Canton Blockchain Gains $135M to Tokenize Real-World Assets

Digital Asset, the enterprise blockchain firm behind the Canton Network, has raised $135 million in strategic funding to accelerate adoption of its privacy-focused infrastructure for real-world assets (RWAs). As reported by CMC News, the funding round was led by DRW Venture Capital and Tradeweb Markets, and attracted support from financial powerhouses including BNP Paribas, Circle Ventures, Citadel Securities, and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC).

This latest capital injection highlights growing institutional interest in decentralized finance solutions that balance regulatory compliance, scalability, and user-defined privacy. Unlike fully transparent blockchains like Ethereum, the Canton Network allows users to customize privacy settings for each asset and transaction, offering a more flexible alternative for real-world applications.

Building a Configurable Privacy Network

At the heart of Canton’s design is its ability to support a wide range of privacy configurations on a single interoperable network. Assets on Canton can range from fully public and visible to entirely private and permissioned, depending on user requirements.

Digital Asset CEO Yuval Rooz emphasized this flexibility in a recent interview, stating:

“You can build an asset that’s just as public as Ethereum—or create one that is completely private and undetectable. That’s the power of Canton.”

This level of control is particularly appealing to financial institutions navigating complex regulatory environments. Institutions can maintain the confidentiality of sensitive trades while still taking advantage of blockchain efficiency and automation.

Real-World Testing and Use Cases

The Canton Network is already seeing real-world testing from major players like Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon. These institutions have trialed tokenized bonds and money market funds using Canton’s smart contract framework, proving the network’s ability to handle high-value, regulated assets securely.

Currently, Canton supports a growing list of tokenized real-world asset classes, including:

• Government and corporate bonds
  
• Money market funds
  
• Commodities
  
• Mortgages and mortgage-backed securities
  

These use cases demonstrate the network’s potential to power next-generation financial products that require both transparency and privacy depending on the transaction type.

Strategic Support from Traditional Finance and Crypto Leaders

The caliber of investors backing this round reinforces Canton’s position as a serious player in blockchain infrastructure. DRW founder Don Wilson highlighted that “trillions of dollars in real-world assets are already leveraging the Canton blockchain,” pointing to the technology’s readiness for institutional deployment.

Tradeweb Markets, a major electronic trading platform, also brings valuable experience in regulated financial markets. Their involvement suggests that Canton could become a bridge between legacy trading systems and tokenized asset markets.

Looking Ahead: Canton’s Role in the RWA Boom

As demand for real-world asset tokenization grows, so does the need for blockchains that offer flexible compliance and privacy structures. Canton’s modular design makes it a strong contender for banks, asset managers, and fintech firms building products that blend traditional finance with decentralized infrastructure.

With $135 million in fresh capital, Digital Asset plans to scale Canton’s ecosystem, attract more developers, and support new integrations with financial institutions worldwide.

For a space that’s often torn between openness and confidentiality, Canton offers a compelling middle ground—and this funding round signals that the market is ready for it.