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Madrid/Rome, December 11, 2025.
Spain’s Bizum and Italy’s Bancomat have confirmed plans to jointly issue a fully euro-backed stablecoin under the European Payments Alliance (EuroPA), with a targeted rollout in the third quarter of 2026.
The MiCA-regulated digital euro will be backed 1:1 by euro-denominated reserves and integrated into existing Bizum and Bancomat mobile apps, allowing millions of users to send stablecoin payments as easily as today’s instant P2P transfers.
Key Takeaways
- MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin jointly developed by Bizum (Spain) and Bancomat (Italy)
- Planned launch: Q3 2026 via European Payments Alliance (EuroPA)
- 1:1 euro peg with reserves in cash and high-quality bonds
- Instant, low-cost cross-border payments for over 45 million existing users
- Direct challenge to USD stablecoin dominance (USDT, USDC) in the EU market
- Full interoperability with SEPA Instant and traditional banking rails
Background and the Benefits of the Partnership
The partnership builds on the successful 2024 launch of EuroPA, which already connects Bizum, Bancomat, Portugal’s MB Way and other national schemes for real-time cross-border transfers.
According to sources close to the project, the new stablecoin, internally referred to as “Eur-Bank” in Bancomat documentation, will be issued under a shared European electronic money institution license and supervised by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Bancomat CEO Fabrizio Burlando told Reuters earlier this year: “We want one single, interoperable euro stablecoin that any licensed bank or EMI in Europe can issue and redeem. Fragmentation would be a repeat of the mistakes of the past.”
Bizum, owned by 27 Spanish banks and used by 27.6 million Spaniards (over 80% of the adult population), will provide the consumer-facing distribution channel, while Bancomat brings Italy’s dominant debit and ATM network.
Industry analysts note the timing is strategic: the European Central Bank’s retail digital euro is not expected before 2029, creating a multi-year window for private MiCA-compliant stablecoins to capture market share.
Conclusion
The Bizum-Bancomat stablecoin marks one of the most ambitious private-sector attempts to create a pan-European digital euro ahead of the ECB’s own project.
By using existing instant-payment user bases and full MiCA compliance, the initiative has a realistic chance of becoming the default euro stablecoin for everyday retail and business payments across the single market.
If successful, it could significantly reduce Europe’s dependence on dollar-denominated stablecoins and lower cross-border transaction costs for consumers and SMEs alike.
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FAQs:
1. What is the Bizum and Bancomat’s euro stablecoin?
A MiCA-licensed digital asset pegged 1:1 to the euro, backed by euro reserves, and usable for instant payments inside Bizum and Bancomat apps.
2. When will the stablecoin be available?
Official target is Q3 2026, with pilot programs possibly starting in the first half of the year.
3. Is it safe and regulated?
Yes, fully compliant with EU MiCA regulation, 100 % reserve backing, monthly audits, and real-time redemption rights.
4. Who can use it?
Initially Bizum users in Spain and Bancomat users in Italy (45 M+ combined), with rapid expansion to other EuroPA countries.
5. Why is Europe launching its own stablecoin now?
To reduce reliance on USD-pegged tokens (99 % market share), cut cross-border fees, and bridge traditional finance with blockchain before the ECB digital euro arrives in 2029.
6. Will it replace normal Bizum or Bancomat payments?
No, it will run in parallel, offering blockchain benefits (24/7 settlement, programmability, tokenization) while remaining fully convertible to fiat euros.
