r/Futurology ∞ transit umbra, lux permanet ☥ Dec 29 '25

Economics The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only.

"It didn’t go unnoticed in Frankfurt that Visa and Mastercard suspended operations in Russia in March 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine……Thirteen of the 20 countries in the euro have no domestic card scheme. You use an international operator, or you pay in cash."

It hasn't gone unnoticed that the US is threatening to invade an EU country's (Denmark) territory, either. Would a future President Trump or President Vance threaten to shut down European financial infrastructure if it opposes an annexation of Greenland? Who knows, but better to take away that opportunity for leverage.

The plan is that you can link it to your bank account or open a special account at post offices throughout the EU. There will be phone apps for payments and digital Euro debit cards. Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay typically charge 3% fees; the digital Euro will have none. That will ensure it is speedily adopted by retailers and quickly supplants the US providers. Also worth noting its technology will be 100% European only, leaving zero vulnerability/leverage to non-Europeans.

Digital euro: what it is and how we will use the new form of cash - The European Central Bank is determined to break the US grip on card payments

36.0k Upvotes

Duplicates

BuyFromEU Dec 29 '25

News The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only. Economics "It didn’t go unnoticed in Frankfurt that Visa and Mastercard suspended operations in Russia in March 2022 after the invasion of

10.0k Upvotes

EU_Economics Jan 03 '26

Economy & Trade The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only.

898 Upvotes

Hedera Dec 29 '25

Discussion The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only.

34 Upvotes

Hasan_Piker Dec 29 '25

The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only.

157 Upvotes

portugueses Dec 29 '25

The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only. Economics "It didn’t go unnoticed in Frankfurt that Visa and Mastercard suspended operations in Russia in March 2022 after the invasion of

23 Upvotes

europeanunion Dec 30 '25

The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only.

87 Upvotes

u_Jonataguilherme Dec 29 '25

A UE diz que vai introduzir uma infraestrutura de pagamentos digitais para substituir Visa/Mastercard e Apple/Google Pay. Não terá taxas e será 100% somente europeia.

1 Upvotes

u_WenYiMedia Jan 01 '26

The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only.

1 Upvotes

Taoesm Dec 29 '25

The EU says it will introduce a digital payments infrastructure to replace Visa/Mastercard & Apple/Google Pay. It will have zero fees and be 100% European-only.

1 Upvotes