Regulation· ★★★★· neutral·

ECB maps out two-track plan for digital euro and tokenised finance

  • —Pontes will launch on September 21, 2026, to settle tokenised asset transactions in central bank money
  • —13 market participants, including Deutsche Bank and Santander, are onboarded for the launch
  • —The Appia initiative targets an integrated European tokenised finance ecosystem by 2028
  • —A first retail digital euro issuance is anticipated in 2029, with merchant pilots starting mid-2027
Why it matters: The plan sets timelines and infrastructure for an on-chain euro, shaping the future of tokenised assets and settlement in the EU.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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