SEI Investments Partners with Ctrl Alt for Digital Securities Initiative
SEI® has officially announced its collaboration with Ctrl Alt, a prominent tokenization platform, as part of its engagement in the Bank of England’s Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS). This initiative is designed to stimulate innovation within market infrastructure while ensuring financial stability and market integrity. The DSS focuses on assessing blockchain and distributed ledger technology in a controlled setting, working alongside the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to develop a regulatory framework for integrating digital securities into established financial systems.With projections indicating that by 2027, 10% of the global GDP will likely be represented as tokenized assets on the blockchain, many organizations are beginning to recognize the transformative potential of tokenization in the financial services sector. The DSS was established to investigate how blockchain can enhance the efficiency of post-trade operations and will assess the application of these technologies for issuing and trading securities. In the second phase of this initiative, SEI is set to contribute the foundational assets for tokenization, with the possibility of managing custody and crypto-asset transactions if the project proves to be successful.Sneha Shah, who oversees New Business Ventures at SEI, remarked, “Tokenized solutions have the capacity to significantly enhance security, transparency, and efficiency, leading to substantial advancements in financial services. With our heritage in innovation and our unique ability to connect industry players, we are dedicated to unlocking advantages across the entire asset lifecycle and value chain through this partnership. We anticipate collaborating with Ctrl Alt, the Bank of England, and the FCA to investigate the potential applications of this technology.”In addition to this collaborative effort, SEI Ventures Inc. has made an initial investment in Ctrl Alt. SEI Ventures operates as SEI’s venture capital division in the United States, with a focus on fostering new, sustainable growth opportunities by exploring the evolving landscape of wealth and its ramifications. Ctrl Alt serves as an infrastructure platform that streamlines the structuring and investment processes for tokenized asset classes, making them more cost-effective, secure, and accessible. This strategic investment is not expected to significantly impact SEI’s financial outcomes.Discussing the rationale behind the investment, Alex Cochand, Director of the SEI Venture Studio, stated, “The financial services sector is undergoing a remarkable digital transformation, with blockchain technology showcasing its potential to foster a more efficient and secure ecosystem. Our strategic investments in the fintech and wealthtech domains are aimed at enabling us to seize opportunities that can revolutionize the wealth management experience. We are excited to partner with Ctrl Alt to explore ways to unlock these possibilities. We believe that combining our 57 years of industry experience with Ctrl Alt’s agility and expertise will foster innovation and growth.”Matt Ong, CEO and Founder of Ctrl Alt, further noted, “As the demand for tokenization rises among financial institutions, we have developed our solutions to facilitate the tokenization of assets within the framework of conventional financial structures, ensuring that the industry can leverage this technology with legal clarity. SEI’s extensive capabilities in technology, operations, and asset management empower them to innovate throughout the financial services ecosystem due to the connections they have established. We are confident that our strategic alliance will advance the industry and drive the future of wealth.”
