iPhone Currently Not Compatible with Digital Euro: ECB Board Member

Apple Digital Euro
Ad Disclosure
Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More
Last updated:
Ad Disclosure
Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More
Crypto Reporter
Crypto Reporter
Shalini Nagarajan
Author Categories
About Author

Shalini is a crypto reporter who provides in-depth reports on daily developments and regulatory shifts in the cryptocurrency sector.

Last updated:
Why Trust Cryptonews
Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry topics since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas - from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews
Ad DisclosureWe believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. Read more

An ECB executive board member wants Apple to change how iPhone payments work to support a potential digital euro. He claims the tech giant’s current system may not support offline payments for any European Central Bank digital currency.

The member, Piero Cipollone, outlined his concerns in a letter to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager dated April 19.

“Apple’s proposed commitments would not give third parties full access to the secure element (SE), but only allow for the usage of Host Card Emulation (HCE),” he said. For clarification, a secure element (SE) is a specialized chip engineered for enhanced security. It functions like a miniature safe within a device, commonly present in smartphones, tablets, and certain credit cards.

Also, he thinks Apple’s proposal may not offer the same level of authentication and transaction speed as ApplePay.

Apple didn’t return Cryptonews’ request for comment by press time.

Limited NFC Access on iPhones Creates Friction for Potential Digital Euro


Cipollone added that currently, Apple’s proposals don’t ensure a fair level playing field for third-party payment solutions. This is especially true for in-store payments with iPhones. Were these proposals to be applied to a potential digital euro, they wouldn’t guarantee user-friendly payments on iPhone, the economist said.

He also noted certain limitations with the EU’s recent antitrust investigation into Apple. It doesn’t address limited access to near-field communication (NFC) technology in various payment situations, including person-to-person payments, he said.

“We note that this use case is crucial for the digital euro,” he said.

ECB Pushes for Open Access to Phone Security Chips for Digital Euro


According to the economist, the proposed digital euro regulation requires device manufacturers and electronic communication service providers to offer fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory access to the secure element in their devices.

He said this access should be unrestricted and not reliant on other mobile operating system applications. This ensures that digital euro payments on mobile devices are user-friendly.

The European Commission has released draft laws outlining the groundwork for a potential digital euro. This includes establishing basic criteria and preparing necessary legislation for potential issuance.

In late 2023, the ECB initiated a two-year preparatory phase for the digital euro. This phase involves finalizing regulations, selecting private-sector collaborators, and conducting testing and experimentation.

More Articles

Blockchain News
Japan’s SBI Posts Record Crypto Profits; Aims for Nation’s First USDC Listing
Tim Alper
Tim Alper
2025-02-09 23:30:00
Price Analysis
Price Breakthrough Forecast: The Next XRP Rally Could Be Here Soon
Arslan Butt
Arslan Butt
2025-02-09 14:21:48
Crypto News in numbers
editors
Authors List + 66 More
2M+
Active Monthly Users Around the World
250+
Guides and Reviews Articles
8
Years on the Market
70
International Team Authors