Citi Has Expanded Token Services to Japan and UAE
The bank has extended its blockchain-based liquidity platform into two new international markets.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Financial Services
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Citi has expanded its Token Services network to include Japan and the United Arab Emirates. This move brings the total number of markets utilizing the bank's tokenized deposit technology to seven.
Why it matters
The expansion supports the global shift toward 24/7 commerce by providing clients with near-instantaneous liquidity movement. It helps address corporate payment and collateral needs by bypassing traditional banking holiday calendars and cut-off times.
Citi currently operates in 180 countries and has increased its Token Services footprint to 7 markets worldwide. The new additions facilitate USD transactions in Japan and both USD and Euro transactions in the UAE.
The players
Citi
Citi is a major global financial services institution that provides banking, credit, and investment solutions to consumers, corporations, and governments.
The details
The platform leverages private-permissioned blockchain technology and tokenized deposits to enable programmable movement of funds. By utilizing this infrastructure, Citi aims to provide its global client base with improved efficiency in managing liquidity across borders.
Timeline
Citi announced the expansion of its Token Services on September 28, 2026.
Market Landscape
The expansion follows the broader industry trend of adopting private-permissioned blockchain technology to replace aging, fragmented interbank settlement processes. This positions Citi to capture more institutional volume by offering faster, programmable alternatives to traditional legacy clearing systems.
Corporate clients operating in Japan and the UAE can now utilize faster, programmable payment flows that avoid standard banking cut-offs. This results in greater flexibility for managing liquidity and collateral during times when traditional financial markets are closed.
The takeaway
The move underscores how major financial institutions are prioritizing programmable, 24/7 liquidity solutions to meet modern global investment demands. Businesses that frequently operate across international borders should monitor these blockchain implementations for potential improvements in cash management efficiency.
Further reading
For more on evolving banking technologies, explore our Financial Services coverage.
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