ECB Pontes tokenized settlement launch stories

Sep 21, 2026

ECB launches Pontes to settle tokenized assets in central bank money

The European Central Bank launched Pontes, a new settlement platform allowing wholesale tokenized assets to be settled using central bank money rather than private stablecoins. The system is designed exclusively for regulated financial institutions.

Sep 21, 20265 sources

Top claims

▪The ECB should proceed with launching a retail digital euro
▪The European Central Bank launched the Pontes wholesale digital payment platform to establish central bank money as a secure alternative to privately issued, dollar-denominated stablecoins like Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC
▪The European Central Bank plans to develop the Eurosystem's wholesale tokenization ecosystem in stages, transitioning from Pontes to a longer-term integrated solution called Appia by 2028

Subtopics

Blockchain technology1 Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)1 Crypto regulation1 European Central Bank1 Institutional crypto adoption1 Payments1 Stablecoins1 Tokenization1

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