Barclays tests vendor interest in blockchain payment rails

What to Know:

• Barclays is exploring blockchain for payments, potentially using stablecoins and tokenized deposits.
• The $2 trillion tokenization estimate is industry-wide, not Barclays’ target.

Barclays is exploring a blockchain platform for processes such as payments, with potential use of stablecoins and tokenized deposits, as reported by Bloomberg. The work is exploratory and does not signal a product launch.

The widely cited $2 trillion figure is sector-wide context, not a Barclays-specific target. According to Standard Chartered, tokenization of real‑world and money‑like instruments could approach roughly $2 trillion on multi‑year horizons.

Any bank‑grade implementation in the UK would need to align with domestic oversight, including the Bank of England’s remit over systemic payments arrangements. That context helps explain the emphasis on institutional, compliant rails.

Immediate payment impact: stablecoins and tokenized deposits for institutions

Institutional scope is already visible in market initiatives. As reported by Bitcoin.com News, Allunity introduced CHFAU, a fully reserved Swiss‑franc stablecoin designed for institutional payments and cross‑border settlement within European frameworks.

Interoperability and regulated plumbing are central to any near‑term payment impact. Institutions are evaluating settlement on blockchain rails where the legal nature of money and operational controls remain clear.

“Interoperability is essential to unlock the full potential of digital assets,” said Ryan Hayward, Head of Digital Assets & Strategic Investments at Barclays.

In practice, institutions are comparing models that keep money within supervised perimeters while aiming for faster, programmable settlement. Both stablecoins and tokenized deposits are being considered for treasury operations and wholesale payment flows.

Barclays blockchain platform: what’s confirmed versus unverified

Confirmed: Barclays is assessing a blockchain platform focused on payments‑adjacent processes, with potential use of stablecoins and tokenized deposits. The scope remains exploratory and framed around institutional use.

Unverified: there is no disclosure of a proprietary Barclays stablecoin, no confirmed launch timelines, and no bank‑specific program tied to $2 trillion. The $2 trillion figure reflects broader tokenization projections rather than a Barclays initiative.

At the time of this writing, broader digital‑asset sentiment showed pockets of strength in adjacent markets; as reported by StockStory, Coinbase shares rose about 10% on product news, underscoring shifting risk appetite without altering banks’ regulatory timelines.