UBS has announced a strategic partnership with Ant International to explore the use of blockchain-based tokenised deposits for cross-border payments settlement and liquidity management. The agreement was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at UBS’s main office in Singapore.
Under this MoU, Ant International will utilize UBS Digital Cash, a blockchain-based payment platform that was piloted in 2024. This platform aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and security in global treasury operations. UBS intends to leverage its experience with digital assets to enhance its cross-border payment solutions for clients.
The collaboration also involves developing joint innovations around tokenised deposits. The solution will integrate Ant’s Whale platform, which is a proprietary blockchain-based treasury management system. This integration is designed to allow real-time, multi-currency fund transfers between different entities of Ant International without being limited by traditional banking cut-off times.
Young Jin Yee, Co-Head UBS Global Wealth Management Asia Pacific and Country Head UBS Singapore, stated: “This collaboration with Ant International builds on the momentum of our UBS Digital Cash pilot launch last year. By combining our expertise in digital assets with Ant’s advanced blockchain technology, we are working together to deliver a real-time, multi-currency payment solution that sets standards for transparency and efficiency. This partnership underscores our commitment to empowering our clients with best-in-class platforms and providing them with greater access to global financial markets.”
Kelvin Li, Global Manager of Platform Tech at Ant International, said: “We are pleased to partner with UBS, a leading global bank with a proven track record in blockchain innovation. We share a common belief in the potential of these technologies to transform cross-border payments and look forward to driving greater impact together through UBS’s global expertise and support.”
Both companies have emphasized their focus on innovation and digitalization as part of this initiative.
UBS is headquartered in Zurich and operates in over 50 markets worldwide. As of the third quarter of 2025, it manages $6.9 trillion in invested assets.