- IBM unveils a new digital asset platform for U.S. institutions.
- The service will provide custody, payments, and DeFi yield access across 40 blockchains.
- Rising demand for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets drives institutional interest.
IBM has announced the launch of Digital Asset Haven, a cryptocurrency and blockchain platform designed specifically for U.S. institutions, including banks, asset managers, and government agencies.
The platform aims to simplify digital asset custody, payments, and compliance, bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized systems. It will also allow users to access onchain yield opportunities from decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols across 40 public blockchain networks.
The platform is set to launch in Q4 2025 as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) product, developed in partnership with Dfns, a crypto wallet infrastructure provider.
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Stablecoins and tokenization lead the next wave of institutional crypto growth
IBM said the move reflects a growing trend in traditional finance, where stablecoin payments and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) are driving demand for enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure.
For digital assets to be integrated into core banking and capital markets systems, the underlying infrastructure must meet the same standards as traditional financial rails.
Hagège added that the partnership with IBM enables the platform to go “beyond custody”, supporting the full digital asset lifecycle from governance and compliance to yield generation and secure operations.
Built for compliance, yield, and scalability
IBM’s Digital Asset Haven will include:
- Unified governance and policy management for institutions.
- Integrated identity verification and AML tools.
- Access to DeFi yield strategies.
- Institutional-grade security backed by IBM’s infrastructure.
The platform’s launch aligns with a surge in institutional activity around tokenized assets. Binance Research reported that tokenized stock volumes rose 220% in July, while blockchain addresses holding such assets jumped from 1,600 to over 90,000 month over month.
Blockchain compliance could unlock trillions in value
At the RWA Summit 2025 in Cannes, blockchain compliance frameworks could make financial transactions “10 times faster and cheaper” than legacy systems.
In June, Chainlink introduced its Automated Compliance Engine (ACE) a standardized, modular framework for regulatory management designed to unlock up to $100 trillion in traditional capital for blockchain-based systems.
