Citi Introduces Digital Depositary Receipts for Private Market Investments

On June 11, 2026, Citigroup announced the launch of Digital Depositary Receipts, leveraging blockchain technology to enable wealthy and institutional investors to invest in private company equity. This innovation allows shares to be represented as securities issued by the bank, adapting the traditional depositary receipts model for private markets.

The Digital Depositary Receipts operate on blockchain infrastructure provided by SIX, a Swiss market operator. By acting as both issuer and custodian, Citi distinguishes the product from existing structures that often involve multiple intermediary parties, while aiming for greater simplicity and transparency in private market investments.

The launch responds to a growing trend where private companies stay private longer, limiting investor access to attractive opportunities. Demand for private-market investments has surged as various investors seek alternatives beyond the public stock market. A Citigroup spokesperson mentioned, "Our focus with Digital Depositary Receipts is to continue to expand responsible access to digital asset markets."

This effort is part of a broader initiative among major financial institutions to tokenize traditional assets. Tokenization refers to the process of converting real-world assets, like stocks or bonds, into digital tokens that can move across blockchain networks. Proponents suggest that such assets can reduce settlement times and costs and enable round-the-clock market operations.

Citigroup has been proactively engaging in this shift toward digital assets. Earlier in June 2026, the bank joined leading U.S. banks to develop a shared tokenized deposit network through The Clearing House, aiming to transform conventional bank deposits into blockchain tokens while keeping funds within the regulated banking framework.

For now, Citi's Digital Depositary Receipts function exclusively on SIX's infrastructure, although the bank plans to expand the product to support public blockchains, potentially opening opportunities for a wider range of investors and institutions.