DBS, Singapore’s largest financial institution by property, is increasing its digital asset choices with the launch of tokenized structured notes on the Ethereum blockchain.
DBS introduced on Thursday that the financial institution is opening the door to historically high-barrier monetary merchandise in smaller denominations by tokenization.
Structured notes are a sort of debt safety supplied by monetary establishments like banks. DBS stated these usually require a minimal funding of $100,000 and are tailor-made to particular person purchasers, making them advanced and illiquid.
By issuing them in $1,000 denominations, DBS stated the merchandise will grow to be extra versatile, tradable and simpler for buyers to handle in portfolios.
DBS purchasers executed over $1 billion in trades in 2025
DBS launched its crypto-linked structured notes on Sept. 17, 2024, together with crypto choices buying and selling. The financial institution stated demand has been sturdy, with purchasers executing greater than $1 billion in trades within the first half of 2025, up almost 60% from the primary to the second quarter.
Initially, DBS stated it’s going to tokenize cash-settled crypto-linked participation notes for distribution. The be aware constructions will present buyers with a money payout when crypto costs rise.
This permits them to construct publicity to the asset class with out managing any crypto instantly. DBS stated it’s additionally structured to mitigate potential losses when crypto costs decline.
DBS added that past its crypto-linked notes, it’s going to additionally tokenize its widespread structured notes, like equity-linked notes and credit-linked notes.
Li Zhen, head of overseas trade and digital property for international monetary markets at DBS, stated the financial institution has been engaged on tokenization initiatives since 2021. He stated the launch of crypto-linked notes goals to fulfill rising institutional demand for digital property.
Associated: Ether accumulation heats up: $882M in ETH snapped up by Bitmine, whale
DBS presents structured notes to eligible buyers
In line with the announcement, the tokenized structured notes will solely be supplied solely to accredited and institutional buyers. DBS stated these can be distributed by Singapore-licensed digital funding platforms ADDX, DigiFT and HydraX.
Whereas the financial institution stated the tokenized structured notes can be on the Ethereum blockchain, it didn’t present any particulars on why the community was chosen or how the tokens can be issued.
Cointelegraph reached out to DBS for extra info, however had not obtained a response earlier than publication.
The tokenized structured notes construct on DBS’s broader blockchain and digital property push.
In October 2024, the financial institution launched blockchain-based banking for establishments, permitting real-time blockchain fee settlements utilizing sensible contracts. In November, the financial institution collaborated with Paxos’ Singapore arm to launch a USD-backed stablecoin.
Journal: How Ethereum treasury firms may spark ‘DeFi Summer season 2.0’
