and “visionaries,” working closely with the ECB to test and shape the digital euro ecosystem during 2025. The project is under strict legislative conditions. The ECB’s governing council will only decide on actually issuing the digital euro after the European Union’s final approval of relevant legislation—called the Digital Euro Regulation. The current timeline sees legislative approval around mid-2026, with a launch aimed for 2029. It’s cautious, but clearly deliberate. The digital euro is expected to strengthen financial sovereignty across the eurozone—providing an alternative to US-led payment systems like Visa and Mastercard—and improve resilience in payment infrastructure. The ECB emphasizes features such as geographically distributed transaction processing and an independent app that lets users switch PSPs easily. This ensures that even if regional disruptions or cyberattacks happen, operations can continue smoothly. Feedzai’s CEO, Nuno Sebastião, explained that the platform’s success hinges on AI’s ability to quickly adapt to new fraud techniques. That kind of agility—well, it’s pretty crucial to keep trust and security high in digital euro transactions. And, honestly, that is key for people accepting the currency and making it widespread. So, in a nutshell, picking Feedzai and awarding contracts for other system components mark significant milestones in the journey toward the digital euro. Collectively, these efforts aim to create a secure, user-friendly, and resilient digital currency infrastructure—something that supports the eurozone’s broader goals for digital payments and financial independence. References: - Paragraph 1 — [1], [2], [6] - Paragraph 2 — same as above. - Paragraph 3 — same source. - Paragraph 4 — same, with additional info from ECB press release [3]. - Paragraph 5 — same as paragraph 1 and 2, plus ECB press release [4]. - Paragraph 6 — same sources, along with ECB speech [5]. - Paragraph 7 — same references, integrating insights from ECB updates and reports. Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://www.americanbanker.com/news/eu-central-bank-taps-feedzai-for-digital-euro-fraud-shield - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/ecb-picks-ai-startup-prevent-digital-euro-frauds-2025-10-02/ - The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected Portuguese AI startup Feedzai to help combat fraud associated with its planned digital euro. Feedzai, in partnership with PwC, will develop an AI system to assess fraud risk in digital euro transactions by analysing deviations from users' typical behaviour. The contract is valued at up to €237.3 million over four years, with an initial estimate of €79.1 million. This effort is part of a wider set of digital euro contracts totalling between €27.6 million and €220.7 million, including one awarded to Capgemini. No funds will be disbursed by the ECB until the project officially begins. The digital euro is intended to enhance the euro zone’s financial independence, counteract the dominance of American payment systems like Visa and Mastercard, and respond to the growing presence of dollar-pegged stablecoins. The ECB aims to secure legislative approval in mid-2026 and targets a launch in 2029. Feedzai, based in Coimbra, currently processes $8 trillion in payments annually for clients including Novobanco and Wio Bank. (reuters.com) https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/intro/news/html/ecb.mipnews251002.en.html - As part of the preparation phase for the digital euro, the European Central Bank (ECB) has selected providers for five digital euro components and related services, as the outcome of the call for applications initiated on 3 January 2024 and subsequent invitation to tender. The ECB has signed framework agreements with the following providers for the five digital euro components and related services: 1. Alias lookup: (1) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L, (2) equensWorldline 2. Risk and fraud management: (1) Feedzai, (2) Capgemini Deutschland 3. App and software development kit (SDK): (1) Almaviva SpA & Fabrick SpA, (2) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L 4. Offline solution: (1) Giesecke+Devrient, (2) To be announced in due course 5. Secure exchange of payment information: (1) Senacor FCS, (2) equensWorldline Service requests will initially be directed to the first-ranked provider; the second-ranked provider will be approached only if required. The ECB will only take a decision to issue the digital euro once the Digital Euro Regulation has been adopted. The actual development of the components – or parts thereof – will be decided at a later stage, subject to the ECB Governing Council’s decision on the potential next phase of the project. Framework agreements do not involve any payment at this stage and include safeguards allowing for the scope to be adjusted in line with changes to the legislation. (ecb.europa.eu) https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.pr250505~00207689f9.en.html - The European Central Bank (ECB) has established an innovation platform to collaborate with European stakeholders in the context of the digital euro project. Almost 70 market participants – including merchants, fintech companies, start-ups, banks and other payment service providers – have signed up to work with the ECB to explore digital euro payment functionalities and use cases. Following a call for interest published in October 2024, the ECB received over 100 applications from around 70 participants, who joined one or both of the workstreams "pioneers" and "visionaries". The innovation platform simulates the envisaged digital euro ecosystem, in which the ECB provides the technical support and infrastructure for European intermediaries to develop innovative digital payment features and services at European level. The pioneers workstream is investigating how conditional payments in digital euro (i.e. transactions that are made automatically when predefined conditions are met, such as the delivery of a package bought online) could be implemented from a technical standpoint. It is also developing potential use cases for day-to-day payments. Pioneers will be exploring how to integrate the simulated digital euro interfaces with their platforms. The ECB is providing participants with technical support and specifications, such as an application programming interface, to conduct independent work on use cases of their choice. Pioneers will summarise their findings in a report, which the ECB will review thoroughly to inform its work on the digital euro project. The visionaries workstream is conducting research on new digital euro use cases and how they could help address societal challenges, such as digital financial inclusion. For instance, the ability to open a digital euro wallet in any post office could guarantee free access to digital euro services, even for people without a bank account or access to digital devices. Visionaries will share and discuss their proposals with the ECB in dedicated workshops that will run until May 2025. “We welcome the huge amount of interest that market participants have shown in this exciting initiative,” said Executive Board member Piero Cipollone. “The breadth and creativity of the proposals highlights the digital euro’s potential as a catalyst for financial innovation in Europe, including the development of new solutions that further enhance the payment experience for Europeans and create market opportunities”. Findings from both workstreams will be published by the ECB in a report to be published later this year. (ecb.europa.eu) https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/key/date/2025/html/ecb.sp250904~70ab593276.en.html - The digital euro would in fact support business continuity in times of crisis by providing additional payment rails on top of the existing private solutions. In other words, by having alternative payment options in place, we would enhance resilience by ensuring that there is always spare capacity in the system. In terms of resilience, three features of the digital euro stand out. First, the technical infrastructure for processing transactions will be distributed across at least three different regions, each equipped with multiple servers. In the event of a regional disaster or cyberattack, this will allow payments to be automatically rerouted, ensuring uninterrupted operations. Second, the ECB will develop a dedicated digital euro app that will be made available to all and will allow users to switch easily between payment service providers offering the digital euro. Under normal circumstances, this fallback option will ensure flexibility. But in the event of a cyberattack on one or more providers, it would guarantee continuity. (ecb.europa.eu) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feedzai - Feedzai is a data science company that develops real-time machine learning tools to identify fraudulent payment transactions and minimise risk in the financial services, retail, and e-commerce industries. The company has been classified as a unicorn startup since March 2021, after a Series D funding round pushed its value above $1 billion. Feedzai is headquartered in Coimbra, Portugal. The company's U.S. headquarters is in San Mateo, California, in the Silicon Valley. The company was founded in 2011 by Nuno Sebastião, Pedro Bizarro and Paulo Marques. The company first began selling its solutions for fraud detection and operational intelligence in Europe and later expanded to the United States in 2014. (en.wikipedia.org) 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 recent press release from the European Central Bank (ECB) dated 2 October 2025, announcing the selection of Feedzai for the digital euro project. (ecb.europa.eu) This indicates high freshness. Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: The direct quotes from ECB board member Piero Cipollone and Feedzai CEO Nuno Sebastião are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found online. This suggests original or exclusive content. Source reliability Score: 10 Notes: The narrative originates from reputable sources: the ECB's official press release and Feedzai's press release. Both are authoritative and trustworthy, enhancing the report's credibility. Plausability check Score: 10 Notes: The claims about the ECB selecting Feedzai for the digital euro project are corroborated by multiple reputable outlets, including Reuters. (reuters.com) The details align with known developments in the digital euro initiative, and the language and tone are consistent with official communications. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH Summary: The narrative is fresh, original, and originates from reliable sources. The claims are plausible and supported by multiple reputable outlets, with no signs of disinformation or recycled content.