Hong Kong Launches High-Stakes Pilot for Tokenised Deposits in 2026

TLDR

• Hong Kong has launched the EnsembleTX pilot program to enable real-value transactions with tokenised deposits and digital assets.
• The program allows banks and industry partners to settle tokenised deposits in a controlled environment.
• Seven banks, including HSBC Hong Kong and Bank of China (Hong Kong) are participating in the pilot.
• Asset managers such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, as well as fintech firms, are also involved in the pilot.
• The initial focus will be on tokenised money-market fund transactions to improve liquidity management in real time.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has launched EnsembleTX, a new pilot program for real-value transactions involving tokenised deposits and digital assets. The program marks a shift from experimental testing to live implementation, enabling actual transactions with commercial value. The pilot builds on the previous Ensemble Sandbox, which allowed financial institutions to test digital asset settlements.

Hong Kong Banks Set to Test Tokenised Deposits

EnsembleTX enables participating banks and industry partners to conduct real transactions in a controlled environment. The program allows for tokenised deposits to be settled interbank. Seven banks are involved, including Bank of China (Hong Kong) and HSBC Hong Kong.

The pilot also includes asset managers BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, and payment network JETCO. Other industry pioneers, such as Ant Digital Technologies and Ant International, are also participating. These organizations will settle tokenised deposits and digital asset transactions through the platform.

Initial applications of the program focus on tokenised transactions in money market funds. This will enable market participants to manage liquidity and treasury operations in real-time. The pilot aims to demonstrate faster, more transparent settlements than traditional processes.

EnsembleTX is designed to deliver faster and more efficient settlement of transactions. According to HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue, “It is where innovation meets implementation.” The goal is to apply the concepts tested in the Ensemble Sandbox to real-value transactions.

The program will operate throughout 2026. In its early stages, it will rely on Hong Kong’s existing Real-Time Gross Settlement system for interbank transactions. However, the HKMA plans to upgrade the infrastructure to support tokenised central bank money settlement.

Collaboration with the Securities and Futures Commission

The HKMA is collaborating with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to advance tokenisation across asset classes. SFC CEO Julia Leung stated, “Interoperability is key to scaling tokenisation.” The collaboration aims to allow real-time interbank settlement of tokenised deposits, operating 24/7.

Hong Kong’s efforts to position itself as a regional hub for digital finance infrastructure are evident through this collaboration. The HKMA has invited more stakeholders to join the pilot and leverage tokenised deposits for innovative use cases. This move further solidifies Hong Kong’s commitment to enhancing its financial technology ecosystem.

The post Hong Kong Launches High-Stakes Pilot for Tokenised Deposits in 2026 appeared first on CoinCentral.