EU Blockchain Market Adds First Regulated Bank Participant

Swiss digital asset bank Amina Bank has become the first fully regulated banking institution to participate in 21X, a blockchain-powered securities marketplace operating under the European Union Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) pilot framework. Based in Zug, Switzerland, the bank confirmed on Monday that it will act as a listing sponsor for issuers on the platform.

The collaboration is being implemented through a partnership with Tokeny, a Luxembourg-based technology provider specializing in solutions for creating and managing tokenized financial assets. Through this partnership, Amina will assist companies seeking to issue tokenized securities on the 21X platform.

21X obtained official approval to operate under the EU’s DLT pilot regime in December 2024. Introduced in 2023, the regulatory framework allows market operators to test blockchain-based trading and settlement systems within a controlled regulatory environment. The initiative aims to help regulators evaluate how distributed ledger technology can be integrated into traditional capital market infrastructure.

The partnership also aims to tackle one of the key challenges limiting institutional participation in tokenized assets. According to a June analysis by Baker McKenzie’s European Financial Services team, insufficient interoperability between tokenized asset platforms remains a major hurdle. Zurich-based partner Yves Mauchle noted that tokenized markets will only reach significant scale when numerous participants can transact through shared or interconnected systems.

Despite its potential, the EU’s DLT pilot program has faced criticism from some industry stakeholders. Certain participants argue that the current limits and restrictions within the framework could slow the growth of blockchain-based financial markets in Europe compared to other global regions. It remains uncertain whether the participation of a regulated bank like Amina will help accelerate adoption within the framework.

Meanwhile, the market for tokenized real-world assets (RWA) continues to expand. Data from RWA(dot)xyz indicates that the total value of tokenized RWAs has reached $26.5 billion. In the United States, major institutions such as BNY Mellon, Nasdaq, and S&P Global are supporting the growth of the Canton Network.

At the same time, several European digital asset firms have raised concerns about the region’s competitiveness. In February, eight EU-regulated companies sent a letter to policymakers warning that Europe could fall behind the United States in the development of tokenized financial markets.

Industry activity in the sector continues to grow. Kraken introduced tokenized securities trading for European users through its xStocks platform in September, enabling blockchain-based versions of U.S.-listed equities. Shortly afterward, tokenization platform Ondo Finance received regulatory approval in Liechtenstein to offer tokenized equity products to European investors. Amina’s decision to join 21X further strengthens the emerging blockchain-based capital markets ecosystem in Europe.

Voice Of Osiz

The entry of Amina Bank into the 21X platform marks a significant milestone for blockchain-powered capital markets in Europe. By operating under the EU Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Pilot Regime, this move highlights how regulated institutions are beginning to embrace tokenized securities and digital asset infrastructure. Collaboration with Tokeny further strengthens the ecosystem for issuing compliant tokenized financial assets. As institutional participation grows, blockchain could transform traditional market operations such as trading, settlement, and asset issuance. At the same time, challenges like interoperability and regulatory limitations must still be addressed for large-scale adoption. The expanding market for tokenized real-world assets also signals increasing global momentum in this space. From Osiz’s perspective, initiatives like this reinforce how blockchain is steadily integrating with mainstream financial systems, paving the way for more secure and efficient digital capital markets.

Source: Coinmarketcap