Standard Chartered Unveils Real-Time Blockchain Tokenized Deposits — A New Era in Corporate Treasury
In a bold move that signals a shift in how money moves in the digital economy, Standard Chartered Bank has launched a blockchain-based tokenized deposit solution designed to unlock real-time liquidity for corporate clients — beginning with Ant International’s treasury operations. (The Business Times)
The announcement, made on December 18, 2025, represents one of the most significant commercial rollouts of tokenization technology by a major global bank, blending traditional banking with distributed ledger innovations. (The Business Times)
What’s New: Tokenized Deposits Go Live
Standard Chartered’s tokenized deposit service allows companies to convert standard fiat bank balances into digital tokens on a blockchain, enabling 24/7, real-time transfer of funds — far beyond the limitations of conventional banking hours and legacy payment rails. (The Business Times)
The initial use case is live on Ant International’s Whale platform, where tokenized accounts in Hong Kong dollars (HKD), offshore renminbi (CNH), Singapore dollars (SGD), and US dollars (USD) are now operable. (The Asset)
This means Ant International — and potentially other corporate clients in future — can instantly move liquidity across borders and internal entities, with treasury systems connected directly to blockchain-native value flows. (The Asset)
Why This Matters
Speed and Liquidity on Demand
Traditionally, companies wrestle with cut-off times, cross-border delays, and fragmented banking systems. The new tokenized deposit solution eliminates those barriers by leveraging the immutability and programmability of blockchain technology — improving cash-flow responsiveness and reducing settlement friction. (The Business Times)
Bridging Old and New Financial Worlds
Unlike freely tradable stablecoins, these tokenized deposits represent real, bank-backed fiat — stored at Standard Chartered but transacted on a blockchain ledger. This provides both regulatory compliance and digital efficiency. (MoneyCheck)
Part of Regional Innovation Push
The initiative aligns with broader experimentation in Hong Kong and Singapore, where authorities such as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Project Ensemble and the Monetary Authority of Singapore Guardian initiative are encouraging blockchain adoption in regulated finance. (The Business Times)
What This Could Unlock Next
This development isn’t just about a single product launch — it’s a telling indicator of how major banks are positioning for the future:
- Corporate treasury modernization: Tokenized deposits offer real-time liquidity management, especially important in volatile financial markets. (The Asset)
- Network effects: As more institutions adopt tokenization standards (e.g., through EnsembleTX and cross-bank collaborations), blockchain could become a backbone for institutional finance operations. (MoneyCheck)
- Potential for wider use cases: From cross-border settlement to tokenized asset markets — including tokenized money market funds and other real-world assets — financial systems could evolve beyond legacy payment infrastructure. (The Block)
Glossary: Key Terms
Blockchain — A distributed ledger technology that records transactions across many computers, making data immutable and transparent.
Tokenized Deposit — A digital representation of a traditional bank deposit issued on a blockchain, combining bank-backed fiat with programmable transferability.
Liquidity — The ease with which assets can be converted into usable funds; tokenized systems improve liquidity throughput by minimizing settlement delays.
Programmable Money — Digital money that can execute predefined rules (e.g., auto-settlement) via smart contracts.
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) — A decentralized database shared across multiple participants, foundational for blockchain and crypto networks.
Source: https://www.techinasia.com/news/standard-chartered-debuts-blockchain-tokenized-deposits