Archax Secures Strategic Investment from Stellar Development Foundation to Advance RWA Tokenisation

Archax, the UK-regulated digital asset exchange, broker and custodian, has formed a strategic partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), which includes a direct investment from SDF. The collaboration aims to strengthen Archax’s mission of bridging traditional finance with blockchain, leveraging Stellar’s layer-one network to expand tokenisation opportunities.

Archax has already integrated Stellar into its tokenisation engine and platform, recently completing projects such as tokenising an Aberdeen Money Market Fund. Through its established network of financial institutions, Archax plans to introduce more tokenised real-world assets (RWAs) onto the Stellar blockchain.

The partnership comes amid rapid growth in the tokenisation market, which has risen from $15.2 billion in December 2024 to over $24 billion by June 2025. Archax is also working with Lloyds Bank and Aberdeen Asset Management to enable tokenised money-market funds to be used as collateral for FX trades through its Nest collateral transfer network.

Eurex Clearing Launches First DLT-Based Collateral Mobilisation Service with J.P. Morgan and PGGM

Eurex Clearing, part of Deutsche Börse Group, has become the first central counterparty (CCP) to introduce a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)-enabled collateral mobilisation service. In its first live transaction, J.P. Morgan successfully transferred securities collateral on behalf of Dutch pension fund PGGM from a separate custody location to Clearstream Banking S.A. for use as margin collateral at Eurex Clearing. The service is powered by HQLAX’s DLT platform and involves collaboration with Clearstream.

This new system allows clients to access and move securities across locations instantly, improving collateral mobility and operational efficiency. The service received regulatory non-objection from BaFin and forms part of Eurex Clearing’s broader digital transformation strategy. It represents a significant development in modernising collateral management through technology and industry collaboration.

Canton Network Expands On-Chain Collateral Initiative with Leading Liquidity Providers

The Canton Network has announced the inclusion of B2C2, Cumberland DRW, FalconX, and GSR as new design partners in its on-chain collateral initiative for bilateral derivatives. These firms join existing partners Flowdesk and QCP to support the development of an application designed to streamline collateral and margin management. Scheduled to launch in Q3, the application will be open to all OTC bilateral derivatives traders.

The collaboration aims to address inefficiencies in the crypto derivatives market by offering a cost-effective alternative to current over-collateralised and tri-party agent models. Using the Canton Network’s privacy-preserving architecture, the solution will enable automated smart contract-based collateral agreements compliant with ISDA CSA standards. Key features include real-time data sharing among transaction parties, instant tokenised collateral pledging, and 24/7 margining capabilities, offering improved operational efficiency, risk reduction, and support for novel collateral types.

Northern Trust to Trial Carbon Credit Tokenisation in Australia’s Project Acacia

Northern Trust will participate in Australia’s Project Acacia to test the interoperability of tokenised carbon credit transactions with traditional bank payments. The bank plans to demonstrate the simultaneous settlement of a carbon credit token transfer and a conventional payment using its blockchain-based Northern Trust Carbon Ecosystem. This simulation will be conducted in collaboration with Swift.

Project Acacia is led by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) to explore various forms of tokenised money and assets, including wholesale CBDCs, tokenised deposits, and stablecoins. Northern Trust’s involvement underscores its ongoing commitment to digital finance initiatives, having previously contributed to blockchain projects in Singapore and Hong Kong. The firm is also a founding shareholder in Zodia Custody and manages $17 trillion in assets under custody.

Standard Chartered Launches Institutional Crypto Trading Platform with Spot Bitcoin and Ether Services

Standard Chartered has introduced a fully integrated digital assets trading service for institutional clients, marking a significant step in its digital finance offerings. Following the earlier launch of its custody service, the bank now offers spot trading for Bitcoin (XBT/USD) and Ether (XET/USD) via its UK branch, with non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) trading to be added soon. This makes it the first globally systemically important bank to provide deliverable spot cryptoasset trading to institutional investors, corporates, and asset managers.

The service is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing FX platforms, enabling clients to trade digital assets through familiar systems while choosing their preferred custody solution, including Standard Chartered’s own. As a UK FCA-registered cryptoasset service provider, the bank offers clients the reliability of a regulated institution with strong risk controls and a robust financial base. This launch expands Standard Chartered’s digital asset capabilities across trading, custody, and tokenisation.

SDX and Banque Pictet Complete Pilot Tokenising Corporate Bonds for Asset Management Portfolios

SDX, part of SIX, and Banque Pictet & Cie SA have completed a joint pilot project that successfully tokenised corporate debt instruments and allocated fractional amounts to portfolios managed by Pictet Asset Management SA. The initiative focused on EUR- and CHF-denominated corporate bonds, which were held in custody at SIX SIS and tokenised on the SDX platform. These tokenised bonds were then distributed in fractional units to investor portfolios, allowing for greater customisation and operational efficiency than traditional methods.

The pilot demonstrates the practical benefits of digital securities in mutual fund management, such as automated rebalancing, smaller investment sizes, and enhanced diversification. By enabling tailored strategies and broader access to asset classes like corporate bonds, the collaboration highlights the potential of tokenisation to transform the asset management industry through scalable, flexible digital infrastructure.

YZi Labs Invests in Digital Asset to Advance Institutional Blockchain Adoption

YZi Labs has participated in Digital Asset’s $135 million Series E funding round, joining established financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Citadel Securities, and DTCC. The investment supports Digital Asset’s development of enterprise-grade tools for regulated markets and underlines YZi Labs’ commitment to enhancing infrastructure for institutional blockchain adoption, particularly in mature markets like the U.S.

Digital Asset is the developer of the Canton Network, a public Layer 1 blockchain designed with configurable on-chain privacy. As of June 2025, Canton supports tokenised real-world assets with a TVL in the trillions, including over $1.5 trillion in monthly U.S. Treasury repo activity. The network includes nearly 400 participants and addresses key barriers to blockchain use by regulated financial institutions. The funding will aid in expanding Canton’s infrastructure, accelerating onboarding, and enabling broader interoperability across global markets.

BPX Gains FCA Authorisation for MTF, AIFM, and Crypto Services; Advances Toward Live Operations

BPX has received regulatory authorisation from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate as a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF), Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM), Cryptoasset Exchange, and Custodian Wallet Provider. These approvals support BPX’s plan to build an institutional-grade, fully integrated marketplace for the full lifecycle of securities – including issuance, trading, and collateralised lending – covering both traditional and tokenised assets.

The company has also become the only FCA-authorised trading venue to pass Gate 1 of the Bank of England and FCA’s Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS). With regulatory permissions secured, BPX is now preparing for live operations and is engaging institutional participants ahead of its inaugural transaction. Its distributed ledger-based platform aims to enhance access and liquidity for issuers and investors by enabling scalable tokenisation and broadening capital market opportunities.

Nasdaq Integrates Blockchain Capabilities into Calypso Platform for Enhanced Collateral Management

Nasdaq has announced the integration of blockchain-based workflows into its Calypso platform via the Canton Network, in partnership with QCP, Primrose Capital Management, and Digital Asset. This initiative demonstrates how on-chain technology can enhance collateral mobility and management across all asset classes for institutional clients. The integration aims to support real-time, automated 24/7 margin and collateral operations, covering crypto derivatives, fixed income, and both exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives.

This development marks a step forward in Nasdaq’s drive to modernise financial infrastructure by enabling more efficient capital allocation and redeployment of collateral across markets. It aligns with Nasdaq’s broader strategy to expand its digital asset capabilities and support institutional adoption of blockchain technologies. Calypso’s expanded functionality now bridges traditional finance with digital markets, positioning Nasdaq to meet the growing demand for capital efficiency in an always-on global financial system.

Digital Asset Secures $135 Million to Advance Canton Network Expansion

Digital Asset has raised $135 million in a strategic funding round led by DRW Venture Capital and Tradeweb Markets, with participation from leading firms across traditional and decentralised finance, including Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Circle Ventures, and Citadel Securities. The investment supports the expansion of the Canton Network, a public, permissionless Layer-1 blockchain designed for institutional-grade compliance and configurable privacy.

The capital will be used to accelerate the tokenisation and integration of real-world assets such as bonds, commodities, and life insurance products onto the Canton Network. The round also strengthens partnerships with key institutions involved in the network’s development and governance. With nearly 400 participants already engaged, Canton aims to bridge traditional finance and blockchain technology through scalable, privacy-focused infrastructure.