<!-- Markdown twin of https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/italy/w9/. Same text as the HTML page; the HTML page is canonical. -->
title: Italy — Product Innovation & Market Development | World Payments Monitor
canonical: https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/italy/w9/
publisher: Asymmetric Intelligence

### W9 Product Innovation & Market Development Confirmed confirmed 2026-07-04

Italy is an active participant in Eurosystem digital-euro preparation (PSP applications for the pilot phase due 14 May 2026, pilot expected H2 2027) and in domestic public-sector digital infrastructure via the PagoPA platform, now 49%-owned by Poste Italiane. Open banking (MyBank, Bancomat Pay) and BNPL products continue to expand, with the latter facing incoming CCD II-driven regulatory tightening from November 2026.

Horizon · 2026-Q3 (± a quarter) Digital euro pilot development phase begins_Adopted · Tier 1 source_

Horizon · 2027-Q3 (± six months) Digital euro 12-month pilot exercise expected to begin_Proposed · Tier 1 source_

Standing sub-brief · as of 5 July 2026 111 words · last cycle 2026-07-04

#### Product Innovation & Market Development

The ECB's digital euro pilot preparation phase opened its call for expression of interest on 5 March 2026, with payment service provider applications due 14 May 2026, selection notified end-June 2026, a development phase beginning Q3 2026, and a 12-month pilot exercise planned for H2 2027. The timeline determines the near-term participation window for Italian payment service providers in Eurosystem digital-euro infrastructure build-out, a strategically material product-development decision point.

#### Outlook

The end-June 2026 selection notification and the Q3 2026 development-phase start are the immediate markers to watch; the planned H2 2027 twelve-month pilot exercise is the next major milestone for Italian PSP participation in digital-euro infrastructure.

no periodic updates on record for this sub-brief

** Sources and findings (5)**

1. T1 [https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/digital_euro/pilot/html/ecb.faq-digital-euro-pilot.en.html](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/digital_euro/pilot/html/ecb.faq-digital-euro-pilot.en.html) Applies beyond this jurisdiction (EU) retrieved 2026-07-04
2. T3 [https://www.openbankproject.com/blog/the-digital-euro-infrastructure/](https://www.openbankproject.com/blog/the-digital-euro-infrastructure/) Applies beyond this jurisdiction (EU) retrieved 2026-07-04
3. T2 [https://one.oecd.org/document/DAF/COMP/WD(2025)36/en/pdf](https://one.oecd.org/document/DAF/COMP/WD(2025)36/en/pdf) Applies beyond this jurisdiction (EU) retrieved 2026-07-04
4. T3 [https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/03/3230796/28124/en/Italy-Buy-Now-Pay-Later-Business-Report-2025-A-26-6-Billion-Market-by-2031-from-8-06-Billion-in-2025-Featuring-Klarna-Scalapay-Oney-PayPal-PagoLight-Nexi-Confidis-Deutsche-Bank.html](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/03/3230796/28124/en/Italy-Buy-Now-Pay-Later-Business-Report-2025-A-26-6-Billion-Market-by-2031-from-8-06-Billion-in-2025-Featuring-Klarna-Scalapay-Oney-PayPal-PagoLight-Nexi-Confidis-Deutsche-Bank.html) Applies beyond this jurisdiction (EU) retrieved 2026-07-04
5. T1 [https://www.bancaditalia.it/compiti/vigilanza/index.html](https://www.bancaditalia.it/compiti/vigilanza/index.html) Applies beyond this jurisdiction (EU) retrieved 2026-07-04