Fintech Revolution: ClearToken & Consensys Forge 24/7 Wholesale Settlement Alliance!

ClearToken Group and Consensys have officially announced a strategic partnership aimed at establishing a continuous settlement infrastructure for wholesale markets. This collaboration, unveiled in London on October 8, 2026, seeks to combine on-chain technical finality with legally binding settlement finality, all while operating within the United Kingdom's robust regulatory perimeter. The initiative directly addresses a significant structural gap in tokenised-asset markets, where tokenised securities can be traded around the clock, yet the crucial clearing, settlement, and safeguarding infrastructure required by wholesale institutions traditionally operates only during standard market hours.

The newly forged infrastructure leverages the distinct strengths of both partners. ClearToken Group contributes two regulated entities to facilitate the settlement process. ClearToken CSD Limited holds Gate 2 approval within the Bank of England's Digital Securities Sandbox, enabling it to tokenise and de-tokenise eligible securities under a financial market infrastructure's regulatory framework. Its CT Register service allows securities held across various banks to be recognised as a single fungible instrument, while its CT Settle service extends continuous settlement capabilities to tokenised securities. Complementing this, ClearToken Depository Limited, authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a payment institution under the Payment Services Regulations 2017, provides delivery-versus-payment (DVP) settlement against fiat currency, tokenised deposits, and stablecoins on a 24/7 basis.

Consensys brings the foundational blockchain layer to the partnership. This includes the cryptographic certainty that ensures recorded on-chain transactions are immutable, alongside essential institutional wallet infrastructure, interoperability tooling, and connectivity across diverse banking networks and financial market infrastructures. Consensys's expertise is built upon over a decade of enterprise Ethereum development, having pioneered protocols such as Besu, Linea, and Teku, which are integral to the blockchain networks used by several major financial institutions.

Ben Santos-Stephens, CEO of ClearToken Group, articulated the partnership's value, stating it would provide institutions with the necessary connective tissue to operate seamlessly across multiple ledgers and networks. He emphasized Consensys's contribution of technology and institutional relationships for scalable delivery, while highlighting ClearToken's role in constructing the legal and clearing framework essential for institutional reliance. David Cunningham, president of Consensys, framed the collaboration as a direct response to the growing demand from banks and market infrastructures already transitioning towards always-on operations. Cunningham noted that ClearToken is building a regulated pathway for 24/7/365 clearing and settlement, pending clearing authorisation from the Bank of England, which will empower clients to operate around the clock, unlock new business opportunities, and mitigate risk.

In parallel, ClearToken CCP Limited has submitted an application to the Bank of England for authorisation as a central counterparty under UK EMIR, which would add another layer to the group’s comprehensive regulatory framework. This partnership is firmly embedded within the UK’s Digital Securities Sandbox, a joint initiative by the Bank of England and the FCA designed to test financial market infrastructure involving digital securities in a live environment. The Sandbox allows firms to explore tokenised post-trade models without immediate adherence to the full requirements of existing FMI legislation, while still operating under conditions stipulated in individual approval notices.

The broader context reveals that other firms are also pursuing similar infrastructure developments. The ultimate success of institutional tokenisation will hinge less on the technological advancements themselves and more on achieving critical regulatory authorisation milestones. For ClearToken, the CCP authorisation application under UK EMIR represents the next crucial marker; attaining CCP status would enable it to function as a central counterparty for cleared trades, significantly expanding its addressable market and systemic importance. Until this authorisation is secured, the partnership's scope remains bounded by the conditions of the Sandbox approval. For Consensys, this agreement extends its established strategy of integrating its infrastructure into regulated financial market settings globally, positioning its interoperability tooling as a vital connective layer between bank-issued tokens, payment schemes, and legacy financial market infrastructures. The enduring relevance of this positioning will depend on whether Ethereum-based infrastructure maintains its institutional foothold amidst the maturation of competing networks and proprietary bank chains.