European Central Bank launches Pontes wholesale settlement platform for banks
The European Central Bank has launched Pontes, an institutional platform connecting distributed-ledger networks with the TARGET system to allow banks to settle tokenized asset transactions in central bank money.
The European Central Bank has launched Pontes, a wholesale settlement system that connects private distributed-ledger networks with the central bank's TARGET payment infrastructure, allowing financial institutions to settle tokenized transactions directly in central bank money. Announced by ECB President Christine Lagarde, the platform was described by the central bank as digital euro made available for banks, designed to let institutions execute tokenized asset trades faster and without friction instead of depending on stablecoins.[3][8][4][1]
The deployment follows Eurosystem trials conducted in 2024 that engaged 64 participants and processed more than 1.5 billion euros in transactions. According to CoinGape, XRP Ledger technology is among the platforms involved in connecting distributed-ledger technology with the central bank's infrastructure. In addition, the ECB is preparing to invest its own funds through Pontes, though it has not disclosed an investment date or purchase amount.[5][6][2]
Pontes serves as an initial step toward the ECB's wider Appia ecosystem for tokenized financial markets, with a full rollout expected by 2028. Crypto outlets and central bank statements noted that this wholesale initiative is separate from the retail digital euro project, which has consumer-facing testing planned for mid-2027.[3][4][7][2]
Key facts
- The ECB launched Pontes to allow banks to settle tokenized asset transactions directly in central bank money via the TARGET system.
- Pontes enables institutional settlement in central bank money rather than stablecoins, with full rollout anticipated by 2028.
- The platform launch follows 2024 ECB trials that included 64 participants and over 1.5 billion euros in transactions.
- The ECB plans to invest its own funds through Pontes, but has not released a date or purchase amount.
- Pontes is the first phase of the ECB's Appia ecosystem and is separate from retail digital euro testing scheduled for mid-2027.
- XRP Ledger technology is reported to be among the platforms connected to the Pontes settlement infrastructure.
Sources · 8 sources
- SI
Solid Intel 📡@solidintel_xPost on X ·
INTEL: ECB launches Pontes, allowing banks to settle tokenized financial transactions using central bank euros https://t.co/tVBFhtJ8pW
Open source - CR
CryptoSlate@CryptoSlatePost on X ·
Europe’s Pontes system is live, letting banks settle tokenized securities in central-bank money. The ECB is preparing to invest its own funds through it, but has announced no purchase date or amount. The retail digital euro remains a separate project. https://t.co/TDZU9ZxKlr
Open source - CB
Coin Bureau@coinbureauPost on X ·
🇪🇺BREAKING: ECB launches “Digital Euro” for banks as Pontes begins tokenized finance pilot. President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde announces The ECB is launching Pontes today, a platform that will connect private blockchain networks with the TARGET system, allowing banks to settle tokenized assets directly in central bank money. “It's digital euro made available for banks,” the ECB says, allowing institutions to transact using tokenized assets and DLT “faster, without friction," she adds. Pontes is the first step toward the ECB’s broader Appia ecosystem for tokenized financial markets, while consumer-facing digital euro testing is planned for mid-2027.
Open source - CO
CoinMarketCap@CoinMarketCapPost on X ·
LATEST: 🇪🇺 The ECB launched Pontes, letting institutions settle tokenized asset trades in central bank money instead of relying on stablecoins, with full rollout expected by 2028. https://t.co/eP5QH6tJTQ
Open source - AI
Analytics Insight@analyticsinmePost on X ·
𝗘𝗖𝗕 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 The ECB is launching Pontes to connect tokenised assets with TARGET Services and central bank money. The wholesale system follows 2024 trials involving 64 participants and more than EUR 1.5 billion in transactions. #ECB #Pontes #Tokenisation #DLT #CentralBankMoney #DigitalAssets #AnalyticsInsight #AnalyticsInsightMagazine Read More 👇 https://t.co/14Q9BbTD89
Open source - CO
CoinGape@CoinGapeMediaPost on X ·
🚨 EUROPE’S CENTRAL BANK GOES ONCHAIN! 🇪🇺⛓️ The #European Central Bank’s Pontes settlement system is now live, connecting distributed-ledger #technology with Europe’s central-bank payment infrastructure — with XRP #Ledger technology among the platforms involved. 🎥 Watch the full video below 👇
Open source - CO
CoinDesk@CoinDeskPost on X ·
LATEST: The European Central Bank launches Pontes, a platform allowing banks to settle tokenized asset transactions in wholesale central bank money separate from the retail digital euro pilot. https://t.co/ZDlVxXjtQU
Open source - CN
crypto.news@cryptodotnewsPost on X ·
BREAKING: European Central Bank launches digital euro settlement to banks for tokenized transactions The ECB’s new Pontes strategy connects private blockchain networks with the TARGET system, allowing banks to settle tokenized assets directly in central bank money. https://t.co/IvodAbaIbn
Open source