Want to invest in private companies? Tokenised shares could be the next frontier

Citi has launched the market’s first tokenised depositary receipts (TDRs) to provide wealthy investors with direct access to private company equity. By partnering with Switzerland-based blockchain infrastructure operator SIX, Citi acts as both issuer and custodian for these digital securities. The inaugural transaction involved the institutional platform Kaleido and a Citi portfolio company, marking a significant step in digitizing private market assets. This model allows investors to trade interests in private companies over the counter, effectively bypassing the traditional, lengthy wait for an IPO. By replacing complex special purpose vehicles with a regulated digital structure, the initiative aims to improve liquidity and transparency in historically fragmented markets. While this innovation promises greater accessibility, Citi’s recent report warns of potential risks, including settlement liquidity issues and the danger of mis-selling to investors. Ultimately, the TDR model represents a major effort by global financial institutions to integrate blockchain technology into traditional capital markets to address the growing trend of companies remaining private for longer periods.