Citigroup Plans Tokenized Trading for Shares of OpenAI, Ripple, and Anthropic
Banking giant Citigroup is preparing to introduce tokenized shares of private companies, allowing institutional and wealthy investors to gain exposure to firms such as OpenAI, Ripple, and Anthropic through blockchain-based infrastructure. The initiative arrives as interest in pre-IPO investments continues to grow, particularly around highly sought-after private companies.
Citigroup Expands Into Tokenized Private Markets
According to reports, Citigroup is developing a platform that will enable clients to trade representations of private company shares on blockchain networks. The bank is reportedly engaging with several major private firms as it moves forward with the project and hopes the model could eventually gain wider adoption across Wall Street.
The initiative could provide investors with a new avenue to access leading private technology and artificial intelligence companies before they pursue public listings. Interest in OpenAI has increased recently following comments from CEO Sam Altman suggesting that an IPO could potentially occur within the next year, although no immediate plans have been confirmed.
Artem Korenyuk, Citigroup’s Head of Enterprise Digital Assets, explained that the goal is to allow clients to hold and manage private-company investments alongside traditional stock holdings. Initially, the service is expected to be available to international investors, with plans to eventually expand access to U.S. clients.
Growing Momentum for Asset Tokenization
Citigroup’s move reflects the broader trend of traditional financial institutions embracing tokenization technology. Major market participants are increasingly exploring ways to bring real-world assets onto blockchain networks, improving accessibility, efficiency, and settlement processes.
At the same time, the New York Stock Exchange is reportedly working on infrastructure that could support around-the-clock trading of tokenized securities. However, regulatory clarity remains limited as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has yet to finalize guidance regarding tokenized equity products.
How Citigroup’s Model Will Operate
The proposed structure will utilize depositary receipts, which are financial instruments issued by banks to represent ownership in underlying shares. Citigroup will issue and custody these receipts, creating blockchain-based representations that can be traded by eligible investors.
This development adds another pathway for investors seeking exposure to private companies ahead of potential public offerings. Recently, platforms such as Polymarket have also introduced products tied to private-company valuations and performance metrics, broadening opportunities for market participation.
Banks Accelerate Blockchain Adoption
The launch underscores the increasing role of blockchain technology within traditional finance. Citigroup, JPMorgan, and several other major banks are reportedly exploring tokenized deposit systems as they compete with crypto-native firms and stablecoin issuers.
JPMorgan has already introduced JPM Coin, a tokenized deposit solution designed to facilitate institutional transactions. As more financial institutions enter the digital asset space, tokenization is expected to become an increasingly important component of modern capital markets.
