Barclays Backs Crypto Company Ubyx Amid Growing Stablecoin Clearing Race
Barclays has made its first direct transfer into the stablecoin sector, taking an fairness stake in Ubyx, as international banks quietly place themselves for a future the place digital settlement turns into extra frequent.
While the funding is modest in disclosed element, it indicators how conventional lenders are approaching stablecoins not as speculative belongings, however as infrastructure that might reshape funds and treasury operations if regulation permits.
Ubyx, based in 2025, operates a clearing and settlement layer for stablecoins, digital tokens sometimes pegged one-to-one with fiat currencies such because the U.S. greenback. Its aim is to scale back market fragmentation by permitting stablecoins from totally different issuers and blockchains to be settled and redeemed in a extra standardized method.
The Case for Regulated Tokenized Cash
Barclays stated the funding aligns with its broader work on “new types of digital cash,” emphasizing that any improvement would sit inside current regulatory boundaries.
The financial institution didn’t disclose the scale of its stake or Ubyx’s valuation. However, the choice locations Barclays amongst a rising record of huge monetary establishments searching for publicity to stablecoin rails with out instantly issuing tokens or working outdoors compliance frameworks.
The financial institution’s curiosity will not be new. In October, Barclays joined a gaggle of world lenders, together with Goldman Sachs and UBS, to discover the issuance of a collectively backed stablecoin by G7 currencies.
It has additionally participated in tokenized deposit pilots and different distributed ledger initiatives, reflecting a cautious however constant strategy to blockchain-based settlement.
Ubyx’s Role in a Crowded Infrastructure Layer
Ubyx positions itself as an middleman between stablecoin issuers and controlled banks or fintech companies. Its platform helps what it calls common redemption, permitting companies to deposit stablecoins from a number of issuers instantly into current accounts at face worth.
The startup raised $10 million in seed funding in mid-2025, with backing from Galaxy Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Founders Fund, and Paxos. Barclays’ entry provides a significant UK banking title to that record, mixing conventional finance curiosity with crypto-native capital.
Regulation Support for the Competitive Market
Stablecoins already play a central position within the crypto market’s liquidity, led by Tether, which has roughly $187 billion in circulation.
However, most utilization stays inside buying and selling venues. Regulators, together with the Bank of England, proceed to weigh limits and safeguards to forestall dangers similar to deposit flight in periods of stress.
That stress defines the present stablecoin race. Banks need quicker, programmable settlement. Regulators need management and clear accountability. Infrastructure suppliers like Ubyx are betting that standardized, compliant clearing can bridge the 2 worlds, and Barclays’ backing means that main lenders are watching carefully.
Cover picture from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview
