Citigroup to offer tokenized shares of private companies for wealthy and institutional clients: WSJ

Citigroup is launching a new service to offer tokenized shares of private companies specifically tailored for its wealth and institutional client base. By leveraging blockchain technology, the bank aims to streamline the traditionally cumbersome process of investing in private markets, which often involves significant administrative friction and liquidity constraints. This initiative marks a strategic expansion of Citigroup's digital asset capabilities, signaling a growing institutional appetite for integrating private equity-style assets into blockchain-based infrastructure. Tokenization allows for fractional ownership and potentially faster settlement times, addressing key pain points that have historically limited access to private company investments. As major financial institutions continue to explore distributed ledger technology, this move underscores the broader industry trend of digitizing traditional financial instruments to enhance operational efficiency. The integration of private assets onto the blockchain represents a significant step toward bridging the gap between legacy financial systems and decentralized finance frameworks. Ultimately, this development highlights the increasing institutional validation of RWA tokenization as a viable mechanism for modernizing capital markets and expanding investment opportunities for sophisticated clients.