Payment systems from 13 European countries have joined forces to create a network designed to offer an alternative to U.S.-based Visa and Mastercard, potentially creating an international expansion opportunity for Türkiye’s domestic payment system TROY.
The newly established European Network for Payments (ENP) brings together major local payment systems, including Italy’s Bancomat, Spain’s Bizum, Portugal’s SIBS-MB WAY, the Nordic Vipps MobilePay and the European digital wallet Wero. The network is headquartered in Madrid.
The initiative aims to connect existing national payment platforms while allowing them to retain their individual brands. It will use common European standards for instant account-to-account transfers.
Under the planned system, for example, a Bizum user in Spain could instantly send money to an MB WAY user in Portugal using a mobile phone number, without requiring a separate payment service.
Network to reach around 130 million users
The payment systems participating in the initiative operate across 13 European countries and collectively serve around 130 million users, according to Patronlar Dünyası. The network is expected to be introduced gradually.
The initial focus will be on cross-border person-to-person payments, with e-commerce and physical retail payments planned for subsequent stages.
The network could also expand further, with other European domestic payment systems potentially joining subject to approval from the founding members.
Potential opportunity for TROY
The planned expansion of the European network could provide an opportunity for TROY, Türkiye’s domestic card payment system operated by the Interbank Card Center (BKM), to gain access to international markets.
According to data cited by Patronlar Dünyası, the number of cards carrying the TROY logo reached 90 million in January 2026, while TROY’s share of card spending by value rose to 25.3%.
Connecting TROY with an interoperable European payment network could potentially allow Turkish users to make payments through their domestic payment infrastructure in participating European markets, while creating a route for European users to access payment services in Türkiye.
Europe seeks greater payment-system independence
The initiative comes as European institutions and payment providers seek to reduce reliance on non-European payment networks.
The European Central Bank said in its 2026 payments strategy that more than two-thirds of euro-area card transactions are processed under rules set by non-European companies, while many European countries remain dependent on international card schemes or mobile payment solutions.
European payment groups have increasingly focused on interoperability rather than replacing existing national systems. The European Payments Alliance and European Payments Initiative have been working to connect domestic platforms and enable cross-border payments using users’ existing applications.
For TROY, participation in such an interconnected network could therefore offer a potential pathway toward broader international acceptance, particularly as European payment providers build infrastructure linking national systems.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök