Digital Asset Raises $355 Million to Expand Canton Network

Digital Asset, the development firm behind the Canton Network, has secured $355 million in a new funding round to accelerate the integration of traditional capital markets onto blockchain infrastructure [1]. The investment, which exceeded the company's previously reported target of $300 million, was led by the a16z crypto fund [2].

Key takeaways

• The $355 million funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z crypto fund, which contributed $100 million [1].
• Participants in the round included major global institutions such as Citadel Securities, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, ABN Amro, Apollo Funds, BNP Paribas, HSBC, and SBI Group [2].
• Digital Asset creates enterprise-grade software to help financial institutions tokenize assets like bonds, loans, and funds on a shared, privacy-enabled ledger [1, 2].
• The company previously raised approximately $185 million across two funding rounds in 2025 [1].

Scaling Institutional Blockchain Infrastructure

The Canton Network is designed as a "network of networks" that allows financial institutions to trade tokenized real-world assets while maintaining compliance and privacy [2, 3]. By combining the decentralization of public blockchains with the strict requirements of regulated finance, the platform aims to improve capital flow and market efficiency [1, 2]. Digital Asset CEO Yuval Rooz noted that for capital markets to successfully move on-chain, infrastructure must be built from the start to support institutional needs like scalability, interoperability, and legal compliance [2].

In addition to the financial backing, a16z crypto plans to provide Digital Asset with ongoing expertise in research, policy, and development [2]. The firm is currently collaborating with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) on a multi-year project to bring US Treasury securities onto blockchain infrastructure [1]. This initiative is intended to serve as a foundation for broader institutional tokenization efforts, eventually supporting a wider range of traditional financial assets [1].

Why it matters

The significant capital injection reflects a broader trend of traditional financial institutions increasingly backing blockchain solutions tailored specifically for regulated markets [2]. This shift is marked by a growing interest in private or permissioned infrastructure that avoids the risks associated with open, public ledgers [2]. As firms like Digital Asset, Stripe, and Circle continue to secure hundreds of millions in funding, the development of "on-chain" capital markets is moving from a theoretical concept to an emerging reality in global finance [2]. The success of this latest round highlights the industry's focus on building the necessary plumbing for a future where bonds, equities, and commodities are traded on shared, compliant digital ledgers [2, 3].