The European Central Bank Plans to Launch a Blockchain Euro Settlement Pilot in 2026

BlockBeats News, July 2nd, according to Cointelegraph report, the European Central Bank (ECB) will launch a blockchain settlement pilot by the end of 2026 through a new initiative called "Pontes," aimed at integrating distributed ledger technology (DLT) platforms with the Eurozone's core payment system.

The ECB on Tuesday approved a two-tiered plan to adopt central bank digital currency settlement DLT transactions, a move that could pave the way for the modernization of the European financial system. The first tier, "Pontes," will focus on a short-term solution by connecting blockchain-based DLT platforms with the Eurosystem's operation of the "TARGET" financial service system (designed to facilitate payments and securities settlement within the Eurozone), with the pilot expected to launch by the end of the third quarter of 2026.

The European Central Bank stated that this pilot will leverage the results of its 2024 DLT exploratory experiment (which included over 50 experiments and 64 participating institutions) to test a unified settlement system for central bank digital currency. "This decision aligns with the Eurosystem's commitment to supporting innovation while ensuring the safety and efficiency of financial market infrastructures."