ECB launches bank-only Pontes digital euro platform

The European Central Bank is launching Pontes, a digital euro platform that will initially be accessible only to banks.
The launch begins the pilot phase of the project ahead of a planned test in mid-2027, marking another step in the ECB's development of digital central-bank money infrastructure.
The bank-focused rollout allows the ECB and participating institutions to test infrastructure and operational requirements before any broader implementation. The pilot does not itself mean a retail digital euro has been launched.