Core Insights - JPMorgan's Kinexys blockchain unit is set to launch JPM Coin on the Canton Network, a privacy-enabled platform for financial markets, in collaboration with Digital Asset to enhance the token's reach [1][2] Group 1: JPM Coin Launch and Features - JPM Coin, a bank-issued, USD-denominated deposit token, allows institutional clients to make payments using a digital representation of JPMorgan deposits on public blockchain infrastructure [2] - The collaboration aims to enhance efficiency and unlock liquidity by bringing JPM Coin to Canton, with a phased approach planned through 2026 focusing on technical and business frameworks for issuance, transfer, and redemption [3] Group 2: Future Developments and Integrations - Future phases may include integrating additional Kinexys Digital Payments products, such as Blockchain Deposit Accounts, to broaden capabilities for users within the Canton ecosystem [4] - The initiative is part of a broader vision to modernize financial systems, facilitating efficient capital flow while maintaining privacy and compliance [5] Group 3: Canton Network and Market Support - Canton Network has gained traction with support from other financial institutions, including Franklin Templeton and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which plans to issue tokenized securities on the network [6] - The native token of Canton, CC, has seen significant price movement, reaching an all-time high of $0.176 at the start of the year and trading at $0.135 recently, reflecting an 82% increase over the past month [7]

Core Insights - J.P. Morgan's blockchain unit Kinexys and Digital Asset are launching the JPM Coin (JPMD) on the Canton Network, indicating a shift towards real-time, interoperable digital money for financial markets [1][2] Group 1: Institutional Shift - The collaboration highlights a growing institutional interest in digital currencies that can operate alongside tokenized assets and smart contracts [2] - The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation's selection of the Canton Network for tokenization of traditional finance instruments demonstrates significant institutional support for blockchain-based settlement [2] Group 2: JPM Coin Overview - JPM Coin represents U.S. dollar deposits at J.P. Morgan, allowing institutional clients to make payments using a digital token on distributed ledgers [4] - The initiative aims to create a regulated, interoperable digital currency ecosystem for institutions to issue, transfer, and redeem funds securely [4] Group 3: Efficiency and Liquidity - The collaboration is positioned as a bridge between traditional finance and digital ledger technology, enhancing market speed while ensuring privacy and compliance [5] - JPM Coin on the Canton Network is expected to improve efficiency and unlock liquidity through near-real-time blockchain transactions [5] Group 4: Implementation Timeline - The integration of JPM Coin into the Canton Network will occur in phases throughout 2026, focusing initially on the technical and business frameworks for issuance and transfer [6] - Future phases may include connecting additional Kinexys Digital Payments products to the Canton ecosystem [6] Group 5: Governance and Infrastructure - The Canton Network is governed by the Canton Foundation and supports real-time, compliant settlement across various asset classes on a shared infrastructure [7]

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan Asset Management has severed ties with proxy advisory firms ISS and Glass Lewis, opting to use its own AI-driven voting platform, Proxy IQ, marking a significant shift in shareholder power dynamics [1][3]. Group 1: JPMorgan's Strategic Move - JPMorgan Asset Management manages over $7 trillion in client assets and is the first major asset manager to rely solely on an internal voting platform [1]. - CEO Jamie Dimon has criticized proxy advisers as "incompetent" and has declared their dominance as "done with," indicating a challenge to the existing proxy advisory system [2][3]. - The decision to replace external advisers with an internal platform allows JPMorgan to control the shareholder voting process, which it previously condemned [4]. Group 2: Political and Regulatory Context - The move follows an executive order from President Trump, which directs federal agencies to investigate proxy advisers due to concerns over their influence being driven by political agendas rather than fiduciary duties [2]. - This combination of political and financial pressure from both Trump and JPMorgan represents a significant challenge to the proxy advisory industry [2]. Group 3: Broader Industry Implications - The shift towards a more decentralized and digitally engaged electorate is part of a broader trend toward democratization in investing, allowing individual investors to have real-time access to voting [4]. - The upcoming proxy season may see individual investors playing a more significant role, potentially overshadowing traditional activist campaigns and institutional influences [5]. - Other companies, like ExxonMobil, are also adapting to elevate individual investors, reflecting a growing trend in the industry [6].

Group 1: JPM Coin Launch - JPMorgan Chase & Co is launching JPM Coin on the Canton Network, marking its second deployment on a permissionless blockchain after its initial launch on Coinbase's Base network in November 2025 [1] - JPM Coin is a deposit token representing U.S. dollar deposits held at JPMorgan, serving as a bank-backed alternative to stablecoins for institutional clients, enabling near-instant, 24/7 peer-to-peer transfers and settlements [3] Group 2: Canton Network Overview - Canton, developed by Digital Asset, is backed by major financial institutions including Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, and Deutsche Börse, and offers configurable privacy for regulatory and operational needs [2] - The network is already running major institutional pilots, including a limited pilot by DTCC to tokenize U.S. Treasury securities, and has about 400 ecosystem participants [7][8] Group 3: Integration and Future Plans - The integration of JPM Coin into Canton will be phased throughout 2026, focusing on establishing the necessary technical and business frameworks for issuance, transfer, and near-instant redemption [4] - The collaboration will also explore additional integrations of other Kinexys Digital Payments products to expand capabilities for Canton ecosystem participants [5] Group 4: Industry Context and Evolution - JPMorgan has been a pioneer in blockchain experimentation, with a version of JPM Coin first launched in 2019 on its permissioned Onyx blockchain, which rebranded to Kinexys in 2024 [9] - JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, initially a critic of Bitcoin, has shown interest in stablecoins and the broader crypto sector, indicating a shift in the bank's approach to digital assets [10]

Core Insights - JPMorgan's blockchain division Kinexys and Digital Asset are set to launch the JPM Coin deposit token on the Canton Network, marking the bank's second public blockchain expansion after the Base network launch in November 2025 [1] - The deployment will occur in phases throughout 2026, focusing initially on the technical and business frameworks for the issuance, transfer, and near-instant redemption of JPM Coin on Canton [1] Collaboration and Product Integration - The partnership will also explore the integration of additional Kinexys products, including Blockchain Deposit Accounts [2] Platform Background - The Canton Network, launched in July 2024, is described as the only public blockchain specifically designed for institutional finance, featuring privacy capabilities that protect sensitive business data [3] - Notable participants in the Canton Network include Goldman Sachs, DTCC, Deutsche Börse, BNP Paribas, and BNY Mellon [3] Strategic Goals and Financial Performance - Digital Asset's CEO Yuval Rooz emphasized that the partnership aims to modernize traditional financial infrastructure and enhance capital movement between institutions [4] - Digital Asset raised $135 million in June 2025 and received further strategic investments from BNY, Nasdaq, and S&P Global in December 2025 [4] - Kinexys processes a daily transaction volume of $2-3 billion, with a cumulative volume exceeding $1.5 trillion since 2019 [4] Multi-Chain Strategy - JPM Coin became available to institutional clients on Coinbase's Base network on November 12, 2025, with initial clients including B2C2, Coinbase, and Mastercard [6] - The deposit token allows institutional clients to make payments using a digital representation of JPMorgan deposits on a public ledger, differentiating it from stablecoins backed by reserves [6] - JPMorgan announced a framework with Singapore's DBS Bank on November 11, 2025, to develop compatibility standards for tokenized deposit transfers across multiple blockchains [7] - Kinexys Global Co-Head Naveen Mallela stated that the Canton deployment will enhance operational efficiency and liquidity access for institutional clients [7]

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan Chase & Co. has fully severed ties with controversial proxy advisors for shareholder votes, marking a significant shift in its asset management strategy [1][3]. Group 1: Company Actions - The firm announced in an internal memo that it no longer requires third-party data collection or voting recommendations [2]. - JPMorgan has introduced an artificial intelligence tool named Proxy IQ, designed to aggregate and analyze proxy data from 3,000 annual company meetings [2]. Group 2: Industry Context - Proxy advisors like Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis typically provide research and voting recommendations, but JPMorgan claims to be the first major investment firm to eliminate reliance on these entities [3]. - The decision comes amid criticism of proxy advisors, including remarks from President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who have both expressed concerns over the influence of these advisors on corporate governance [4].

Group 1 - JPMorgan Chase's asset management division has immediately severed all ties with proxy advisory firms [1] - The bank will utilize an internal AI-driven platform named "Proxy IQ" to assist in handling voting matters for U.S. companies during the upcoming proxy season [1] - Proxy advisory firms like Glass Lewis and ISS play a significant role in capital markets by providing independent research and voting recommendations to large institutional investors [1] Group 2 - Conservative figures and some business leaders have criticized proxy advisors and large fund management companies for often recommending votes against board decisions and focusing too much on climate and social issues [2] - In December of last year, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at increasing regulation of the proxy advisory industry, citing that large companies often "advance and prioritize an agenda of radical political motives" [2] - Glass Lewis and ISS have repeatedly denied these allegations [2]

Core Insights - JPMorgan Chase's blockchain unit Kinexys plans to bring its deposit token JPM Coin natively onto the Canton Network, reflecting institutional demand for secure and compliant money movement on public blockchains [1][3] Group 1: JPM Coin Overview - JPM Coin is the first bank-issued U.S. dollar-denominated deposit token, providing institutional clients with a digital representation of U.S. dollar deposits held at JPMorgan [2] - Unlike non-bank stablecoins, JPM Coin represents a direct claim on bank deposits, combining traditional banking safeguards with blockchain-based settlement [2] Group 2: Integration with Canton Network - By issuing JPM Coin on Canton, institutions will be able to move digital cash nearly instantly across markets, supporting payments, settlement, and liquidity management within a regulated framework [3] - The integration aims to appeal to both digitally native firms and traditional financial institutions looking to modernize payment infrastructure while maintaining trust and regulatory oversight [3] Group 3: Strategic Partnership - The partnership is framed as a foundational step toward interoperable digital money, modernizing existing financial rails [4] - The collaboration is expected to unlock liquidity and improve capital efficiency across financial markets [5] Group 4: Implementation Timeline - The integration will follow a phased approach throughout 2026, focusing initially on establishing the technical and commercial foundations for JPM Coin's issuance, transfer, and near-instant redemption on Canton [6] - Once live, participating institutions will be able to use JPM Coin directly within the Canton ecosystem [6] Group 5: Future Developments - Beyond JPM Coin, the partners will explore integrating additional Kinexys Digital Payments products, including JPMorgan's Blockchain Deposit Accounts, enhancing Canton's role as a hub for synchronized, cross-market financial activity [7]

This story was originally published on ESG Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily ESG Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: JPMorgan Chase’s asset management arm will no longer employ external proxy advisory firms for proxy voting advice at U.S. companies and will instead use an in-house artificial intelligence-powered tool to help make voting decisions, ESG Dive confirmed Wednesday. J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management announced the change in a client memo first reported Wednesda ...

The bank's asset-management unit will ditch proxy advisors and use an internal AI tool to help with shareholder votes. ...