This post was originally published on Coinspeaker
Key NotesECB to launch blockchain settlement pilot under the Pontes initiative by late 2026.Pilot will enable DLT transactions to settle with central bank money.Two-track approach includes short-term (Pontes) and long-term (Appia) solutions.
The European Central Bank (ECB) plans to launch a blockchain-based settlement pilot program in late 2026. This initiative, known as Pontes, aims to connect the eurozone’s core payment infrastructures with the Eurosystem’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) platforms.
In a press release published on July 1, ECB announced that it intended to implement a two-track plan to allow DLT transactions with the aid of the central bank money.
This is part of its strategy to transform the European financial ecosystem, with a focus on enhancing efficiency and ensuring safety.
ECB’s Two-Track Approach
The first track, which the ECB called the “Pontes,” will offer a short-term solution. It plans on linking DLT platforms to TARGET services, while ensuring that transactions are settled with the apex bank money.
The Pontes track is expected to take effect in Q3 2026 and will incorporate elements from the exploratory DLT research conducted in 2024.
This research evaluated a unified settlement system using central bank money and included 50 experiments with participation from 64
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