The European regulation makes SEPA Instant free across every bank in the euro area. Here's what it changes for payments.
Since January 2025, the European regulation on instant credit transfers has been progressively requiring every bank in the euro area to offer SEPA Instant — first receiving, then sending transfers in under ten seconds, 24/7, at no extra cost compared with a standard transfer.
In concrete terms, this means an instant, free and pan-European payment rail becomes a commodity available everywhere. The real battle is no longer fought over infrastructure, but over experience: how to make that rail as simple to use as a text message.
That is exactly what NexEuro is building: a usage layer on top of SEPA Instant, where you pay by phone number, with no IBAN to copy, no waiting, and no fees between individuals. 2026 isn't the year of instant payments — it's the year instant becomes the norm.