Digital payments firm Ant International has launched a blockchain-centered partnership with banking giant UBS.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The collaboration, announced Monday (Nov. 17), will see ...

Core Insights - Ant International is a significant early adopter of tokenized deposits, collaborating with various banks to implement blockchain payment solutions [1][2] - The company has integrated UBS Digital Cash into its payment toolkit, expanding its range of on-chain payment tools [1][6] - In 2024, over a third of Ant's transactions were processed on-chain through its blockchain-based treasury and settlement platform, Whale [2][6] Partnerships and Collaborations - Ant International has partnered with major banks like HSBC, Standard Chartered, and DBS to enhance its tokenized deposit capabilities [1][3][4] - The company was the first corporate user of HSBC's Tokenized Deposit Service, which went live in May 2024 [3] - A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with DBS Bank to further develop tokenized deposit technology, potentially integrating with a new interoperability framework being developed with JPMorgan [4] Interoperability and Industry Initiatives - Interoperability is a key focus for Ant International, which is involved in complex global supply chains and maintains relationships with numerous banks [5] - The company contributed to a report under the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Project Guardian, advocating for a "shared ledger infrastructure" for tokenized liabilities [5] - The report endorsed blockchain networks as a means to streamline global payments, without proposing a single platform [7] UBS's Role in Tokenization - UBS has emerged as a leader in tokenization in Europe, processing various transactions during a 2024 pilot, including domestic Swiss payments and cross-border payments in multiple currencies [8]

Core Insights - Ant International has partnered with UBS to modernize its treasury and payments infrastructure, focusing on blockchain-powered settlement, tokenized deposits, and real-time fund movement [1][2]. Group 1: Partnership Details - The collaboration includes integrating UBS Digital Cash, a blockchain-based payment platform, into Ant's global treasury operations to enhance cross-border liquidity and security [2][3]. - Ant will combine UBS Digital Cash with its Whale platform, a proprietary blockchain-based treasury management system, to facilitate constant multi-currency fund movement across global entities [3]. Group 2: Tokenized Deposits - A significant aspect of the partnership is the joint research and development of tokenized deposits, which are digital representations of traditional bank deposits that can be transferred instantly via blockchain [4]. - Successful implementation of this model is expected to enhance transparency, settlement speed, and auditability for complex transactions [4]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment and Adoption - Hong Kong's Project Ensemble, a regulatory sandbox for tokenized transactions, has enabled real-value settlements between banks and fintech firms, with Ant participating in the pilot [5]. - HSBC recently completed a transfer of HK$3.8 million ($488,820) in tokenized deposits for Ant, indicating accelerating institutional adoption [5]. Group 4: Digital Asset Strategy - The partnership aligns with Ant International's exploration of regulated digital asset infrastructure, including evaluating stablecoin licensing in various jurisdictions [6]. - Ant emphasizes that while it does not plan to engage in speculative crypto activities, it sees significant potential in stablecoins to enhance modern payment infrastructure [6][7].

Ant International, the Singapore-based spin-off of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, is stepping up its global treasury operations through a strategic partnership with Swiss bank UBS, as both companies also seek to explore innovations in blockchain-based tokenised deposits. Under a memorandum of understanding signed at UBS' Singapore offices, Ant International will use UBS Digital Cash - a blockchain-based payments platform launched last year - for its global treasury operations to enhance efficiency, trans ...

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UBS has entered a strategic partnership with Ant International, a leading global digital payment, digitisation, and financial technology provider, to explore innovations in blockchain-based tokenised deposits to support Ant International's global payments settlement and liquidity management. Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UBS's flagship office at 9 Penang Road in Singapore. Under the MoU, Ant International will leverage UBS Digital Cash, a. ...