In a significant move for the digital finance sector, DBS Group has announced a strategic partnership with US asset management firm Franklin Templeton and blockchain company Ripple. This collaboration is set to enhance trading and lending services for accredited and institutional investors through the use of tokenized money market funds, alongside Ripple’s stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, known as RLUSD.
As part of this agreement, DBS, Singapore’s largest bank, will introduce Franklin Templeton’s sgBENJI token on the DBS Digital Exchange. The sgBENJI token represents a unit of Franklin Templeton’s tokenized US dollar money market fund, and it will be available for trading alongside Ripple’s stablecoin. This development aims to facilitate efficient asset swaps between the two tokens, providing eligible investors with opportunities to earn yield on their investments.
Lim Wee Kian, CEO of DBS Digital Exchange, emphasized the significance of the partnership. He remarked that tokenized securities could significantly boost efficiency and liquidity in global financial markets, showcasing the evolving landscape of digital finance.
Additionally, DBS has plans to explore new avenues of collateralization for clients using sgBENJI tokens. This could involve enabling clients to use the tokens as collateral for credit, whether through bank-managed repurchase agreements or within third-party platforms where DBS would serve as the custodian of the pledged tokens.
Franklin Templeton will utilize Ripple’s XRP Ledger blockchain for the issuance of the sgBENJI tokens, further integrating blockchain technology into traditional finance operations. This initiative marks a pivotal step towards the broader acceptance of digital assets in mainstream finance, signaling a growing trend of collaboration between traditional financial institutions and innovative blockchain firms.