Banking Giant Barclays Makes First Stablecoin Investment. Backs Ubyx

The UK banking heavyweight, Barclays, announced its first-ever stablecoin investment this week, backing US-based clearing platform Ubyx. This marks a significant pivot for a bank that previously warned about crypto risks and even blocked credit card purchases of digital assets.

The move signals something bigger is happening. Traditional finance is no longer sitting on the sidelines watching the stablecoin market grow. They’re jumping in.

Ubyx Gets the Nod from a UK Banking Giant

Founded in March 2025 by payments veteran Tony McLaughlin (who spent over 20 years at Citi), Ubyx aims to be the connective tissue between regulated stablecoin issuers and traditional financial institutions.

Think of it as the plumbing infrastructure that makes stablecoins actually work in the real financial system. Banks need this. Fintech companies need this. And Barclays clearly sees the opportunity.

“As the landscape of tokens, blockchains, and wallets evolves, specialist technology will play a pivotal role,” said Ryan Hayward, head of digital assets and strategic investments at Barclays. He’s not wrong. The infrastructure gap has been one of crypto’s biggest problems.

Also Read: Ethereum Stablecoin Transfer Volume Smashes $8 Trillion Mark in Q4, Breaking Record

The Stablecoin Investment Details

Barclays participated in Ubyx’s funding round, though the bank didn’t disclose the exact amount. The startup previously raised $10 million in seed funding back in June 2025, with backing from some heavy hitters like Galaxy (Michael Novogratz’s firm) and Coinbase Ventures.

This stablecoin investment from Barclays comes as regulatory clarity around digital assets improves globally. Companies like Ripple, Paxos, AllUnity, and Eurodollar have already partnered with Ubyx’s platform.

McLaughlin calls himself a “tokenized money maximalist” on LinkedIn. 

His vision? Build a global acceptance network for regulated digital money. That includes both tokenized deposits and regulated stablecoins.

From Crypto Skeptic to Stablecoin Investor

Barclays was blocking crypto purchases on credit cards just months ago. Now they’re investing in the infrastructure that makes stablecoins functional. That’s a 180-degree turn.

“This investment aligns with Barclays’ approach to explore opportunities based on new forms of digital money, such as stablecoins,” the bank stated. Translation: they see where the market is heading and don’t want to miss out.

The stablecoin market has exploded. We’re talking about a multi-billion-dollar industry that’s only getting bigger. And it’s not just crypto natives using them anymore. Real businesses need stable, digital dollar alternatives for cross-border payments, treasury management, and settlement.

Also Read: UK to Cap £20K on Individual Stablecoin Holdings & £10M for Businesses? Proposes Bank

The Ripple Effect Across Traditional Banking

McLaughlin believes we’re entering a world where every regulated firm will offer digital wallets alongside traditional bank accounts. That’s ambitious, but not unrealistic given current trends.

The bigger question: Will other major banks follow Barclays into stablecoin investments? JPMorgan already has its own JPM Coin. Goldman Sachs is exploring tokenization. HSBC is testing blockchain settlement. The dominoes are falling.

One thing’s clear from this Barclays stablecoin investment announcement: traditional banking’s relationship with crypto has fundamentally changed. The question isn’t “if” anymore. It’s “how fast.”

Where Does This Leave the Competition?

Ubyx plans to expand its platform to support more issuers and integrate with additional banking partners. For Barclays, this stablecoin investment represents a strategic bet on where payments infrastructure is headed.

The platform’s goal of creating “broad adoption of stablecoins” depends on banks like Barclays getting involved. Without traditional finance participation, stablecoins remain a niche product. With it, they could reshape global payments.

Other banks are watching this closely. If Ubyx succeeds in building that connective infrastructure, expect more traditional finance players to make similar moves. The race to own a piece of the tokenized money future has officially started.

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