ECB Prepares for September Launch of Tokenized Central Bank Money

The European Central Bank (ECB) is working to bring tokenized central bank money into production through Project Pontes, aiming for a go-live date of September 21.

Pontes will enable institutions to settle DLT-based transactions in the safest form of money available, using either cash tokens or a trigger model that initiates a conventional payment through the TARGET real-time gross settlement system (T2 RTGS).

Institutions must demonstrate appropriate testing to their national central bank before accessing the live production environment. Those wishing to be among the first group to go live need to register with their national central bank by August 7.