Barclays Takes First Stablecoin Stake with Ubyx Investment

Barclays has made its inaugural foray into stablecoin infrastructure with a strategic equity investment in U.S.-based Ubyx, signaling growing institutional confidence in tokenized payment rails. The London-based bank confirmed the undisclosed stake Wednesday, framing it as part of its exploration of "new forms of digital money" within regulatory boundaries.

Ubyx operates as a clearing LAYER for stablecoins, solving interoperability challenges between different issuers' tokens. The 2025-launched platform enables seamless settlement and redemption across stablecoin brands—a critical infrastructure gap as adoption grows. "This aligns with our approach to regulated digital money," a Barclays spokesperson told Reuters.

The MOVE coincides with accelerating tokenization of real-world assets, particularly in payments infrastructure. Barclays joins peers like JPMorgan and Citi in backing blockchain-based settlement solutions, though its focus on stablecoin interoperability marks a distinct strategic angle.