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Mastercard Plans to Keep Its European Network Running, Even Offline

Published

9 October 2026

Topic

technology

◆ Sectors

Fintech

◆ Geography

Europe

◆ Source

Read at paymentsjournal.com →

◆ Verified

Fusion42 · 10 October 2026 · Fusion42 review

Following a major blackout in Spain and Portugal, Mastercard is introducing offline payment functionality for all newly issued Mastercard cards and point-of-sale terminals in the EU starting in 2027, allowing transactions up to €200 without network connectivity.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Fintech, and 4 sources have reported it.

◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway

Your payment products in Europe must work during outages or you lose customers in critical moments. Upgrade your terminal or card plans to include offline capability before Mastercard's 2027 deadlines to stay competitive.

◆ Coverage

4 sources · 9 Oct 2026

◆ Related on Wire

◆ Topics

Fintechoffline-paymentsmastercardeuropepayment-resilienceemv-chip