Starting July 10, 2027, paying for anything above €10,000 in cash across the European Union will be illegal for commercial transactions. Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 sets a bloc-wide ceiling that forces businesses and their customers toward traceable payment methods like bank transfers and cards.
The European Central Bank is simultaneously preparing a digital euro pilot for the second half of 2027.
What the regulation actually does
The €10,000 limit applies specifically to professional and commercial transactions. Person-to-person private payments remain untouched.
The regulation is part of a broader anti-money laundering package. By capping cash at €10,000, the EU creates a paper trail for every large commercial transaction.
