Infrastructure News

KB Securities Partners With Securitize, Optimism Foundation on Tokenized Securities

KB Securities has entered a strategic partnership with Securitize and the Optimism Foundation to develop a security token ecosystem tailored for Korean institutional investors. The collaboration leverages KB Securities' underwriting and distribution expertise to launch tokenized money market funds and investment products managed by KB Asset Management. Securitize will provide the necessary tokenization infrastructure, while the Optimism Foundation supplies the underlying blockchain network to facilitate these transactions. This initiative aims to establish a comprehensive framework for the issuance and distribution of digital assets within the Korean market. As local security token regulations evolve, the partners plan to expand their offerings to include stocks, American depositary receipts, corporate bonds, and treasury bonds. This move signifies a major step in integrating traditional financial institutions with blockchain technology to modernize asset management. By focusing on institutional-grade products, the partnership seeks to bridge the gap between legacy financial systems and decentralized infrastructure.

en.sedaily.com·Sep 23, 20267.5

The SEC's Tokenization Boom Has an Expiration Date No One's Pricing In

The SEC's tokenization boom runs on a five-year exemption, and a future chair could unwind it overnight, analysts warn. The post The SEC's Tokenization Boom Has an Expiration Date No One's Pricing In appeared first on BeInCrypto .

BeInCrypto·Sep 23, 20267.5

BlackRock Examines AI Payments, Tokenized Assets and Compute

BlackRock Digital Assets Research released a report titled 'The Machine-Native Economy' exploring the intersection of autonomous AI agents, blockchain infrastructure, and tokenized financial assets. The research highlights how AI systems could independently manage payments, access tokenized securities, and trade computing capacity using blockchain-based settlement. BlackRock identifies stablecoins as a primary mechanism for machine-to-machine transactions, noting that stablecoin volume reached over $11 trillion in 2025. The firm examines emerging protocols like x402, the Machine Payments Protocol, and the Agentic Commerce Protocol to facilitate these automated financial interactions. Furthermore, the report suggests that computing power could be tokenized or financed through digital contracts, potentially creating a new market for GPU-backed assets. While acknowledging the potential for increased utility, BlackRock emphasizes that widespread adoption remains contingent on solving complex challenges regarding identity, KYC/AML compliance, and regulatory frameworks like MiCA. This research underscores BlackRock's strategic focus on integrating digital assets into the broader financial ecosystem as AI-driven commerce matures.

cryptotimes.io·Sep 23, 20267.5

Binance RWA Perpetuals Capture 97% of Post

Binance Research reports that RWA-linked perpetual futures captured 97% of the U.S. stock opening gap for 16 companies following the September FOMC policy decision. These derivatives allow global traders to price macroeconomic events and individual stock movements during hours when traditional U.S. equity markets are closed. Data indicates that approximately $1.02 billion in trading volume occurred outside regular market hours during this period. Furthermore, 198 TradFi-linked perpetual contracts generated $7.25 billion in volume during the most recent S&P index rebalance. The expansion of these instruments, which grew from one ticker in January to 149 by August, highlights a shift toward continuous price discovery. While these contracts do not provide direct stock ownership, they offer up to 10x leverage and settle in USDT. This trend signifies that RWA-linked derivatives are increasingly serving as a primary venue for market participants to react to major financial developments in real-time.

Blockonomi·Sep 22, 20267.5

CFTC Chairman Selig says markets must prepare for ‘mass tokenization’

CFTC Chair Michael Selig has signaled a major regulatory shift, urging the agency to prepare for mass tokenization and the transition to 24/7 financial markets. Speaking at a New York Fed conference, Selig emphasized that the next decade will likely see more transformation in financial infrastructure than the previous several decades combined. The CFTC is actively exploring the integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence to modernize market operations while maintaining the U.S. market's status as a global gold standard. This push includes ongoing efforts to facilitate responsible stablecoin adoption for clearinghouses and exchanges, building on previous moves to allow stablecoins as eligible collateral. Simultaneously, the SEC has introduced an innovation exemption to support the onchain trading of tokenized stocks. These regulatory developments suggest a coordinated effort to modernize U.S. financial markets despite the current legislative stalemate in the Senate. This shift is critical for the RWA market as it provides the necessary legal framework for institutional-grade, round-the-clock asset settlement.

The Block·Sep 22, 20268.5

Crypto Update September 2026: ECB Backs Tokenized Bonds While Pepeto, Cardano, and Sui Gain Ground

The European Central Bank (ECB) officially launched its Pontes platform on September 21, 2026, establishing a dedicated infrastructure for settling trades in tokenized bonds using central bank money. This initiative involves 13 banks and four technology firms, including major institutions such as Deutsche Bank, Santander, and the European Investment Bank. Beyond providing settlement rails, the ECB announced it will actively invest its own funds into these tokenized assets, signaling a significant shift toward institutional adoption of on-chain finance. The platform is scheduled for a full rollout by 2028, marking a pivotal moment where a major central bank integrates blockchain technology into its core monetary operations. While the broader crypto market continues to see volatility in assets like ADA and SUI, the ECB's move represents a structural transition from theoretical exploration to practical, code-based asset management. This development is critical for the RWA market as it validates the use of distributed ledger technology for sovereign-level financial transactions. By legitimizing tokenized bonds, the ECB provides a regulatory and technical blueprint that may accelerate the institutionalization of real-world assets globally.

techbullion.com·Sep 22, 20269.0

The SEC's New "Innovation Exemption": Five-Year Relief for Trading on Tokenized Securities Venues

jdsupra.com·Sep 22, 20268.5

Canada’s big six banks plan tokenized deposits

Canada’s six largest banks, including BMO, CIBC, NBC, RBC, Scotiabank, and TD Bank Group, have launched a collaborative initiative to develop tokenized deposits for the Canadian dollar. This move follows recent guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), which clarified that tokenized deposits maintain the same legal status as conventional bank deposits. By focusing on programmability, the banks aim to facilitate seamless transfers of tokenized assets across different financial institutions. While previous industry efforts, such as those by JPMorgan and Citi, have largely focused on single-bank solutions, this Canadian project prioritizes interbank interoperability. The initiative intends to eventually integrate with third-party digital asset ecosystems to expand the utility of tokenized money. The banks are currently exploring settlement mechanisms, potentially utilizing wholesale CBDCs or tokenized reserves to bridge the gap between token movement and interbank settlement. This development marks a significant shift toward a unified digital infrastructure for the Canadian banking sector, moving beyond isolated pilot programs.

ledgerinsights.com·Sep 22, 20268.0

Ondo Unlocks $3.6B Tokenized Market With Direct Stock-to-Token Conversions

Ondo Finance has launched a new institutional-grade solution enabling the direct in-kind conversion of legacy stocks and ETFs into tokenized assets without requiring additional cash investment. By integrating with Alpaca’s Instant Tokenization Network, the platform facilitates a two-way conversion process where institutions can swap existing share inventory for tokens on Ethereum and BNB Chain and vice versa. This mechanism eliminates the need for institutions to hold extra capital to establish tokenized positions, effectively reducing friction between traditional securities and blockchain-based markets. The initiative is specifically designed for market makers and liquidity providers, allowing them to mobilize existing assets into on-chain liquidity more efficiently. According to RWA.xyz data, Ondo currently manages $3.63 billion in assets across 441 products, underscoring its significant footprint in the sector. By streamlining the transition from traditional shares to tokens, this development aims to deepen secondary market liquidity and accelerate the adoption of tokenized securities. Access to this conversion feature remains restricted to pre-approved institutions that have completed onboarding with both Ondo and Alpaca.

cryptoninjas.net·Sep 22, 20267.5

ClearToken Joins Bank Of England Digital Securities Sandbox

ClearToken has been officially accepted into the Bank of England’s Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS) to operate as a Digital Securities Depository. This milestone allows the firm to provide tokenized versions of existing securities, enabling intraday repo settlement that eliminates traditional batch processing and end-of-day cut-offs. By facilitating settlement throughout the day, institutions can borrow against collateral more efficiently, significantly reducing financing costs. At launch, the platform will support FTSE 350 equities, GBP government debt, and various corporate bonds, with plans to expand into private funds and commodities. CEO Ben Santos-Stephens emphasized that the move addresses the critical infrastructure gap in tokenization, specifically regarding settlement, collateral mobility, and payments. ClearToken holds UK permissions for these pillars, including authorization for the cash leg of transactions. This integration into the DSS represents a major step in bridging the gap between digital innovation and regulated financial markets within the UK.

crowdfundinsider.com·Sep 22, 20268.5

The ECB and EU Central Banks Want Brussels to Scrap MiCA's 60% Stablecoin Deposit Rule

The European System of Central Banks (ESCB) has formally requested that the European Commission revise the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation to remove the mandatory 60% deposit requirement for significant stablecoins. Central banks argue that forcing issuers to hold a majority of reserves as bank deposits creates systemic risks, as rapid token redemptions could trigger sudden liquidity drains on commercial banks. Instead, the ESCB proposes a liquidity-bucket approach, requiring reserves to be held in highly liquid, short-dated assets like sovereign securities and reverse repurchase agreements. This shift aims to decouple stablecoin reserves from the banking system, preventing potential contagion from crypto-market volatility. The proposal highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing MiCA, particularly regarding multi-issuer arrangements where tokens are marketed as compliant while reserves are held outside the EU. As the European Commission reviews MiCA, these recommendations could significantly alter the operational landscape for non-bank electronic money institutions. The outcome of this consultation will be critical for issuers like CACEIS and Revolut, who must balance regulatory compliance with efficient reserve management.

cryptotimes.io·Sep 22, 20268.5

Everyone Wants to Tokenize Assets, No One Is Building the Market

The tokenization industry is shifting focus from merely issuing assets onchain to building the complex infrastructure required for functional financial markets. While early projects proved that assets like Treasuries and stocks could be represented digitally, the current challenge lies in creating liquidity, collateral verification, and automated settlement workflows. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) recently demonstrated this by processing real production trades involving over 30 institutions, while Ondo Finance integrated with the Fund/SERV network to bridge traditional mutual-fund infrastructure. Simultaneously, the BIS-led Project Agorá is exploring how tokenized deposits and reserves can improve wholesale cross-border settlement. Ault Blockchain, an EVM-compatible Layer 1 launched in March 2026, exemplifies this trend by attempting to integrate issuance, trading, and settlement within a single, compliance-oriented ecosystem. By utilizing a licensed node structure and DAO governance, Ault aims to provide the underlying machinery for financial activity rather than just a ledger for asset storage. Ultimately, the market is moving toward integrated environments where compliance, identity, and reporting are programmable, signaling that the novelty of simple tokenization is being replaced by a demand for robust, interconnected financial infrastructure.

dailycoin.com·Sep 22, 20268.0

Kamui Finance launches three institutional real-world asset vaults on Ethereum

Kamui Finance has launched three institutional-grade vaults on the Ethereum blockchain to streamline access to fragmented real-world asset (RWA) markets. By aggregating tokenized products from DigiFT, Centrifuge, Midas, and Ondo, the firm aims to reduce the operational burden for large allocators who previously faced separate onboarding and compliance processes for each issuer. The vaults utilize the ERC-7540 token standard, which facilitates asynchronous deposit and redemption flows necessary for assets like private credit, real estate debt, and US Treasuries. This standard allows for off-chain compliance checks and settlement timelines that are incompatible with instant atomic transactions. Kamui acts as an operator layer, managing sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio rebalancing for its clients. The team, composed of alumni from institutions like Goldman Sachs, intends to solve the issue of operational fragmentation in the RWA sector. While specific assets under management remain undisclosed, the platform's ability to integrate diverse RWA protocols into a single interface represents a significant step toward institutional interoperability. This development highlights the growing importance of middleware solutions in bridging traditional finance settlement requirements with decentralized infrastructure.

cryptobriefing.com·Sep 22, 20267.5

ClearToken CSD approved for live activity in UK Digital Securities Sandbox

ClearToken CSD has secured Gate 2 approval from the Bank of England to conduct live transactions within the UK’s Digital Securities Sandbox, marking it as the first non-bank entity to achieve this milestone. This regulatory clearance allows the startup to issue and settle tokenized versions of existing securities, including FTSE 350 equities, GBP government debt, and corporate bonds. By enabling 24/7 settlement, ClearToken aims to facilitate intraday repo and collateralized borrowing, significantly reducing settlement times from days to hours. This development is particularly notable as it grants ClearToken a broader operational scope than HSBC, which previously received Gate 2 approval for its digital gilt issuance platform. The firm intends to eventually expand its services to include global public equities, private funds, physical commodities, and digital assets. This move represents a critical step in the UK's efforts to modernize financial market infrastructure through distributed ledger technology. The integration of such capabilities into the sandbox environment underscores the growing institutional appetite for efficient, blockchain-based settlement solutions in traditional finance.

ledgerinsights.com·Sep 22, 20268.5

Cregis to Host Institutional Onchain Finance Summit 2026 in Singapore

Cregis will host the Institutional Onchain Finance Summit 2026 in Singapore on October 6, 2026, during TOKEN2049 Week to address the operational integration of stablecoins into traditional financial workflows. Co-hosted by FOMO Pay, Stable, and Width, the event focuses on the transition from initial stablecoin adoption to practical execution in corporate treasury and cross-border payments. Industry leaders from Tether, Injective, and CertiK will discuss how institutions can manage complex fund flows, counterparty coordination, and evolving security threats. The summit highlights a critical market shift where infrastructure providers must move beyond simple blockchain connectivity to offer robust governance, access controls, and automated compliance. By bringing together payment providers, security firms, and financial institutions, the event aims to define the new standards for institutional onchain operations. This gathering underscores the growing necessity for secure, scalable, and compliant digital asset infrastructure as stablecoins become embedded in global business systems. The focus on AI-driven compliance and advanced security playbooks reflects the increasing sophistication required to protect institutional assets in a decentralized environment.

BeInCrypto·Sep 22, 20266.5

Deutsche Bank Tokenized Assets News: $4 Trillion Market Seen by 2035

Deutsche Bank Research Institute released a report on September 16, 2026, projecting the tokenized real-world asset market to reach between $3 trillion and $4 trillion by 2035. The analysis, authored by Marion Laboure and Camilla Siazon, excludes stablecoins to focus on the structural shift in financial product issuance and settlement. Data indicates the market grew from approximately $10 billion in January 2025 to $39 billion by September 2026, representing a nearly fourfold increase. The report highlights the convergence of traditional asset managers like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton with blockchain-native platforms such as Ondo Finance and Circle. By framing these projections as conservative, the bank suggests that regulatory clarity and institutional adoption could accelerate this growth trajectory. This research signals that tokenization is transitioning from experimental pilot programs into core financial infrastructure. The findings underscore a long-term trend where blockchain rails complement existing systems to enhance settlement efficiency across global markets.

coingabbar.com·Sep 22, 20268.0

Cantor Fitzgerald Flags 95% Upside in the Firm Putting Stocks Onchain

Cantor Fitzgerald has initiated coverage on Securitize with an overweight rating and a $21.20 price target, signaling significant institutional confidence in the tokenization sector. This move follows a recent SEC temporary order that established a regulatory pathway for venues to issue tokenized representations of publicly traded U.S. equities. Securitize, currently ranked by RWA.xyz as the largest tokenization platform with $4.64 billion in distributed asset value, saw its stock price surge nearly 24% following the analyst report. Analyst Gareth Gacetta highlighted that Securitize manages the full lifecycle of tokenized assets, including issuance, registration, and custody. The firm estimates that while only $39 billion in assets are currently on-chain, this represents a tiny fraction of the $319 trillion global financial market. With monthly transfer volumes reaching $1.12 billion, the company is positioned to capture a substantial share of the ongoing financial infrastructure overhaul. This development underscores the growing intersection between traditional Wall Street equity research and the emerging blockchain-based asset market.

BeInCrypto·Sep 22, 20268.0

Coinbase Shares Rise as Bitcoin Tops $85,000; IPO Access, SEC Tokenization in Focus

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a five-year Innovation Exemption on September 17, establishing a regulatory framework for venues trading tokenized National Market System stocks. This framework provides conditional relief from exchange definitions for platforms utilizing permissioned automated market makers, provided tokenized securities mirror the rights of traditional assets. While the exemption does not grant Coinbase specific operational approval, analysts at Bernstein suggest it positions the firm to compete in the emerging U.S. tokenized-equity market. Coinbase is currently expanding its 'Everything Exchange' strategy, which aims to integrate stocks, derivatives, and tokenized assets alongside its existing crypto services. The company already offers offshore tokenized stocks on the Base blockchain, though these remain restricted for U.S. users. Market participants view this regulatory clarity as a significant step toward bringing 24/7 price discovery and on-chain liquidity to traditional equities. Consequently, Coinbase shares and related tokenized instruments like COINB saw positive price movement following the announcement.

thecryptobasic.com·Sep 21, 20268.0