Group explores links across payments, settlement, tokenized securities and real-world assets
Shinhan Financial Group is expanding its engagement with global digital asset infrastructure as it prepares for the growing adoption of tokenized finance across traditional financial markets.
The group said it held talks on Sept. 29 with Yuval Rooz, co-founder and CEO of Digital Asset, and Veep Divakar, head of the Canton Foundation, at Shinhan Financial Group’s headquarters in Seoul. The discussions focused on group-wide cooperation in tokenized finance and digital asset infrastructure.
Digital Asset is the developer of Canton Network, an institutional blockchain infrastructure designed to connect financial systems and assets while maintaining transaction privacy and regulatory compliance. The Canton Foundation supports the governance and operation of the network.
Partnership Expands from Investment to Network Governance
Shinhan Financial Group has been steadily expanding its involvement in the Canton ecosystem this year.
In June, the group signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canton Foundation to participate in network governance. A month later, Shinhan Securities and Shinhan Venture Investment made strategic equity investments in Digital Asset, extending the partnership into the investment sector.
This month, Shinhan Asset Management was approved as a Super Validator on Canton Network, becoming the first Korean financial institution to take on the role.
Super Validators are core participants responsible for supporting network stability and participating in major governance decisions.
The series of moves has broadened Shinhan’s relationship with the Canton ecosystem from an initial partnership to strategic investment and direct participation in network operations.
Connecting Banking, Securities and Asset Management
During the latest meeting, the two sides discussed how Shinhan’s financial businesses could be connected with tokenized financial infrastructure.
Potential areas include payment and settlement infrastructure through the group’s banking business, distribution of tokenized assets through its securities operations, and real-world asset tokenization through asset management.
Such a structure could eventually connect multiple stages of tokenized finance — from asset issuance and distribution to payment and settlement — by drawing on the capabilities of different Shinhan affiliates.
The two sides also explored ways to improve global investor access to Korean financial products through connections with international digital asset infrastructure.
Preparing for Korea’s Tokenized Securities Market
Shinhan Financial Group plans to conduct further technology verification in line with the development of South Korea’s regulatory framework for tokenized securities.
The group also intends to use Canton Network to strengthen connections with overseas tokenized assets and global financial institutions.
As tokenization expands beyond digital asset markets into traditional finance, financial institutions are increasingly examining how blockchain-based assets can be integrated with existing trading, payment and settlement systems.
Shinhan is positioning its collaboration with Digital Asset and the Canton Foundation as part of its broader effort to build the infrastructure needed for that transition.
“As tokenization emerges as a new financial infrastructure in global markets, our collaboration with Digital Asset and the Canton Foundation provides an important foundation for Shinhan Financial Group to proactively respond to changes in the future financial environment,” Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong said.
“We will responsibly prepare to expand our connectivity with global digital asset infrastructure in step with regulatory developments and build a service foundation that customers can use safely and conveniently,” he added.
