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A new partnership reshapes the digital‑asset lending landscape
On June 30, 2026, Digital Prime Technologies announced that its Tokenet platform has completed a technical integration with BitGo Bank & Trust, the OCC‑regulated digital‑asset trust bank and subsidiary of BitGo Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BTGO). The connection allows Tokenet’s clients to run bilateral lending transactions while relying on BitGo’s regulated custody and the firm’s Go Network for off‑chain, real‑time settlement. The move builds on Tokenet’s existing multi‑custodian support and signals a deeper alignment between fintech lending solutions and traditional financial safeguards.
Why the integration matters
Tokenet, a software suite that automates the full lifecycle of digital‑asset loans—from collateral posting to mark‑to‑market adjustments—has been positioning itself as a bridge between crypto‑native workflows and institutional finance. By linking directly with BitGo Bank & Trust, the platform now offers:
- Qualified custody under an OCC‑chartered trust structure, meeting the same regulatory expectations that govern conventional securities lending.
- Cold‑storage insurance of up to $250 million, providing an additional safety net for high‑value holdings.
- Real‑time settlement that moves assets off‑chain in real time, reducing latency and operational risk compared with on‑chain settlement.
These capabilities address a core concern for banks, asset managers, and broker‑dealers that have been hesitant to enter the digital‑asset lending market: the need for a custodial environment that satisfies both regulatory compliance and the speed demanded by modern trading desks.
A multi‑custodian model for institutional flexibility
Tokenet’s architecture already supports a range of custodial partners, allowing firms to retain their preferred custody provider while accessing the platform’s lending engine. The BitGo integration extends this flexibility, enabling participants to:
- Manage collateral across multiple custodians without disrupting existing relationships.
- Execute loan recalls, returns, and rerates through a single interface, regardless of where the underlying assets are held.
- Maintain full lifecycle visibility with real‑time valuations and automated margin calls.
The addition of BitGo’s Go Network also means that settlement can occur off‑chain, a feature that reduces transaction costs and eliminates the volatility exposure associated with on‑chain confirmations. For institutions that already use BitGo’s infrastructure for other digital‑asset services—particularly those built on the Canton Network—this integration represents a natural extension of their existing tech stack.
BitGo Bank & Trust’s role in the ecosystem
BitGo Bank & Trust has emerged as a pivotal gateway for institutional participants seeking regulated exposure to digital assets. The bank’s support for Canton Coin and other Canton‑native tokens has attracted firms that view the Canton ecosystem as a strategic growth area. By offering insured cold storage, layered operational safeguards, and a dedicated settlement layer, BitGo positions itself as a “bank‑of‑record” for crypto‑related activities.
The partnership with Tokenet aligns with BitGo’s broader strategy to embed its custody and settlement services into front‑office lending workflows, thereby moving beyond passive storage to become an active component of the digital‑finance value chain.
Executive perspectives
“We’re excited to partner with Digital Prime Technologies and EquiLend to provide the custody and settlement foundation that enables institutions to access lending workflows. Continued institutional adoption depends on trusted infrastructure designed for security and scale while supporting the networks and assets, like Canton, that are increasingly important to institutional markets,” said Adam Sporn, Head of Prime Brokerage and Institutional Sales at BitGo Bank & Trust.
Sporn’s remarks underscore the importance of a custodial backbone that can keep pace with the rapid evolution of blockchain‑based assets. By emphasizing security, scale, and network compatibility, BitGo signals its intent to become a standard‑setting custodian for the next wave of institutional digital‑asset products.
“Custody is foundational to digital assets, and we are pleased to announce another significant milestone in expanding client choice with the completion of Tokenet’s integration with BitGo. BitGo’s reputation as a trusted custody provider makes this a meaningful addition to our growing custody ecosystem. We remain committed to offering clients flexibility in how they custody their digital assets and look forward to continued partnership with BitGo and future functional integration like tri‑party,” said James Runnels, Co‑Founder and CEO of Digital Prime Technologies.
Runnels highlights the strategic value of offering multiple custodial options, a move that reduces vendor lock‑in and aligns with the broader industry push toward modular, composable fintech solutions.
“Building out a genuine multi‑custodian model is central to what makes Tokenet a credible institutional solution. As EquiLend’s partner in bringing this platform to the securities finance community, we’re pleased to see Tokenet expanding to meet clients on their preferred infrastructure,” said Nick Delikaris, Chief Product Officer at EquiLend.
Delikaris points to the symbiotic relationship between Tokenet and EquiLend, where the latter’s distribution network amplifies Tokenet’s market penetration, while Tokenet’s expanded custody options make the combined offering more attractive to legacy financial institutions.
The broader market context
Institutional interest in digital‑asset lending has surged over the past two years, driven by the need for yield generation in a low‑interest‑rate environment and the desire to diversify collateral sources. However, adoption has been throttled by concerns over custody, settlement risk, and regulatory clarity. The Tokenet‑BitGo integration addresses each of these pain points:
- Regulatory alignment: By leveraging an OCC‑chartered trust bank, the solution meets the same prudential standards applied to traditional securities lending.
- Operational efficiency: Off‑chain settlement via the Go Network reduces the latency that has traditionally hampered crypto‑based loan execution.
- Risk mitigation: Insurance coverage and multi‑layered security protocols lower the barrier for risk‑averse institutions.
Analysts note that the partnership could accelerate the migration of balance‑sheet lenders into the crypto space, especially as more custodians obtain banking charters or similar regulatory status. The move also puts Tokenet in direct competition with other fintech platforms that rely on single‑custodian models, such as Nexo and BlockFi, which have faced scrutiny over custody concentration.
Future developments: tri‑party integration and beyond
Digital Prime Technologies disclosed that it is already working on a tri‑party solution with BitGo Bank & Trust. This upcoming feature would allow a third party—typically a broker‑dealer or clearinghouse—to act as an intermediary, further separating custody from settlement and providing an additional layer of operational resilience. If delivered, the tri‑party model could enable:
- Enhanced collateral flexibility, allowing lenders to post assets held by a third‑party custodian while borrowers retain custody of the loaned securities.
- Improved regulatory reporting, as the third party can serve as a centralized data hub for transaction disclosures.
- Broader market participation, by lowering the technical threshold for firms that lack direct integration capabilities with BitGo’s APIs.
The timeline for this rollout was not disclosed, but industry observers expect a beta release within the next six months, contingent on successful testing and compliance sign‑off.
Competitive positioning and strategic outlook
By marrying a regulated custody bank with a purpose‑built lending engine, Tokenet differentiates itself from pure‑play crypto lenders that often operate on a “store‑and‑lend” basis. The integration also reinforces EquiLend’s role as a distribution conduit for institutional digital‑finance products, extending its reach into the rapidly expanding crypto‑lending niche.
From a strategic standpoint, the partnership may serve as a template for other fintech firms seeking to embed regulated custody into their product stacks. As more digital‑asset custodians achieve banking charters, the competitive landscape is likely to shift toward platforms that can orchestrate multi‑custodian, multi‑asset workflows while maintaining compliance with traditional financial regulations.
Bottom line
The Tokenet‑BitGo Bank & Trust integration delivers a concrete step toward mainstreaming digital‑asset lending within the institutional finance ecosystem. By providing qualified custody, insured cold storage, and real‑time off‑chain settlement, the partnership mitigates key operational and regulatory hurdles that have limited adoption to date. Executives from all three firms emphasize that the collaboration is driven by client demand for flexibility, security, and speed—attributes that will define the next generation of fintech lending solutions.
As the industry continues to reconcile the speed of blockchain innovation with the rigor of traditional finance, alliances like this one will likely become the norm rather than the exception. For market participants, the message is clear: the infrastructure supporting digital‑asset credit is maturing, and platforms that can seamlessly integrate regulated custody will be best positioned to capture the emerging institutional demand.
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