According to CoinDesk, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has approved two work plans to use the central bank's currency to settle distributed ledger technology (DLT) transactions. The short-term plan, called "Pontes", will connect the DLT platform with the European system TARGET service to ensure the flow of cash and securities within Europe. The plan is planned to launch a pilot in the third quarter of 2026. The long-term solution "Appia" will facilitate global operations and analyze DLT-based solutions. The ECB said the decision was in line with the European system's commitment to support innovation while not affecting the safety and efficiency of financial market infrastructure.