- DBS will issue $1,000 tokens of crypto-linked structured notes on Ethereum via ADDX, DigiFT and HydraX for eligible investors.
- Corporate treasuries now hold about 4.1 million ETH worth roughly $17.6 billion, coinciding with record activity in Ether ETFs.
DBS has begun tokenising structured notes on Ethereum and distributing them through three third-party platforms, extending access to accredited and institutional investors beyond its own client base. The first issuance comprises cash-settled crypto-linked participation notes divided into $1,000 tokens.
DBS issues $1,000 tokens on Ethereum via ADDX, DigiFT and HydraX
The bank named ADDX, DigiFT and HydraX as initial distribution venues. Tokenisation reduces the typical $100,000 minimum for structured notes by breaking instruments into fungible $1,000 units, allowing transfers between whitelisted wallets across supported platforms.
DBS said this structure aims to improve precision in portfolio rebalancing for professional investors while keeping trading within a permissioned environment that satisfies know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering rules.
According to DBS, demand for derivatives tied to digital assets has been building. Clients executed more than $1 billion of trades in crypto options and structured notes in the first half of 2025, with volumes rising nearly 60 percent from the first to the second quarter.
The bank plans to extend tokenisation to equity-linked and credit-linked notes after the initial crypto-linked tranche.
Corporate treasuries hold about $17.6bn in ETH as ETF volumes surge
The launch comes alongside a rise in institutional Ethereum exposure. Industry data indicate corporate treasuries now hold more than 4.1 million ether, valued at approximately $17.6 billion at prevailing prices. Entities cited by the tracker include BitMine Immersion and SharpLink Gaming among the larger holders.
Activity in regulated exchange-traded funds has also intensified. Ether ETFs recorded about $17 billion in weekly trading volume during the week to August 15, marking their strongest week since launch and contributing to a record for combined crypto ETF turnover.
The pick-up in secondary-market activity follows the United States approval of spot ether ETFs last year, which broadened channels for institutional participation.
For DBS, anchoring token issuance on Ethereum aligns with a broader shift among banks that are adopting public chains for settlement while constraining circulation to permissioned wallets. The approach leverages Ethereum’s programmability without exposing instruments to open liquidity pools commonly used in decentralised finance.
The bank has framed this as a step toward future features such as atomic settlement with stablecoins and potential redistribution on other networks, subject to investor eligibility and platform controls.
As tokenisation spreads to mainstream fixed-income and equity-linked structures, the combination of smaller denominations, platform interoperability and compliance-aware smart contracts is set to shape how professional investors access and transfer exposures across venues in Singapore and beyond.
At the moment, Ethereum is trading at $4,314.86, with a gain of $34.02, equating to a +0.795% increase since the previous close.
