ECB Launches Pontes Platform for Tokenized Asset Settlement

The European Central Bank has taken a significant step towards institutional tokenized finance by launching Pontes, a platform that enables wholesale tokenized assets to settle directly in central bank money.

Pontes connects Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platforms with the Eurosystem TARGET rails, allowing for settlement without relying on stablecoins or commercial bank deposits.

The initial participants include major financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, Santander, and Société Générale, as well as Clearstream. The European Central Bank plans to purchase a small amount of tokenized public-sector securities through the platform.

The core services are currently live, with a broader rollout targeted for 2028.