Digital Asset, the company behind the Canton Network institutional blockchain, has closed a $355 million funding round. The round was led by a16z crypto with participation from a long list of traditional finance heavyweights.
Who wrote the checks
The investor lineup reads like a who's who of global finance. HSBC, Apollo, CME Group, BNP Paribas, ABN Amro, ADIA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority), S&P Global, and Tradeweb all took part. They were joined by more than 20 other institutional investors. The breadth of participation — spanning banks, asset managers, exchanges, and a credit rating agency — underscores the reach of Canton Network's pitch.
What is the Canton Network
Digital Asset builds the Canton Network, a blockchain tailored for institutional financial infrastructure. It aims to connect different market participants on a shared ledger, cutting settlement times and operational friction. The company has been at it for years, but this round gives it major runway.
The size of the raise — $355 million — and the caliber of backers signal that large financial institutions are moving past blockchain pilots. They're putting real money behind production-grade infrastructure. The involvement of a16z crypto, a top venture firm, and players like CME and HSBC shows the concept has crossed into the mainstream.
Digital Asset announced the round this week. It's one of the largest blockchain infrastructure raises in 2026.
