ECB to Extend TARGET Hours Enabling Pontes, 24/7 DLT Settlement
The European Central Bank announced it will extend the operating hours of its TARGET settlement platform, while the core RTGS system will remain unchanged for now. The change is intended to ease liquidity pressures in the instant payment system TIPS and to support the rollout of Pontes, the wholesale DLT settlement solution for tokenised central‑bank money. Pontes is scheduled for a limited‑hour launch in September 2026, with a full 24/7 version planned for 2028. The move aligns with the BIS’s Project Agorá, which highlights the need for continuous central‑bank liquidity in a multi‑zone DLT environment.
UK Experts Argue Need for Tokenization Composability, Not a Replication of Legacy
Two UK asset‑management veterans, Stephen Whyman and Dr. Ian Hunt, released a paper urging the industry to move beyond merely digitising existing products. They argue that tokenisation should focus on composability, using a universal framework rather than bespoke smart contracts...
Clarity Act Clears Senate Banking Committee
The Senate Banking Committee voted 15‑9 to approve the markup of the Clarity Act, a long‑awaited framework for crypto and DeFi market infrastructure. All Republicans backed the bill, joined by Democrats Gallego and Alsobrooks, while Democratic amendments were rejected. Negotiated...
Nomura, Mizuho, JSCC to Trial Tokenized Collateral on Canton Network
Nomura, Mizuho and the Japan Securities Clearing Corporation announced a proof‑of‑concept to issue tokenized collateral for Japanese government bonds on Digital Asset’s Canton Network. The initiative is part of the Financial Services Agency’s Payment Innovation Project sandbox, which is testing...
Banking Associations Push Back on Kraken Fed Account as Stablecoin Issuers Wait
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City granted Kraken Financial a limited‑purpose account, marking the first pilot of a Fed‑backed banking solution for a crypto exchange. The American Bankers Association and the Bank Policy Institute quickly criticized the move, arguing...
MUFG Launches First Own Brand Real Estate Security Token for $142 Million
MUFG’s trust division has launched its first own‑brand real‑estate security token, the MUFG Realty Token, valued at ¥22.4 billion ($142 million) for the Osaka Dojimahama Tower. The token is issued on Progmat, the blockchain platform MUFG founded and now partially owns. Distribution...
JPYC Raises $12m Series B as Mainstream Investors Back Yen Stablecoin
JPYC, Japan’s first on‑shore yen‑backed stablecoin, closed the first tranche of its Series B round, raising ¥1.78 billion ($12 million). The round was led by Asteria Corporation and featured a slate of corporate investors such as Meiji Yasuda Life and West Japan Railway,...
Kananga Launches Tokenized MMF. CIMB Partners Ant for Tokenized Deposits
Kenanga Investment Bank has unveiled its Myrra tokenization platform, issuing two tokenized money‑market funds on the Stellar blockchain – a first for Malaysia. At the same time, CIMB, the country’s second‑largest bank, announced a partnership with Ant International to explore...
Shinhan Securities Signs Deal with OTC Security Token Consortium
South Korea passed tokenization legislation, enabling security token markets. Two consortia, led by Korea Exchange and Nextrade, received preliminary approval to operate OTC trading venues. Shinhan Securities signed an agreement with the Nextrade consortium to support fractional investments in real‑world...
Crypto Lender Ledn Issues $188m ABS Backed by Bitcoin Loans
Ledn, a leading bitcoin lender, has launched its inaugural $188 million asset‑backed security (ABS) with Jefferies as lead manager. The 15‑year note’s Class A tranche received a preliminary BBB‑ rating from S&P Global, reflecting moderate credit quality. The securities are backed by...
Malaysia Starts Sandbox Pilots Incl Tokenized Deposits, Stanchart Stablecoin
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has moved forward with its Digital Asset Innovation Hub, onboarding three stablecoin and tokenized‑deposit projects from more than 30 applicants. The sandbox pilots focus on domestic and cross‑border wholesale payments as well as settlement of tokenized...
Nomura, Daiwa, Japan’s Big 3 Banks to Test Stablecoin Securities Settlement
Nomura Securities and Daiwa Securities have launched a proof‑of‑concept to settle securities using stablecoins alongside Japan’s three megabanks—MUFG, SMBC and Mizuho. The trial, conducted in the Financial Services Agency’s Fintech PoC Hub, will employ a jointly issued token dubbed “3 Mega SC.”...
LG CNS Demos Deposit Tokens for AI Agentic Payments in Central Bank Trials
LG CNS demonstrated an AI agentic payment system that uses deposit tokens, as part of the Bank of Korea’s Project Han River wholesale CBDC trials. The demo featured virtual personas acting as content creators and buyers, autonomously negotiating and settling...
Tokenization Is a Renaissance of Ownership
Aaron Gwak argues tokenization isn’t a futuristic buzzword but a revival of the direct, bearer‑style ownership that existed centuries ago, now reinforced by modern regulatory safeguards. Libeara’s data shows that over $1 billion of tokenized assets were sold, with more than...