The technology powerhouse IBM has introduced a cryptocurrency platform aimed at US institutions, marking one of its most significant advancements into digital assets and blockchain technology.
By the end of this year, IBM’s platform will provide US businesses and governmental organizations with crypto custody and payment services, focused on streamlining the integration of digital assets into the existent financial framework.
The new initiative, named “Digital Asset Haven,” will allow institutions to access onchain yield from decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols across 40 public blockchain platforms. Additionally, it will facilitate the complex token compliance requirements of institutions using the same service.
According to an IBM announcement made on Monday, the platform is expected to debut as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution in the fourth quarter of 2025, collaboratively built with crypto wallet provider Dfns.
Stablecoin and tokenization uptake are propelling more institutional engagement in crypto
This initiative signifies a larger transition within traditional finance (TradFi), where banks and asset management firms are increasingly investigating tokenization and blockchain-driven settlement mechanisms.
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The increasing use of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) is boosting the demand for institutional blockchain infrastructure like Digital Asset Haven, according to IBM.
“For digital assets to seamlessly integrate into essential banking and capital market systems, the foundational infrastructure must adhere to the same criteria as traditional financial systems,” remarked Clarisse Hagège, CEO of Dfns, who added:
“In collaboration with IBM, we’ve developed a platform that transcends custody to coordinate the comprehensive digital asset ecosystem, paving the way for digital assets to transition from pilot stages to widespread implementation globally.”
Notable features of the platform include a consolidated framework for governance and policy management, the integration of third-party identity verification and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions, along with opportunities for yield generation and digital asset operations powered by IBM’s secure infrastructure.
The rising institutional interest in tokenized offerings led to a 220% surge in tokenized stocks in July, mirroring the early DeFi surge when total value locked (TVL) escalated from $1 billion to $100 billion in less than two years, between 2020 and 2021, as stated by Binance Research.
Additionally, blockchain addresses holding tokenized stocks soared to over 90,000 in July, up from 1,600 in June, indicating a heightened investor interest in tokenized equities.
Related: JPMorgan allegedly plans to enable clients to borrow against their Bitcoin and Ether
Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov highlighted during the RWA Summit 2025 in Cannes that blockchain-based compliance tools could enhance the speed and reduce costs of traditional transactions by “10 times” compared to legacy systems.
“When evaluating the expenses and complexities involved in conducting compliant transactions in the TradFi arena, our sector should achieve this 10 times faster and cheaper,” Nazarov noted.
On June 30, Chainlink debuted its Automated Compliance Engine (ACE), a modular and standardized framework for regulatory compliance management, with the objective of unlocking $100 trillion in new capital for the blockchain economy.
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