The European Central Bank will adopt three European open payment standards for the digital euro infrastructure to reduce reliance on Visa and Mastercard in the euro zone, BeInCrypto reported on April 26. The ECB signed agreements with the European Cards Payment Cooperation, the Nexo Standards and the Berlin Group. The standards cover contactless payments, merchant and ATM transactions, and account-based transfers. Separately, major European banks are expanding moves to embed cryptocurrency trading into existing regulated platforms.

Russia will officially allow cryptocurrency payments in foreign trade from July 1, permitting bitcoin and stablecoins in import and export transactions. The system, prepared by the central bank and the finance ministry, formalises a framework piloted since 2024 and applies to external settlements with countries that continued trading after Western sanctions. Crypto payments will be limited to eight approved platforms, with reporting requirements for transactions above 100,000 roubles.