ECB Launches Pontes for Central-Bank Settlement of Tokenized Assets

The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched Pontes, a wholesale settlement service designed for tokenized financial assets. The system enables institutions to settle transactions using central-bank money via TARGET Services and DLT interoperability. Pontes is distinct from the retail digital-euro project and aims to provide settlement finality for financial institutions utilizing tokenized securities or DLT-based market rails.