Citi sees tokenisation driving shift to real-time treasury and capital markets

Citi Services is actively transitioning global financial infrastructure from legacy batch-processing systems to an always-on, event-driven model using blockchain and tokenization. The bank has deployed Citi Token Services, a private permissioned blockchain platform, which currently processes approximately US$1 billion in daily transactions across seven markets including the US, UK, and Singapore. By enabling near-instantaneous cross-border movement of tokenized deposits, Citi allows corporate treasurers to mobilize liquidity dynamically, bypassing traditional banking cut-off times and weekend closures. This initiative has been further bolstered by integrating tokenized cash solutions with Citi’s 24/7 USD Clearing network, connecting over 300 financial institutions globally. Beyond cash, the bank is expanding its Custody+ platform to include native digital asset custody, including Bitcoin, and has pioneered tokenized depositary receipts on the SIX blockchain. These developments represent a strategic shift to provide institutional clients with the speed of digital assets while maintaining the regulatory rigor of traditional banking. This evolution is critical for the RWA market as it establishes the necessary rails for seamless, real-time settlement of tokenized securities and trade instruments at a massive institutional scale.