Eurosystem's Pontes DLT Project Launches Amidst Crypto Exchange Shutdowns

The week ahead in crypto and finance is packed with significant events, including the launch of the Eurosystem's distributed ledger technology (DLT) settlement project Pontes on September 21. This project aims to support the settlement of tokenized securities in central bank money and will enable synchronized settlement through Hash-Link.

Pontes has been in development since July 2025, when it was approved by the European Central Bank Governing Council as part of a two-track plan. The initial phase after launch will achieve settlement finality on the cash leg after corresponding funds transfer is completed in the T2 system.

In other news, crypto exchange BitMEX has announced that it will shut down at 12:00 (Beijing time) on September 23. This move follows a strategic review of its business and the crypto industry by the board of HDR Global Trading Limited.