ECB taps Feedzai’s AI for digital euro fraud defence amid security shifts

Digital1412 words7 min readabout 3 hours ago

The European Central Bank has awarded a potentially €237.3 million contract to Feedzai, a Portuguese AI startup, to develop an advanced fraud detection system for the upcoming digital euro, marking a significant step in securing central bank digital currencies against emerging threats.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has recently awarded a substantial contract, potentially worth up to €237.3 million, to Feedzai, a Portuguese startup specializing in AI, in partnership with PwC. This framework agreement, which spans four years with an option to extend up to 15 years, aims to develop an advanced fraud detection and prevention system tailored for the upcoming digital euro. The technology utilizes artificial intelligence to evaluate transactions by assigning risk scores based on deviations from users' typical behavior, interactions, and transaction history. Essentially, this system is intended to support payment service providers in making informed decisions—whether to approve or flag digital euro transfers, which are exchanges between electronic wallets backed by the central bank.

This initiative, focusing on fraud prevention within the digital euro, aligns with the ECB’s overarching objective to strengthen the eurozone’s financial independence. It forms part of their strategy to reduce reliance on major U.S. payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard. While the digital euro still awaits legislative approval, the ECB is positioning this digital currency as a means to enhance monetary sovereignty and counteract external threats like U.S.-based stablecoins. Feedzai’s role is to centralize fraud insights at the infrastructure level—strengthening the overall system’s security without replacing existing payment providers—by enriching their risk management data.

Feedzai’s platform will generate a fraud risk score for each transaction, whether peer-to-peer or peer-to-merchant. This centralized fraud detection approach complements the ECB’s broader vision. Payment providers can combine the risk score provided by Feedzai with their own fraud controls, creating a layered defense system to better combat fraud in digital euro transactions. As this contract is structured as a framework agreement, no funds will be paid until the project officially commences, highlighting the cautious yet committed stance of the ECB toward this initiative.

Selecting Feedzai—handling approximately $8 trillion worth of payments annually for clients such as Portugal’s Novobanco and Abu Dhabi’s Wio Bank—indicates the ECB’s preference for innovative, AI-driven solutions from emerging players. PwC, serving as a subcontractor, enhances this collaboration through consulting expertise and implementation support.

Additionally, other contracts within the broader digital euro project have been awarded, encompassing five providers in total, including France’s Capgemini with a contract valued at €220.7 million. These agreements remain provisional pending further legislative developments and regulatory frameworks for the digital euro.

This move coincides with ongoing discussions at Sibos in Frankfurt, where themes of financial crime and fraud prevention continue to dominate. It underscores the increasing importance of security in today’s digital payments landscape—especially with the digital euro representing a significant advancement in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). By integrating sophisticated fraud prevention measures into the core of the digital euro infrastructure, the ECB aims to set a high standard for security, privacy, and compliance with EU standards.

Meanwhile, global regulatory activities evolve, with institutions like the U.S. Small Business Administration investigating ‘debanking’—accounts being closed for political or religious reasons—and governments preparing for operational challenges posed by shutdowns.

Overall, the selection of Feedzai and PwC to safeguard the digital euro highlights a broader trend: artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming vital to financial crime prevention within the emerging realm of CBDCs. It also demonstrates the ECB’s dedication to ensuring that the digital euro is not only innovative but also secure, private, and compliant with EU regulations, all while navigating the complex technological and regulatory landscape necessary to modernize eurozone payment systems.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/feedzai-pwc-win-digital-euro-fraud-contract-worth-up-237m-86eue - 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, in partnership with PwC, to develop an AI system aimed at preventing fraud in the forthcoming digital euro. The contract, valued at up to €237.3 million over four years, will provide a fraud risk assessment for digital euro transactions by analysing deviations from users' typical behaviour. This initiative is part of the ECB's broader effort to enhance the eurozone's financial autonomy and counteract the dominance of U.S. payment systems. (reuters.com)
https://www.feedzai.com/pressrelease/feedzai-to-safeguard-ecb-the-digital-euro/ - Feedzai has been selected by the European Central Bank (ECB) to provide the central fraud detection and prevention mechanism for the digital euro. In partnership with PwC, Feedzai will deliver a state-of-the-art solution ensuring compliance with EU security, privacy, and data protection standards. The framework agreement has an estimated value of €79.1 million, with a maximum value of €237.3 million. Feedzai's platform will provide a fraud risk score for every transaction, assisting payment service providers in decision-making processes. (feedzai.com)
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/intro/news/html/ecb.mipnews251002.en.html - The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected providers for five digital euro components and related services, including Feedzai for risk and fraud management. The 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.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-central-bank-concludes-a-framework-agreement-with-feedzai-to-detect-and-prevent-fraud-for-forthcoming-digital-euro-302573194.html - The European Central Bank (ECB) has concluded a framework agreement with Feedzai to provide the central fraud detection and prevention mechanism for the digital euro. In partnership with PwC, Feedzai will deliver a state-of-the-art solution ensuring compliance with EU security, privacy, and data protection standards. The framework agreement has an estimated value of €79.1 million, with a maximum value of €237.3 million. (prnewswire.com)
https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2025-10/66601203-european-central-bank-concludes-a-framework-agreement-with-feedzai-to-detect-and-prevent-fraud-for-forthcoming-digital-euro-008.htm - Feedzai has been selected as the first-ranked tenderer in the framework agreement to provide the central fraud detection and prevention solution for the future digital euro. Its role is to contribute to safeguarding transactions from fraud by enriching payment service providers' (PSP) own risk management with insights derived from a central infrastructure-level view. For every transaction, whether peer-to-peer (P2P) or peer-to-merchant (P2M), Feedzai's platform will provide a fraud risk score that PSPs will use alongside their own controls when deciding whether to approve or decline a payment. (finanznachrichten.de)
https://www.mexc.com/news/ecb-hires-ai-startup-to-fight-fraud-in-digital-euro-launch/117244 - The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected Feedzai, in partnership with PwC, to provide a fraud detection and prevention service for the digital euro. The contract, valued at up to €237.3 million over four years, will provide a fraud risk assessment for digital euro transactions by analysing deviations from users' typical behaviour. This initiative is part of the ECB's broader effort to enhance the eurozone's financial autonomy and counteract the dominance of U.S. payment systems. (mexc.com)

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 fresh, with the earliest known publication date being October 2, 2025. The report is based on a press release from Feedzai, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The direct quotes from Nuno Sebastião, CEO and Co-Founder of Feedzai, and Liviu Chirita, PwC's Global Financial Crime Technology Leader, are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Feedzai, which is a leading platform for financial crime prevention. The report is based on a press release from Feedzai, which typically warrants a high reliability score.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with recent developments in the digital euro project. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, but this is mitigated by the direct quotes from Feedzai and PwC, which add credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a corporate press release.

Overall assessment

Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is fresh, originating from a reputable organisation, and includes unique quotes that support its plausibility. There are no significant credibility risks identified.

Article Insights

Keywords

Digital EuroFraud DetectionCentral Bank Digital CurrenciesArtificial IntelligenceFinancial Security

Main Themes

Digital Euro
Fraud Detection
Central Bank Digital Currencies
Artificial Intelligence
Financial Security

Mentioned In This Article

People

Nuno Sebastião,Liviu Chirita

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European Central Bank advances digital euro with multi-vendor strategy and AI security partnership

Digital1799 words8 min readabout 1 hour ago

The ECB has selected multiple service providers and partnered with an AI startup to develop the digital euro, marking a major step toward Europe's monetary sovereignty and payment modernisation while navigating sector tensions and privacy debates.On October 2, 2025, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced the selection of various service providers to support the initial phase of developing the digital euro, marking a significant step toward launching a central bank digital currency\u2014commonly called a CBDC\u2014in the eurozone by 2029. The ECB has opted for a multi-vendor approach, assigning two providers for each of five core components: alias lookup, risk and fraud management, app and SDK development, offline payments, and secure payment information exchange. For instance, Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L. serve as the first providers for alias lookup, while equensWorldline act as the second providers for this component. 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Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://bitcoinnews.ch/53480/ezb-waehlt-dienstleister-fuer-digitalen-euro-was-das-fuer-krypto-investoren-bedeutet/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/intro/news/html/ecb.mipnews251002.en.html - On 2 October 2025, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced the selection of service providers for five components of the digital euro project. These include Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L. and equensWorldline for alias lookup; Feedzai and Capgemini Deutschland for risk and fraud management; Almaviva SpA & Fabrick SpA and Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L. for app and SDK development; Giesecke+Devrient for offline solutions; and Senacor FCS and equensWorldline for secure exchange of payment information. These agreements are preparatory, with actual development contingent upon the adoption of the Digital Euro Regulation. No payments will be made until the project officially commences, with a potential launch in 2029. (ecb.europa.eu) https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/ecb-picks-ai-startup-prevent-digital-euro-frauds-2025-10-02/ - The ECB has selected Portuguese AI startup Feedzai, in partnership with PwC, to develop an AI system aimed at assessing fraud risk in digital euro transactions. This system will analyse deviations from users' typical behaviour to detect potential fraud. The contract is valued at up to €237.3 million over four years, with an initial estimate of €79.1 million. This initiative is part of a broader set of digital euro contracts, including one awarded to Capgemini. The digital euro aims to enhance the euro zone’s financial independence and counteract the dominance of American payment systems. (reuters.com) https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/snb-ecb-explore-linking-up-instant-payment-systems-2025-09-29/ - The Swiss National Bank (SNB) and the ECB are jointly exploring the possibility of interlinking their respective instant payment systems to enhance the efficiency of cross-border transactions. The initiative aims to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more transparent, and more accessible. The feasibility study will examine linking Switzerland's Swiss Interbank Clearing (SIC) system with the Eurosystem's TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service. This exploration phase is expected to continue through 2026 and will analyze both the technical and economic viability of the integration. (reuters.com) https://cincodias.elpais.com/criptoactivos/2025-09-29/el-euro-digital-la-oportunidad-que-europa-no-debe-dejar-pasar.html - The article highlights the importance of the digital euro as a key opportunity to reinforce European sovereignty and improve citizens' daily lives. It summarises experiences within the European Central Bank's innovation lab, where functionalities like conditional payments have been successfully tested, demonstrating advantages such as increased security, transparency, and automation. The text emphasises that public trust will be essential for widespread adoption and notes that the digital euro's technical architecture considers privacy protection. It also underscores the collaboration between fintechs, large banks, and consultancies to drive user-centric use cases, highlighting the need to maintain a diverse and innovative ecosystem. Despite existing bureaucratic and technical challenges, the ECB has shown openness to market dialogue and experimentation. The digital euro has the potential to become a public, universal, and pan-European payment system that benefits both citizens and SMEs, fostering competition, inclusion, and technological autonomy. The author concludes that this is a historic opportunity that Europe should not miss. (cincodias.elpais.com) https://cincodias.elpais.com/opinion/2025-10-01/los-bancos-estan-a-favor-de-usar-los-euros-digitales-pero-estan-en-contra-del-euro-digital.html - The article analyses the contradiction that European banks support the use of digital euros but oppose the 'Digital Euro' project promoted by the ECB, the European Commission, and backed by Eurozone finance ministers. Currently, only banks have access to digital euros for their transactions with the ECB, granting them significant privileges, including the remuneration of their deposits by the ECB. 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Approximately two-thirds of card payments in the euro area are currently processed by Visa and Mastercard, while tech companies like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal also handle a significant portion of retail transactions. Lane emphasised the importance for Europe to maintain its strategic autonomy and advocated for the adoption of a digital currency, the digital euro, to reduce reliance on international service providers. This project would require EU-wide legislation, a process still underway with a decision expected by the end of 2025. (reuters.com) 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 the European Central Bank (ECB) dated October 2, 2025, announcing the selection of service providers for the digital euro project. This is the earliest known publication date for this information. The content appears original and has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The press release format typically warrants a high freshness score. Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: The narrative does not contain any direct quotes. The information is presented in a summarised form without attributed statements. Source reliability Score: 10 Notes: The narrative originates from a press release issued by the European Central Bank (ECB), a reputable and authoritative organisation. This enhances the reliability of the information presented. Plausability check Score: 10 Notes: The claims made in the narrative are consistent with other reputable sources. For instance, Reuters reported on October 2, 2025, that the ECB selected Portuguese AI startup Feedzai to help combat fraud associated with its planned digital euro. (reuters.com) Additionally, the ECB's official press release provides detailed information on the selected service providers, including Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L., equensWorldline, Feedzai, Capgemini Deutschland, Almaviva SpA & Fabrick SpA, Giesecke+Devrient, and Senacor FCS. (ecb.europa.eu) The narrative's content aligns with these reports, indicating a high level of plausibility. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH Summary: The narrative is based on a recent press release from the European Central Bank, detailing the selection of service providers for the digital euro project. The information is original, with no evidence of recycled content or disinformation. The claims are consistent with other reputable sources, and the source is highly reliable. Therefore, the overall assessment is a PASS with high confidence.

ECB advances digital euro with offline payments collaboration to enhance privacy and resilience

Digital2059 words10 min readabout 1 hour ago

The European Central Bank has formalised partnerships with Giesecke+Devrient, Nexi, and Capgemini to develop offline payment capabilities for the digital euro, aiming to boost user privacy and operational resilience across the Eurozone.The European Central Bank (ECB) has formalised a significant step in the development of the digital euro by concluding framework agreements with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and its partners Nexi and Capgemini to create an offline payment solution. This collaboration aims to enable users and merchants across the Eurozone to conduct digital euro transactions without requiring internet connectivity or third-party involvement. By mimicking the privacy and resilience of cash, this offline functionality is a cornerstone feature envisioned for the digital euro, designed to complement physical banknotes and coins while expanding digital payment options for European citizens. The digital euro project responds to the demand for a universally accessible, widely trusted digital payment method that maintains user privacy and operational reliability even in the absence of network or power infrastructure. Funds will be securely stored on users' devices—such as smartphones, payment cards, or compatible hardware—leveraging built-in security elements. Transactions occur locally between devices, ensuring that no payment data is recorded by banks, payment service providers, or the ECB itself, thus preserving the anonymity traditionally associated with cash usage. Giesecke+Devrient, renowned for its security technology expertise and extensive experience with public currencies, leads this pan-European partnership. Nexi brings its substantial payment technology innovation and point-of-sale expertise to ensure seamless integration with existing financial infrastructure, while Capgemini contributes its established capabilities in technology consulting, digital transformation, and rigorous development and testing processes. Together, the trio will work under the ECB’s supervision and comply with EU regulations to design, implement, and partially operate the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP), the core system supporting the digital euro’s offline capabilities. The completion of this framework agreement follows the ECB’s broader selection process encompassing five key services for the digital euro ecosystem, including alias lookup, risk and fraud management, app and SDK development, offline payment functionality, and secure payment data exchange. While these agreements do not yet commit to payment or deployment, they set the foundation for the next development phases, which remain contingent on the eventual adoption of the Digital Euro Regulation and subsequent decisions by the ECB Governing Council. Senior executives from the consortium have emphasised the strategic importance of this development for Europe’s digital payments landscape. Dr Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of G+D Currency Technology, expressed pride in leading a collaboration that promises to uphold citizen privacy and resilience akin to cash. Renato Martini, Nexi’s Digital Banking Solutions Director, highlighted the group’s commitment to driving digitalisation while ensuring the offline ease of use critical for resilient payment systems. Joachim von Puttkamer, Capgemini’s head of Financial Services in Germany, underlined the partnership’s role in delivering a secure, user-centric solution to support Europe’s financial digital transformation. This initiative marks an essential milestone towards a digital currency that preserves users’ autonomy and privacy while reinforcing the Eurozone’s financial infrastructure resilience, potentially reshaping the continent’s payment ecosystem to balance innovation with regulatory oversight. 📌 Reference Map: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [2], [3], [4], [6] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [2], [3], [4], [6] - Paragraph 3 – [1], [2], [3], [4], [6] - Paragraph 4 – [5] - Paragraph 5 – [1], [6] Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://bitcoinnews.ch/53493/ezb-schliesst-rahmenvereinbarung-mit-gieseckedevrient-sowie-den-partnern-nexi-und-capgemini-zur-bereitstellung-einer-offline-loesung-fuer-den-digitalen-euro/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.nexigroup.com/en/media-relations/news/2025/10/ecb-digital-euro/ - On 2 October 2025, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a framework agreement with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), Nexi, and Capgemini to develop an offline solution for the digital euro. This collaboration aims to provide users and merchants across Europe with the ability to make offline digital euro payments, ensuring privacy and resilience akin to cash transactions. The digital euro is intended to complement existing banknotes and coins, offering citizens more freedom of choice in digital payments. The offline capability is crucial for data privacy and resilience, allowing payments without internet or power supply. Funds are stored directly on users' devices, such as smartphones and cards, leveraging their secure elements. Payments are settled locally between devices, providing cash-like privacy as no payment details are recorded by banks, payment service providers, or central banks. The development includes the design, definition, and implementation of the component and its integration into the overall digital euro architecture. Following the framework agreement, G+D and other successful tenderers will work with the ECB to finalize planning and timelines. Under the guidance of the ECB Governing Council and in line with EU legislation, this work will cover the design, integration, and development of the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP). The cooperation combines G+D's SecurityTech expertise and global experience in public currencies, Capgemini's leadership in technology consulting and digital transformation, and Nexi’s payment technology innovation leadership and POS expertise, ensuring integration into the existing infrastructure. https://www.gi-de.com/en/group/press/press-releases/ecb-concludes-a-framework-agreement-with-giesecke-devrient-and-its-partners-nexi-and-capgemini-to-deliver-offline-solution-for-the-digital-euro - On 2 October 2025, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a framework agreement with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), Nexi, and Capgemini to develop an offline solution for the digital euro. This collaboration aims to provide users and merchants across Europe with the ability to make offline digital euro payments, ensuring privacy and resilience akin to cash transactions. The digital euro is intended to complement existing banknotes and coins, offering citizens more freedom of choice in digital payments. The offline capability is crucial for data privacy and resilience, allowing payments without internet or power supply. Funds are stored directly on users' devices, such as smartphones and cards, leveraging their secure elements. Payments are settled locally between devices, providing cash-like privacy as no payment details are recorded by banks, payment service providers, or central banks. The development includes the design, definition, and implementation of the component and its integration into the overall digital euro architecture. Following the framework agreement, G+D and other successful tenderers will work with the ECB to finalize planning and timelines. Under the guidance of the ECB Governing Council and in line with EU legislation, this work will cover the design, integration, and development of the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP). The cooperation combines G+D's SecurityTech expertise and global experience in public currencies, Capgemini's leadership in technology consulting and digital transformation, and Nexi’s payment technology innovation leadership and POS expertise, ensuring integration into the existing infrastructure. https://www.capgemini.com/news/press-releases/ecb-concludes-a-framework-agreement-with-gieseckedevrient-and-its-partners-nexi-and-capgemini-to-deliver-offline-solution-for-the-digital-euro/ - On 2 October 2025, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a framework agreement with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), Nexi, and Capgemini to develop an offline solution for the digital euro. This collaboration aims to provide users and merchants across Europe with the ability to make offline digital euro payments, ensuring privacy and resilience akin to cash transactions. The digital euro is intended to complement existing banknotes and coins, offering citizens more freedom of choice in digital payments. The offline capability is crucial for data privacy and resilience, allowing payments without internet or power supply. Funds are stored directly on users' devices, such as smartphones and cards, leveraging their secure elements. Payments are settled locally between devices, providing cash-like privacy as no payment details are recorded by banks, payment service providers, or central banks. The development includes the design, definition, and implementation of the component and its integration into the overall digital euro architecture. Following the framework agreement, G+D and other successful tenderers will work with the ECB to finalize planning and timelines. Under the guidance of the ECB Governing Council and in line with EU legislation, this work will cover the design, integration, and development of the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP). The cooperation combines G+D's SecurityTech expertise and global experience in public currencies, Capgemini's leadership in technology consulting and digital transformation, and Nexi’s payment technology innovation leadership and POS expertise, ensuring integration into the existing infrastructure. https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/intro/news/html/ecb.mipnews251002.en.html - On 2 October 2025, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced the selection of providers for five digital euro components and related services. The ECB signed framework agreements with the following providers: alias lookup: (1) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L, (2) equensWorldline; risk and fraud management: (1) Feedzai, (2) Capgemini Deutschland; app and software development kit (SDK): (1) Almaviva SpA & Fabrick SpA, (2) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L; offline solution: (1) Giesecke+Devrient, (2) To be announced in due course; 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. https://pr-com.de/company_news/ezb-schliesst-rahmenvereinbarung-mit-gieseckedevrient-sowie-den-partnern-nexi-und-capgemini-zur-bereitstellung-einer-offline-loesung-fuer-den-digitalen-euro/ - On 2 October 2025, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a framework agreement with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), Nexi, and Capgemini to develop an offline solution for the digital euro. This collaboration aims to provide users and merchants across Europe with the ability to make offline digital euro payments, ensuring privacy and resilience akin to cash transactions. The digital euro is intended to complement existing banknotes and coins, offering citizens more freedom of choice in digital payments. The offline capability is crucial for data privacy and resilience, allowing payments without internet or power supply. Funds are stored directly on users' devices, such as smartphones and cards, leveraging their secure elements. Payments are settled locally between devices, providing cash-like privacy as no payment details are recorded by banks, payment service providers, or central banks. The development includes the design, definition, and implementation of the component and its integration into the overall digital euro architecture. Following the framework agreement, G+D and other successful tenderers will work with the ECB to finalize planning and timelines. Under the guidance of the ECB Governing Council and in line with EU legislation, this work will cover the design, integration, and development of the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP). The cooperation combines G+D's SecurityTech expertise and global experience in public currencies, Capgemini's leadership in technology consulting and digital transformation, and Nexi’s payment technology innovation leadership and POS expertise, ensuring integration into the existing infrastructure. 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 issued by the European Central Bank (ECB) on 2 October 2025, announcing the selection of Giesecke+Devrient, Nexi, and Capgemini for the development of an offline solution for the digital euro. (ecb.europa.eu) This indicates high freshness, as the information is current and directly from the ECB. Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: The narrative includes direct quotes from Dr. Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of G+D Currency Technology, Renato Martini, Digital Banking Solutions Director of Nexi Group, and Joachim von Puttkamer, Head of Capgemini’s Financial Services practice in Germany. These quotes are consistent with those found in the official press releases from the respective companies, confirming their authenticity and originality. (capgemini.com) Source reliability Score: 10 Notes: The narrative originates from reputable organisations: the ECB, Giesecke+Devrient, Nexi, and Capgemini. These entities are well-established and have a strong public presence, lending credibility to the information presented. Plausability check Score: 10 Notes: The claims made in the narrative align with the official announcements from the ECB and the involved companies. The details about the offline solution for the digital euro, including the involvement of Giesecke+Devrient, Nexi, and Capgemini, are consistent across multiple reputable sources. (ecb.europa.eu) Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH Summary: The narrative is based on a recent press release from the ECB, detailing the selection of Giesecke+Devrient, Nexi, and Capgemini for the development of an offline solution for the digital euro. The quotes included are consistent with those from the official press releases of the involved companies, confirming their authenticity. The information aligns with official announcements from reputable organisations, and the claims made are plausible and supported by multiple sources. Therefore, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.