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Tech, Strategy, Use Cases & the Road Ahead

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🔍 Overview: What Is Wero?

Wero is a digital wallet launched by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), designed to unify payments across Europe. Backed by major European banks, Wero enables instant peer-to-peer (P2P), account-to-account (A2A), and soon merchantMerchant merchant An individual or business that accepts payments in exchange for goods or services. payments, all within a seamless, mobile-first experience.

It aims to counterbalance the dominance of US card networks and Big Tech walletsWallets wallets See Digital Wallets. by offering a European alternativebuilt on SEPA Instant (SCT Inst) rails and integrated directly into users’ bank apps.

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🚀 Growth Trajectory (2024–2026)

Year	Milestone	Notes
2024	Soft launch in France, Belgium, Germany	Integrated into BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, and others
2025	Expansion into the Netherlands, Luxembourg	Plans for QR-code-based merchant payments, recurring billing
2026	Full EU-wide rollout	In-store POS, BNPL, merchant loyalty, expense sharing, and e-commerce checkout support

📈 User Base: Rapid uptake is expected as Wero becomes embedded in daily-use banking apps.
🏦 Backers: 16+ major EU banks, including BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, ING, Société Générale, and more.

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🌐 Interoperability: Building a Connected European Payment Layer

Wero is designed to be interoperable across banks, systems, and use cases.

Key Interoperability Elements:

• SEPA Instant (SCT Inst): Enables 24/7 real-time euro transfers across all participating banks.
• Integration into Bank Apps: Not a standalone wallet — users interact via their existing banking interfaces.
• Acquisition of iDEAL & Payconiq: Consolidates Dutch and Belgian ecosystems for unified acceptance.
• Pan-European Reach: Aims for compatibility with IBAN-based transfers and QR code standards used in EU merchant terminals.

🔄 Long-term vision: Allow cross-country consumer-to-consumer and consumer-to-business payments without needing separate wallets or FX fees.

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🧩 Core Use Cases

Wero is not just a P2P app. It’s a modular wallet infrastructure supporting multiple high-volume use cases:

🏦 Bank-to-Bank (B2B / Treasury Transfers)

• Used for instant account-to-account settlements
• Ideal for corporate disbursements, B2B payments, and invoice automation
• Competes with manual SEPA transfers and SWIFT low-value rails

👥 Person-to-Person (P2P)

• Send/receive money via mobile number or email
• No need for IBANs
• Fast and fee-free, even cross-border within the EU

🛍️ Person-to-Merchant (P2M)

• Launching in 2025 with QR code paymentsQR Code Payments qr-code-payments A type of payment made by scanning a QR code that contains payment details or initiates a payment process. at POS
• Enables online checkout using account-to-account pull payments
• Future additions: subscription billing, BNPL, loyalty program linking

📲 In-App Use Cases

• Integrated bill splitting, request-to-pay, and recurring bill management
• Designed to compete with PayPal, Apple Pay, and Klarna in functionality

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🛠️ Tech Stack Recap

• Rail: SEPA Instant (SCT Inst)
• AuthenticationAuthentication authentication A security process used to verify the identity of the user or cardholder. May involve passwords, biometrics, OTPs (one-time passwords), or 3-D Secure.: Integrated with bank-grade KYC/AML and SCA-compliant flows
• Front-End: Embedded in existing banking apps (e.g. Hello Bank!, Deutsche Bank, etc.)
• Back-End: API-based orchestration with clearingClearing clearing The exchange of financial information and instructions between acquirers and issuers to facilitate settlement. partners and EPI infrastructure

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🎯 Strategic Vision

Wero represents more than a wallet:

• A sovereign EU payment solution
• A low-cost acceptance network for merchants
• A digital ID + payment platform for governments and public services
• A blueprint for post-card-era European payments

🌍 Learn more: https://wero-wallet.eu/

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Would you like a visual infographic or table comparing Wero with PayPal, Apple Pay, Revolut, or PIX?