Citibank has successfully conducted a simulation demonstrating the tokenization of a private equity fund on the Avalanche blockchain network using Avalanche’s Layer 1 Spruce subnet. This event could accelerate the adoption of distributed ledger technology in Wall Street and the financial sector.
Avalanche’s Blockchain Simulation for Forex Trading
Project Guardian, an MAS collaboration, simulated spot FX trading for USD/SGD using the RFS app. This test application, currently unavailable to clients, paves the way for future exploration of live trading opportunities.
The underlying solution, as detailed in Avalanche Network’s press announcement, is applicable to trading any pair of currencies. One notable aspect of the simulation was the deployment of Evergreens, a component of Citi’s Project Guardian initiative, which leveraged Avalanche’s native internetwork interoperability.
AWM, a compelling network feature, emerged for the bank, highlighting the growing significance of interoperability in the blockchain ecosystem. AWM facilitates interoperability without requiring trust assumptions or third-party bridges.
John Wu, President of Ava Labs, expressed excitement about top financial institutions leveraging Avalanche to develop cutting-edge solutions for capital markets and foreign exchange. He highlighted Avalanche’s speed, scalability, and customization capabilities as ideal for meeting institutional objectives in on-chain applications.
Puneet Singhvi, Citibank’s Institutional Clients Group’s Managing Director, highlighted how simulations aid financial institutions in adopting blockchain while ensuring compliance.
Will Citibank Provide Institutional Clients with Tokenization Services?
A Bloomberg report suggests that Citi will assess the simulation findings to determine whether to offer services in this domain. The decision-making process is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
This simulation follows Citibank’s introduction of a digital asset offering for institutional customers in September, which converts deposits into globally transferable tokens. During the experiment, Citibank tokenized and held a fictitious Wellington private equity fund, facilitating fund distribution through blockchain technology.
The study also explored the use of private fund tokens as collateral in automated loan agreements with the digital assets division of Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. Singhvi highlighted the potential of deploying private fund tokens as collateral in lending contracts, showcasing blockchain technology’s broader possibilities.
In conclusion, Citibank’s successful simulation on Avalanche illustrates the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the financial sector.