Barclays, one of many world’s largest banks and a systemically necessary world monetary establishment, has made its first funding in a stablecoin-related firm.
The UK-based financial institution mentioned Wednesday it had invested in Ubyx, a US stablecoin clearing platform that goals to attach regulated issuers with banks and fintech firms. Barclays didn’t disclose the dimensions of the funding.
“Because the panorama of tokens, blockchains and wallets evolves, specialist know-how will play a pivotal position in delivering connectivity and infrastructure to allow regulated monetary establishments to work together seamlessly,” mentioned Ryan Hayward, head of digital belongings and strategic investments at Barclays.
The funding follows Ubyx’s $10 million seed funding spherical in June 2025, backed by buyers together with enterprise capital arms of Michael Novogratz-founded Galaxy and the US crypto trade Coinbase.
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Ubyx was based in March 2025 by funds veteran Tony McLaughlin, who spent greater than 20 years at Citi, managing funds and money flows.
Describing himself on LinkedIn as a “tokenized cash maximalist,” McLaughlin has highlighted the rising position of tokenized monetary providers.
“Our mission is to construct a typical globalised acceptance community for regulated digital cash together with tokenised deposits and controlled stablecoins,” McLaughlin mentioned.
“We’re getting into a world wherein each regulated agency affords digital wallets along with conventional financial institution accounts,” he added.
When asserting its 2025 seed funding, Ubyx mentioned its platform was designed to allow broad adoption of stablecoins, together with these issued by main trade gamers together with Ripple, Paxos, AllUnity and Eurodollar.
Barclays makes first stablecoin funding
Barclays’ funding in Ubyx is the primary time the financial institution has taken a stake in a stablecoin-related firm, Reuters reported.
“This funding aligns with Barclays’ strategy to discover alternatives based mostly on new types of digital cash, similar to stablecoins,” the financial institution mentioned, with out disclosing the dimensions of the funding.
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The funding additionally represents a notable shift in Barclays’ strategy to crypto after years wherein the financial institution highlighted dangers and restricted some crypto-related transactions.
In June 2025, Barclays mentioned it could start blocking crypto purchases on Barclaycard bank cards, citing the volatility of cryptocurrencies.
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