Digital Asset just bagged a hefty $135 million payday, backed by big fish like Goldman Sachs, Citadel, BNP Paribas, and a handful of crypto insiders who know the ropes. This fresh capital is set to fast-track the growth of the Canton Network, their blockchain platform designed for big players in the finance world. The aim is clear as day: bring real-world assets — like bonds and gold — into the digital realm and shake up the traditional finance game.
Image 1: (Source: Fintech Finance)
Canton Network: Where Privacy Meets Compliance
If you think all blockchains are cut from the same cloth, Canton throws a spanner in the works. It’s a permissionless, layer-one blockchain that ticks all the right boxes for institutional finance. What makes it the bee’s knees is its ability to fine-tune privacy levels while sticking to the rules—a tricky balancing act that many blockchains struggle with.
Since its launch back in 2023, Canton has been cooked up with the help of big names like Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and Deloitte. They’ve put it through its paces with pilot projects involving the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) and Euroclear, tokenising everything from government bonds to gold bars. That’s no small fry — these assets are the bread and butter of global finance.
By early 2024, Canton had seen over 350 trial runs covering tokenised securities, digital cash, repo deals, and more. Banks, asset managers, custodians, and exchanges all took it for a test drive, proving that the network isn’t just smoke and mirrors but ready for the big league.
Heavy Hitters Back the Vision
With DRW Venture Capital and Tradeweb Markets steering the ship, the $135 million haul roped in a powerhouse crew from both Wall Street and the crypto frontier. Firms like Polychain Capital and Circle Ventures also threw their hats in the ring, showing that the old guard and new wave are willing to put skin in the game.
Goldman Sachs, a key player in the mix, views Digital Asset as a cornerstone for their digital asset strategy. Heavyweights like Citadel Securities, BNP Paribas, and the DTCC have thrown their hats in the ring, signalling that the big guns are hungry to sink their teeth into blockchain innovation.
Yuval Rooz, the CEO of Digital Asset, believes this capital will help bring a flood of real-world assets onto the Canton Network, pushing beyond bonds and alternative funds. Don Wilson of DRW reckons we’re at a tipping point where blockchain can finally be used on a massive scale in traditional markets. On the flip side, Tradeweb boss Billy Hult highlights the nuts and bolts — the platform’s juggling all sorts of assets already, showing it’s not just a one-hit wonder.
Tokenising Real-World Assets: The Next Big Thing
Real-world assets (RWAs) are having a moment in the sun, with their market valuation more than tripling in the first half of 2025 to over $23 billion. This boom is fuelled by clearer regulations and growing demand from institutions wanting to harness blockchain’s potential without throwing compliance out the window.
A year since Canton MainNet launch, the momentum is undeniable:
→ 400+ ecosystem participants
→ $4T in tokenized RWAs
→ $2T in monthly transaction volume— Digital Asset (@digitalassetcom) June 24, 2025
Canton’s deep in the trenches, wrestling with the age-old blockchain balancing act—keeping things open enough to keep watchdogs happy, while still drawing the curtains on sensitive financial details. This adjustable privacy feature lets institutions keep their cards close to their chest while staying on the right side of the law.
Other players are also jumping on the bandwagon. Alchemy Pay recently linked up with a tokenisation firm to open doors to tokenised US investments, and Guggenheim is offering digital commercial paper via Ripple’s XRP Ledger. With the sector heating up, Canton’s compliance-friendly, privacy-focused design gives it an edge in a crowded field.
Image 2 (Source: Ledger Insights)
Ready for Prime Time
With the fresh funds in the kitty, Digital Asset is gearing up to bring hundreds of billions of dollars in real assets onto the Canton Network. The plan is to widen the net beyond bonds and alternative funds to include money market funds, mortgages, commodities, annuities, and more.
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The network has grown like wildfire since its debut, now counting nearly 400 participants, spanning both traditional and decentralised finance sectors. This expanding ecosystem shows Canton isn’t just playing around — it’s gearing up for serious mainstream adoption.
