DBS, Citi bypass traditional banking hours with weekend tokenised deposit payment
DBS and Citi completed a cross-border US dollar payment on Saturday using tokenised deposits via the Swift Digital Ledger, taking minutes. They aim to enable 24/7 global cash transfers, addressing time zone and weekend banking limitations. Cross-border payment volume in Asia is projected to reach US$24 trillion by 2033. Both banks are exploring blockchain for faster liquidity management.
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
The test could accelerate banks' move toward 24/7 liquidity services, influencing investor sentiment on digital banking initiatives.
Market read
First‑of‑its‑kind weekend tokenised payment may signal future growth in blockchain‑enabled banking services.
What to watch
The actual cost savings and client adoption rates for such technology remain unclear.
Background
DBS and Citi used Swift Digital Ledger to process a tokenised USD deposit on a Saturday, bypassing traditional banking hours.
Ticker impact
Citi participated in the first weekend tokenised USD deposit payment, demonstrating 24/7 cross‑border settlement capability.
Modest upside as market anticipates increased demand for 24/7 payment solutions.
The novel use of Swift Digital Ledger showcases innovation but scale and revenue impact are still uncertain.
Market effects
Highlights growing adoption of blockchain‑based settlement in banking, may spur competition among global banks.
Asia banking sector could see increased focus on 24/7 payment infrastructure.
Demonstrates potential shift in cross‑border payment standards worldwide.
Counterpoint
Banks may face regulatory and operational hurdles that limit rapid rollout of tokenised payments.
Key entities
- BankDBS Group Holdings
Singapore‑based bank leading the tokenised deposit test.
- BankCitigroup Inc.
U.S. bank collaborating on the weekend tokenised payment.



