IBM Launches Digital Asset Haven Platform With Dfns for Enterprise Custody

Core Insights - IBM launched IBM Digital Asset Haven on October 27, 2025, aimed at financial institutions, governments, and corporations for managing digital asset operations in collaboration with Dfns [1] - The platform supports the entire digital asset lifecycle, including custody, transactions, and settlement, and operates across over 40 connected public and private blockchains [1] Platform Features - The system includes pre-integrated third-party services for identity verification and financial crime prevention, with connectivity to core banking systems via REST APIs and SDKs [2] - IBM Digital Asset Haven incorporates multiple security layers, including Multi-Party Computation for distributed signing and IBM Crypto Express HSMs for hardware-based key protection [3] - The platform features IBM Offline Signing Orchestrator, enabling automated cold storage operations through a policy-based system that creates a digital air gap between online and offline signing environments [4] Competitive Landscape - IBM Digital Asset Haven enters a competitive market with major cloud providers like Oracle, Microsoft, and Amazon offering blockchain services [5] - The launch addresses reliability concerns for competing cloud providers, particularly highlighted by a recent AWS outage affecting crypto platforms [5] - IBM targets the institutional tokenization market, similar to Amazon Web Services' partnership with Cronos for real-world asset adoption [6] Market Demand and Availability - The platform is designed to meet growing institutional demand for secure digital asset storage, as evidenced by recent custody deals like Absa Bank's agreement with Ripple [6] - IBM Digital Asset Haven is expected to be available via SaaS and Hybrid SaaS in Q4 2025, with on-premises deployment planned for Q2 2026 [7]