JPMorgan, Citi And Big Banks Plan New Tokenized Deposit System To Answer Crypto - WSJ

JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and other major financial institutions are reportedly developing a new tokenized deposit system to modernize cross-border payments and settlement processes. This initiative aims to leverage blockchain technology to enable near-instantaneous transfers, directly challenging the efficiency of existing crypto-native solutions. By creating a regulated, bank-issued tokenized deposit framework, these institutions seek to maintain their dominance in global finance while addressing client demand for faster, programmable money. The project represents a significant institutional pivot toward integrating distributed ledger technology into core banking infrastructure. This development matters for the RWA market because it signals a shift toward institutional-grade, on-chain liquidity that could eventually bridge traditional banking deposits with broader tokenized asset ecosystems. As major banks standardize these systems, the interoperability between tokenized deposits and other real-world assets is expected to increase, potentially reducing settlement risks and costs. Ultimately, this move underscores the growing institutional acceptance of blockchain as a foundational layer for the future of global capital markets.