Mastercard Collaborates with Banking Titans for Blockchain Settlement Testing

Mastercard has embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration with key banking institutions in the United States, including Citigroup, Visa, and JPMorgan, to explore the potential of distributed ledger technology (DLT) for banking settlements, leveraging tokenization.

The alliance between these financial powerhouses and the payment giant is aimed at evaluating a shared-ledger technology known as Regulated Settlement Network (RSN). RSN facilitates the collective settlement of tokenized assets such as Treasurys, investment-grade debt instruments, and commercial bank funds.

Streamlining Settlement Processes

Traditionally, securities and assets operate on disparate systems, leading to fragmented settlement procedures. Through RSN, various assets are converted into tokens and settled on a unified distributed ledger platform, streamlining the settlement process.

Building upon a 12-week pilot phase initiated in late 2022, the ongoing proof-of-concept (PoC) RSN trials are now concentrating on simulating settlements in the United States dollar. This expansion underscores the commitment to enhancing cross-border settlements’ efficiency and minimizing errors and fraud risks.

Raj Dhamodharan, Mastercard’s head of blockchain and digital assets, envisions shared ledger technology revolutionizing market infrastructures by enabling 24/7 programmable settlements with minimal friction. He said, “application of shared ledger technology to dollar settlements could unlock the next generation of market infrastructures — where programmable settlements are 24/7 and frictionless.”

The RSN PoC boasts significant participation from renowned banking institutions, interbank tokenized deposit networks like the USDF Consortium, and advisory services provided by Deloitte. Notable participants include Citi, JPMorgan, Visa, and other leading players from the banking sector.

Six additional project participants, including MITRE Corporation and BNY Mellon, bring subject-matter expertise to the table, reinforcing the collaborative effort aimed at reshaping the future of financial settlements.