Standard Chartered has announced the launch of a tokenized Singapore dollar and US dollar account balance solution for Ant International, following the successful completion of pilot Singapore dollar–denominated liquidity transfers. The new capability has been deployed on Ant International’s blockchain-based real-time global treasury management system, known as the Whale platform. This development represents a further step in the bank’s broader strategy to integrate traditional banking infrastructure with distributed ledger technology.
According to the bank, the latest use case builds directly on insights gained from the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Project Guardian. That initiative focuses on improving market liquidity and efficiency through asset tokenization, and it has served as a testing ground for practical applications of blockchain in regulated financial environments. Standard Chartered indicated that the newly introduced solution reflects lessons learned from this collaborative regulatory effort.
Co-Creation Built on a Long-Standing Partnership
The tokenized deposit solution was co-developed with Ant International, which has worked closely with Standard Chartered on several tokenization-related initiatives over the years. Through this collaboration, both parties aimed to design a system that supports continuous, real-time movement of value across currencies while remaining aligned with banking and regulatory standards.
The bank explained that the solution allows Ant International to modernize its treasury operations by moving toward always-on, 24/7 liquidity management in both Singapore dollars and US dollars. By shifting selected treasury functions onto blockchain infrastructure, Ant International is expected to gain greater flexibility in managing working capital across its global operations. Standard Chartered described the launch as an important milestone in its ongoing tokenization journey.
A Blueprint for Commercial Banking Tokenization
Standard Chartered emphasized that the initiative provides a practical reference model for how commercial banks can enable the transfer of funds from conventional bank ledgers to blockchain-based environments. The solution demonstrates how corporate clients can benefit from the core attributes of distributed ledger technology, including immutability, speed, and operational efficiency.
The bank’s cash management leadership noted that corporate and institutional clients are increasingly dependent on just-in-time liquidity, which has accelerated demand for real-time and continuous treasury services. From this perspective, the collaboration with Ant International was framed as a shared effort to move from concept development to a commercially viable product that supports next-generation cash management. The initiative was also positioned as part of Standard Chartered’s broader commitment to delivering secure and seamless access to blockchain-enabled treasury and investment solutions.
Enhancing Liquidity Deployment Across Entities
From Ant International’s standpoint, the new tokenized deposit framework combines Standard Chartered’s global banking capabilities with Ant’s expertise in tokenization and cross-border payments. This integration is intended to improve liquidity management by offering secure and efficient access to working capital across multiple markets.
The bank stated that the solution enables more effective intra-group liquidity deployment for Ant International and its subsidiaries. By linking Ant International’s bank accounts held with Standard Chartered to tokenized deposits, the platform supports near real-time movement of funds among different entities. As a result, treasury oversight and working capital management can be streamlined and made more responsive to operational needs.
Multi-Currency and Cross-Border Capabilities
The solution supports transactions in Singapore dollars and US dollars in Singapore, as well as Hong Kong dollars, offshore renminbi, and US dollars in Hong Kong. This multi-currency design allows users to continue transacting and settling in the currencies they already use, while benefiting from blockchain-based processing.
Such functionality is particularly valuable for multinational companies that operate across borders and require instant access to liquidity at any time. Standard Chartered highlighted that real-time, always-available workflows can significantly improve treasury efficiency for global businesses managing complex payment and settlement requirements.
Supporting Singapore’s Digital Finance Ambitions
Standard Chartered’s transaction banking leadership in Singapore and ASEAN indicated that the project represents meaningful progress in supporting Singapore’s position as a global digital finance hub. Tokenized deposits were described as having the potential to improve settlement efficiency, unlock new financial use cases, and deliver tangible benefits to corporate clients.
In Singapore, both Standard Chartered and Ant International participate in Project Guardian, which brings together regulators and financial institutions to advance asset tokenization. The bank noted that this partnership reinforces its efforts to scale tokenization initiatives and contribute to shaping the future of financial services in Singapore and across its regional markets.
