ECB Introduces Pontes for Direct Settlement of Tokenized Assets
WHO:
NewsBTC - The European Central Bank (ECB) is the organization launching Pontes.
Cointelegraph - Financial institutions are the intended participants in the Pontes system.
WHAT:
NewsBTC - The ECB plans to invest a small portion of its own-funds portfolio in tokenized euro-denominated securities, with initial eligible assets expected to include euro-area public-sector and supranational issuers.
Cointelegraph - The ECB aims to gain firsthand DLT market experience by buying tokenized public-sector securities and settling the trades through Pontes.
Cointelegraph - Pontes will expand its services and operating hours gradually, with full implementation expected by 2028 and more participants set to join.
NewsBTC - The ECB has begun preparatory work to invest a small portion of its own-funds portfolio in tokenized euro-denominated securities, with initial eligible assets expected to include euro-area public-sector and supranational issuers.
NewsBTC - The ECB has launched Pontes, a wholesale settlement service for tokenized financial assets.
NewsBTC - Pontes settles transactions in central-bank money through TARGET Services and DLT interoperability.
Cointelegraph - Full implementation of Pontes is expected by 2028.
WHERE:
NewsBTC - The Pontes system is part of the Eurosystem's infrastructure.
WHEN:
NewsBTC - Pontes went live on September 21.
WHY:
NewsBTC - The launch is part of the ECB's effort to connect distributed-ledger markets with existing central-bank settlement infrastructure.
NewsBTC - The significance of Pontes lies in providing reliable ways for institutions to exchange assets and cash with clear settlement finality.
HOW:
NewsBTC - The ECB has begun preparatory work for these investments, but no tokenized securities have been purchased yet. Operational timing and execution details are still to be determined after the preparation phase and subsequent Executive Board review.
NewsBTC - The ECB plans to use Pontes for future purchases of tokenized securities, which have not yet been executed.
NewsBTC - Pontes links tokenized asset platforms with TARGET Services, allowing transactions involving distributed-ledger technology to settle against central-bank money.
NewsBTC - The system is designed for wholesale financial-market activity rather than consumer payments.
(UPDATED September 22, 2026 13:04 UTC)
The European Central Bank is set to invest a small portion of its own-funds portfolio in tokenized euro-denominated securities, initially focusing on euro-area public-sector and supranational issuers. This move aims to provide the ECB with firsthand experience in the distributed ledger technology market by purchasing these tokenized public-sector securities and settling trades through Pontes. While preparatory work for these investments has begun, no tokenized securities have been purchased yet, and the timing and execution details will be determined after the preparation phase and a review by the Executive Board.
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(UPDATED September 22, 2026 03:58 UTC)
Pontes is set to gradually expand its services and operating hours, with full implementation anticipated by 2028 as more participants are expected to join. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank has started preparatory work to invest a small portion of its own-funds portfolio in tokenized euro-denominated securities, focusing initially on euro-area public-sector and supranational issuers. To facilitate these future purchases of tokenized securities, the ECB plans to utilize Pontes, although these transactions have not yet been executed.
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(UPDATED September 22, 2026 03:00 UTC)
The European Central Bank has launched Pontes, a wholesale settlement service aimed at financial institutions for tokenized financial assets. This new system, which went live on September 21, connects distributed-ledger markets with existing central-bank settlement infrastructure, allowing transactions to settle in central-bank money through TARGET Services. Full implementation of Pontes is expected by 2028, providing a reliable way for institutions to exchange assets and cash with clear settlement finality.