Tech powerhouse IBM has unveiled a cryptocurrency platform geared towards U.S. institutions, representing one of the company’s most significant steps into the realm of digital assets and blockchain infrastructure.
The IBM platform aims to provide U.S. businesses and government entities with crypto custody and payment services by year’s end, with the goal of facilitating the integration of digital assets within the existing financial framework.
Named the “Digital Asset Haven,” the new platform will allow institutions to directly tap into onchain yield from decentralized finance (DeFi) frameworks across 40 public blockchain networks. Additionally, it will address the intricate token compliance requirements for institutions utilizing the same platform.
According to an IBM announcement made Monday, the platform is set to launch as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution in the fourth quarter of 2025. It was developed in partnership with crypto wallet provider Dfns.
Stablecoin and tokenization uptake igniting greater institutional crypto engagement
This initiative highlights a wider transformation within traditional finance (TradFi), as banks and asset managers increasingly investigate tokenization and blockchain-based settlement mechanisms.
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IBM notes that the growing adoption of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) is fueling an escalating need for institutional-grade blockchain infrastructure like Digital Asset Haven.
“To successfully integrate digital assets into fundamental banking and capital markets systems, the foundational infrastructure needs to comply with the same standards as traditional financial systems,” commented Clarisse Hagège, CEO of wallet provider Dfns, adding:
“In collaboration with IBM, we’ve created a platform that transcends custody to manage the entirety of the digital asset ecosystem, enabling digital assets to evolve from pilot phases to large-scale implementation globally.”
Key features of the platform encompass a unified framework for governance and policy management, integrated third-party solutions for identity verification and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance, and yield generation opportunities, all reinforced by IBM’s secure infrastructure.
Rising institutional interest in tokenized offerings has led to a 220% increase in tokenized stocks in July, mirroring the early DeFi surge, during which Total Value Locked (TVL) skyrocketed from $1 billion to $100 billion within two years, from 2020 to 2021, as indicated by Binance Research.
Blockchain addresses owning tokenized stocks also surged to over 90,000 in July, up from 1,600 in June, highlighting increasing investor appetite for tokenized equities.
Related: JPMorgan reportedly plans to allow clients to borrow against their Bitcoin and Ether
During the RWA Summit 2025 in Cannes, Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov stated that blockchain-based compliance mechanisms could render traditional transactions “10 times faster and cheaper” compared to outdated systems.
“When you contrast the cost and complexity of executing a compliant transaction in the TradFi sector, our industry has the capability to do it tenfold faster and more affordably,” Nazarov remarked.
On June 30, Chainlink introduced its Automated Compliance Engine (ACE), a modular and standardized approach for safeguarding regulatory compliance, with aims to unlock $100 trillion in untapped capital to enhance the blockchain economy.
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