NetXD, has announced its full-stack infrastructure platform which unifies its programmable ledger, global payments hub including stablecoins with a proof of reserve, bank-grade HD wallet (for self-custody), Large Action Model (LAM) and an AI engine allowing institutions to launch and manage tokenized products, move money safely, and streamline middle- and back-office workflows without replacing legacy cores. Key benefits delivered to financial institutions: XD Ledger: Enterprise-grade, programmable, immutable ledger with smart contract support that runs as a sidecar core alongside existing infrastructure. Institutions can tokenize deposits and other digital assets, settle transactions in real time across both fiat and stablecoin rails and enforce Zero Trust, auditable governance; all without ripping out legacy systems. XD Payments: A unified payments API that lets financial institutions move money through every major rail. Instead of juggling separate integrations and settlement rules, institutions route all payment types through one cloud-native platform with real-time tracking, automated compliance checks, and built-in FX. XD AI: Transform institutional operations by turning complex contracts and policies into executable workflows powered by our Large Action Model (LAM). Running on NetXD’s programmable ledger, XD AI eliminates manual middle- and back-office work, enabling Zero Ops automation. From encoding vendor agreements as smart contracts to settling payables in fiat or stablecoins with full audit trails, XD AI delivers cost savings, speed, and compliance at scale. Enterprise HD Wallet Suite: Self-custodial wallet secured by Zero Trust architecture and hierarchical-deterministic key management to access multiple chains and tokens including stablecoins. NetXD’s HD Wallet is further secured by asymmetric cryptography, enterprise-grade real time risk controls and 360 degree review of all transactions and protected by killswitches.
Fintech Money Guard Service converts various informal, everyday financial transactions into legally binding digital contracts such as mobile IOUs, securely stores them on blockchain and auto-converts defaults into bonds linked to collection procedures
Fintech startup Money Guard Service is expanding into domestic and international markets through its digital contract service that covers everything from personal monetary transactions to credit transactions by small business owners. Money Guard Service converts various informal financial transactions in everyday life into simple digital contracts such as mobile IOUs. These are securely stored on a blockchain and carry legal force. Beyond contract signing, the platform is a comprehensive contract management system that includes tracking execution, converting contracts into bonds, and linking to collection services. The company targets three main segments: individual users can use the service to resolve unpaid debts between acquaintances or for labor. In contrast, small business owners can use it to prevent disputes over credit transactions or wage payments. Financially vulnerable groups with limited financial history can build alternative credit information based on digital contract data, improving practical access to finance. Key features of the service include the ability for anyone to easily create legally binding IOUs via mobile, the ability to track contract fulfillment digitally, and an automatic system that converts defaults into bonds linked to collection procedures.
BIS says a tokenized unified ledger developed by public authorities offers a superior alternative to stablecoins, as ‘sound money’ through trust in central bank money that delivers acceptance for payment at par, and safeguards against financial crime
A tokenized unified ledger developed by central banks and public authorities will enhance efficiencies without the shortcomings of stablecoins, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said. Stablecoins “fall short” as a form of sound money and “without regulation pose a risk to financial stability and monetary sovereignty,” BIS said. Because stablecoins do not deliver acceptance for payment at par, timely discharge of obligations or safeguards against financial crime, “their future role is unclear.” A tokenized unified ledger would maintain these “key principles of sound money” based on trust in central bank money while enhancing efficiency and opening new opportunities in cross-border payments, securities markets and other use cases. This solution includes tokenized central bank reserves, commercial bank money and government bonds. As a digital representation of assets on programmable platforms, tokenization integrates messaging, reconciliation and settlement into one operation and ushers in “a new era for the financial system.” BIS called on central banks and public authorities to pave the way for this new era. It added that BIS is already working with central banks to develop tokenization through Project Agorá and Project Pine.
Anthropic just made every Claude user a no-code app developer
Qualcomm is releasing an update to its AI Hub that will support the Snapdragon X processor series. App builders can now tap into Qualcomm’s newest chips that power on-device AI, optimizing their programs to work efficiently on the next generation of Windows computers and laptops. In addition, the Qualcomm AI Hub is opening up to more models. Moving forward, developers will no longer be constrained to what Qualcomm has—they can bring their own. The support for Snapdragon X is a bid to stay one step ahead of the competition. Developers can run models on the Snapdragon X Series Platforms to build AI-powered Windows applications, thanks to integrations with ONNX Runtime, Hugging Face Optimum and Llama.cpp. This potentially means developers could see their app be used on a host of computers from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and OEM7—all companies with scheduled PCs powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus chips.
Digital Asset’s public, permissionless DeFi platform is built from the ground up on Layer-1 blockchain to enable integration of real world assets (RWAs) and allows institutions to tailor privacy settings to their specific needs
Digital Asset has raised $135 million in its strategic funding round. This funding accelerates institutional and decentralized finance adoption on the Canton Network, the only public, permissionless Layer-1 blockchain that offers configurable privacy and institutional-grade compliance at scale. The capital will rapidly expand the integration of hundreds of billions of real-world assets (RWAs) onto Canton, building upon its already substantial deployment of diverse asset classes, including bonds, money market funds, alternative funds, commodities, repurchase agreements (repos), mortgages, life insurance, and annuities. The raise also deepens the relationship with several firms already part of the Canton Network and its Global Synchronizer Foundation, including, BNP Paribas, DRW, Goldman Sachs, Liberty City Ventures, QCP, and Tradeweb, all of whom have played various roles in either the testing, governance, infrastructure, or app development on the Network since its inception. This funding highlights the market’s recognition of Digital Asset’s vision and the pioneering design of the Canton Network, the only network built from the ground up with configurable on-chain privacy. By allowing institutions to tailor privacy settings to their specific needs, Canton overcomes the primary barrier to blockchain adoption: the conflict between transparency and financial confidentiality. As the first comprehensive solution of its kind, Canton bridges the gap between blockchain innovation and real-world financial compliance.
BitGo partners with Reown to enable direct access to DeFi, DAO governance, and trading protocols through a single, secure interface bringing together BitGo’s enterprise-grade security controls with Reown’s fast, scalable connectivity layer
BitGo announced the launch of its WalletConnect integration powered by Reown’s WalletKit SDK, enabling institutions to securely access decentralized applications (dApps) and the broader DeFi ecosystem directly from BitGo’s self-custody hot wallets. The integration enables direct access to DeFi, DAO governance, and trading protocols through a single, secure interface. It brings together BitGo’s enterprise-grade security controls with Reown’s fast, scalable connectivity layer. What You Can Do—All Directly From Your BitGo Self-Custody Wallet: Supply or borrow assets via leading DeFi protocols; Vote in governance proposals across supported DAOs; Access perpetual trading; Swap tokens on AMMs like Uniswap. These capabilities allow institutional clients to deploy capital, participate in protocol operations, and execute onchain strategies—all without leaving BitGo’s custody framework. No asset movement required: Interact with DeFi protocols while keeping assets in your self-custody BitGo wallet; Maintain enterprise-grade security: All transactions are governed by BitGo’s policy engine and access controls; Streamlined experience: Secure, fast, and intuitive access to dApps through WalletConnect—without the need for custom integrations.
Tokenized private credit fund managed by Apollo Global Management and Securitize reaches $100 million in on-chain assets indicative of the growing acceptance of blockchain tech in traditional finance
Apollo Global Management’s tokenized private credit fund, managed by Apollo and Securitize, has reached a $100 million in on-chain assets, highlighting the growing acceptance of blockchain technology in traditional finance. The fund targets key investment areas such as Corporate Direct Lending, Asset-Backed Lending, Performing Credit, Dislocated Credit, and Structured Credit. The $100 million milestone aligns with industry projections, which estimate the global tokenization market will grow from $2.3 billion in 2021 to $5.6 billion by 2026. Securitize’s technology enables the fund to operate across multiple blockchains, enhancing accessibility for institutional investors. The partnership builds on a growing collaboration between traditional finance and digital asset firms, and Securitize’s platform streamlines private market efficiency, offering improved transparency and potentially lower interest rates. However, challenges remain, such as the decentralized nature of blockchain platforms.
Crypto exchange Kraken debuts P2P payments taking on PayPal, Venmo and Block’s CashApp; also plans physical and virtual cards as well as pay-in-advance services like loans
Crypto exchange Kraken launched a peer-to-peer payments app that enables users to send and receive funds – in both cryptocurrency and fiat currency – across more than a hundred countries. The move is a bid to expand Kraken’s offerings beyond its digital asset trading business, and puts the firm in competition with PayPal, Venmo and Block’s CashApp. Krak users will have a dedicated spend account and will be able to instantly send and request payments across 300 different assets, including crypto and local currencies, the company said in a press release. Crypto transfers will be made using blockchain technology, while Kraken will make cash transfers internally without using external banking infrastructure. “We’re able to move money across borders right off the bat, because that’s what we do from a trading perspective in our venues, and we’ve actually already spent over 10 years building out that system for money transmitter licenses in all the jurisdictions,” said Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Kraken. “You have to do that as an exchange anyways, and so what we realized is that our customers just wanted to do more with their money.” Kraken plans to launch a series of products through Krak in the future, including physical and virtual cards as well as pay-in-advance services like loans, the company said.
Volcano Exchange’s financial RWA digital asset leverages blockchain tech to transform high-threshold private banking services into divisible and tradable digital assets lowering the entry barrier for retail investors
Volcano Exchange (VEX), a global digital trading platform for Real World Assets (RWA), today announced the official launch of its first financial RWA digital asset–HL (Morgan Stanley Private Wealth RWA Token). Backed by the future returns of Morgan Stanley Private Bank’s premium wealth management products, HL has a total issuance of $20 million, corresponding to 200 million HL tokens, with an initial subscription price of $0.1 per token. This issuance marks a deep integration of traditional finance and blockchain technology, offering global investors more transparent, efficient, and flexible digital asset trading and staking services. HL is VEX’s first RWA digital asset underpinned by the revenue rights of a traditional financial institution, with its value directly pegged to the future earnings of Morgan Stanley Private Bank products. Leveraging blockchain technology, VEX transforms high-threshold private banking services into divisible and tradable digital assets, lowering the entry barrier for retail investors while maintaining the stability and compliance of traditional finance. With a total supply of 200 million tokens, HL is available for subscription on the VEX platform at an initial price of $0.1 per token. After the subscription period concludes, HL will be officially listed for trading, becoming VEX’s first RWA digital financial trading pair. Holders can freely trade on secondary markets or participate in value-added services such as staking and lending through VEX’s digital finance sector, maximizing asset liquidity. The launch of HL represents a major milestone in the RWA space. By digitizing traditional financial assets through blockchain technology, we enhance their liquidity and composability. Moving forward, VEX will continue to onboard premium assets from top-tier institutions, building a global RWA financial infrastructure.
Fnality partner Adhara and ioBuilders merge to scale DLT for institutions and capital markets
Fnality partner Adhara is merging with fellow institutional blockchain developer ioBuilders in a move that expands their scale to serve institutions through an expanded product offering. Adhara offers tokenized cash and settlement solutions, whereas ioBuilders has focused on capital markets. Both firms have a focus on Ethereum technologies, although ioBuilders also works with Hedera Hashgraph. Each company has worked with numerous banks. Adhara’s biggest customer is Fnality, the wholesale settlement solution owned by 20 institutions. That’s resulted in it working alongside the DTCC, Lloyds and Santander with other projects involving Deutsche Bank and UBS. It also has a contract from the Bank of Spain for a wholesale CBDC and tokenized deposit trial. ioBuilders with its 80 staff has also partnered several institutions, including the BME stock exchange, IDB and BBVA for a bond issuance, and Renta 4 Banco and Allfunds for fund tokenization. Industry investors see the combination as strategically significant. “This is the leading bank-to-bank blockchain software provider globally – ready to replace incumbents,” said Gerrit Seidel, General Partner at Yabeo which co-led Adhara’s 2021 Series A funding.