Crypto exchange Coinbase has officially launched tokenized US stock trading. All tokenized shares are backed 1:1 by actual stocks, with holders entitled to the same dividend distributions as traditional shareholders. The move places Coinbase in competition with Robinhood, Kraken, and several traditional financial institutions in the tokenized assets space.

Editor: GoodInfo Global News Team

Editor: GoodInfo Global News Team

According to the Wall Street Journal, a banking consortium led by JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup plans to launch a tokenized deposit network in early 2027. The network will enable instant transfers of tokenized deposits with round-the-clock settlement capabilities, marking a pivotal step for traditional banking toward blockchain-based settlement infrastructure.

Event Details

According to the Wall Street Journal, several major US banks are collaborating on a blockchain-based tokenized deposit settlement network. Led by JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, the project aims to provide institutional clients with infrastructure for real-time fund transfers and continuous 24/7 settlement.

Tokenized deposits essentially represent traditional bank deposits in the form of digital tokens, enabling them to be transferred instantly on blockchain networks. Unlike traditional banking settlement systems such as ACH or wire transfers, tokenized deposits are not constrained by banking hours or business days, enabling truly continuous settlement.

The project is expected to go live in early 2027, initially serving institutional clients and large-value transactions. Participating banks hope to improve settlement efficiency, reduce transaction costs, and gain a first-mover advantage in digital asset infrastructure.

Perspective and Analysis

The launch of a tokenized deposit network represents a milestone in the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology. For decades, banking settlement systems have been constrained by business-day frameworks — the US ACH system operates only on business days, and even wire transfers, while faster, have time windows. This design is increasingly out of step with the digital economy.

From a broader perspective, tokenized deposits represent more than a technical upgrade — they signal a paradigm shift in financial infrastructure. They blur the line between traditional bank deposits and cryptocurrencies, enabling banks to offer blockchain-like instant settlement without relying on external crypto networks. This will have profound implications for the competitive landscape of the financial industry.

First, it will intensify competition between traditional banks and crypto-native platforms. Stablecoins and DeFi protocols already offer 24/7 settlement, and the entry of traditional banks will make this space more competitive. Second, tokenized deposits could reshape the cross-border payments market, which still relies on legacy systems like SWIFT with long settlement cycles and high fees. Finally, this innovation may also drive regulatory evolution, prompting regulators to reconsider how traditional rules on deposit insurance, anti-money laundering, and capital adequacy apply in a tokenized environment.

Multiple Perspectives

Proponents argue that tokenized deposits will dramatically improve financial system efficiency. JPMorgan has already demonstrated the feasibility of blockchain settlement through its tokenized fund project, with executives stating: “24/7 settlement is the inevitable direction of financial infrastructure — clients expect instant settlement, not waiting multiple business days.”

The cautious camp highlights technical and regulatory risks. Some analysts note: “Tokenized deposits involve complex compliance issues, including the scope of deposit insurance coverage, smart contract security audits, and liquidity management under extreme market conditions. All of these need to be thoroughly addressed before launch.”

Industry observers see this as a strategic response by traditional financial giants to digital asset trends. As the stablecoin market continues to expand and central bank digital currency (CBDC) research advances globally, traditional banks must innovate proactively rather than reactively, or risk losing their dominant position in future financial infrastructure competition.

BNY Mellon, the Wall Street giant overseeing $59 trillion in client assets, has announced a partnership with Finstreet and the ADI Foundation to expand digital asset infrastructure services in Abu Dhabi.

Significance

As the world’s largest custody bank, BNY Mellon’s move into crypto services in the Middle East represents a major milestone in the institutional adoption of digital assets. The partnership will provide institutional clients with digital asset custody and settlement capabilities in one of the fastest-growing crypto hubs globally.