Barclays has made a strategic investment in Ubyx Inc., a U.S.-based clearing system for digital money, the bank announced Wednesday.
The New York and London-based platform provides clearing infrastructure for tokenized deposits and regulated stablecoins, aiming to connect multiple issuers with receiving institutions in a unified settlement environment.
"Interoperability is essential to unlock the full potential of digital assets," said Ryan Hayward, head of digital assets and strategic investments at Barclays, in a statement. He added that specialized technology will be critical as the ecosystem of tokens, blockchains and wallets continues to develop.
The investment comes amid increasing institutional interest in blockchain-based digital money forms. Multiple jurisdictions are advancing regulatory frameworks for these assets, while adoption is expanding beyond cryptocurrency use cases, according to the announcement.
Ubyx CEO Tony McLaughlin said bank participation is essential for providing 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," McLaughlin stated.
Both companies emphasized their commitment to developing tokenized money within existing regulatory frameworks.
The financial terms of Barclays' investment were not disclosed.
