ECB deploys Pontes platform to settle wholesale tokenized assets in central-bank money
The EU central bank’s new wholesale platform connects DLT market infrastructure to its payment rails, separate from the retail digital euro pilot planned for 2027.
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Summary
- The European Central Bank launched Pontes, a platform that lets eligible financial institutions settle tokenized-asset transactions in central-bank money.
- Pontes connects distributed-ledger platforms to the Eurosystem’s TARGET Services, offering an alternative to stablecoins and tokenized commercial-bank deposits for wholesale transactions.
- The wholesale platform is separate from the retail digital euro, which is scheduled for a one-year pilot beginning in the second half of 2027 ahead of possible issuance in 2029.
