Barclays has made a strategic investment in Ubyx, a U.S.-based clearing system designed to support new forms of digital money, including tokenized deposits and regulated stablecoins.
The bank said the investment reflects rising demand for infrastructure that can connect an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of tokens, blockchains and wallets, while keeping activity within the regulatory perimeter. Barclays framed interoperability as a prerequisite for broader institutional adoption of tokenized money, pointing to the need for specialist technology to help regulated financial institutions transact seamlessly across networks.
Ubyx positions its platform as a global clearing and settlement environment that links multiple issuers with multiple receiving institutions and enables redemption of digital money at par value. The company says bank participation is critical to ensuring regulated channels for redemption and for preserving the “singleness of money” as digital wallets become more common alongside traditional bank accounts.
The investment comes amid growing interest from banks and other regulated firms in token-based money transacted on public blockchain infrastructure. Barclays and Ubyx said regulatory clarity is progressing in several jurisdictions and that adoption is beginning to extend beyond traditional cryptocurrency use cases, with both companies emphasizing responsible development of tokenized money within established regulatory boundaries.
KEY QUOTES:
“Interoperability is essential to unlock the full potential of digital assets. As the landscape of tokens, blockchains and wallets evolves, specialist technology will play a pivotal role in delivering connectivity and infrastructure to enable regulated financial institutions to interact seamlessly. We are pleased to be joining Ubyx on their journey as we drive forward our shared ambition to accelerate and shape innovation across our industry.”
Ryan Hayward, Head of Digital Assets and Strategic Investments, Barclays
“Our mission is to build a common globalised acceptance network for regulated digital money including tokenised deposits and regulated stablecoins. Bank participation is vital to provide par value redemption through regulated channels. We are entering a world in which every regulated firm offers digital wallets in addition to traditional bank accounts.”
Tony McLaughlin, CEO, Ubyx
