Citigroup has launched a blockchain-based marketplace for private company shares, allowing investors to purchase Digital Depositary Receipts (DDRs) issued by Citi. The platform, which operates on infrastructure provided by SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), enables investors to hold private company shares alongside public equities in a single portfolio.
The bank estimates that tokenized real-world assets, including private equity, could grow into a $5.5 trillion market by 2030. Citi's move into tokenization aligns with the broader push among financial institutions to modernize capital markets.
Artem Korenyuk, Citi's digital asset executive, emphasized that this solution allows investors to hold private company shares alongside public equities like Apple in a single portfolio. The platform initially available to foreign investors will expand access to U.S. clients later this year.