Participation in the electronic cash system requires the acknowledgement and adherence to the electronic cash agreement. Banks who are members of one of the German banking associations are participants to the electronic cash system via their membership in one of the associations. Banks who are not member in one of the associations can participate in the electronic cash system by acknowledging the terms of the electronic cash agreement vis-à-vis Zentraler Kreditausschuss.
Technical service providers can participate in the electronic cash system as network provider by signing a so-called "network provider contract" with Zentraler Kreditausschuss and by receiving a certification concerning the compliance of a network provider with the technical requirements of the electronic cash agreement by Zentraler Kreditausschuss. The participation of technical service providers is not limited to providers having their offices in Germany.
Merchants may participate by signing the "merchant agreement" which is part of the electronic cash agreement and by installing a terminal of a certified electronic cash network provider. The participation of merchants in the electronic cash system is not limited to merchants having their offices in Germany.