Alibaba is gearing up to supercharge its vast business-to-business ecosystem by tapping JPMorgan’s tokenization infrastructure, laying the groundwork for a new kind of cross-border value network.
The network will center on tokenized fiat currencies that function similarly to stablecoins. According to CBNC, Alibaba is already experimenting with tokenized U.S. dollars and euros, with plans to support additional currencies over time.
Alibaba expects to launch the network by the end of the year, and the system would represent a milestone for tokenization. Given Alibaba’s substantial ecosystem, the platform could ultimately process billions in annual volume.
Participating in a Payment
For Alibaba, the benefits of this system are clear. It would allow the company to move money across borders and between currencies without relying on multiple banks or crypto exchanges.
Although technology has brought businesses and consumers closer together around the world, payments have not kept pace. The current cross-border model still depends on a correspondent banking network, where several banks may be involved in processing a single transaction.
This often results in delays, higher costs, and limited visibility into money movement. These issues have persisted despite efforts by regulators and the launch of various cross-border payment solutions.
The Leading Contender
Digital assets are emerging as one of the leading contenders to streamline this process. Company-issued stablecoins like Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT are tied to the value of the U.S. dollar and backed by the issuing company’s reserves. Tokenized deposits operate similarly, except they are issued and backed by financial institutions.
JPMorgan has been active in both tokenization and stablecoin deployments through its Kinexys digital assets brand. Among other projects, the company recently launched its JPM Coin on Coinbase’s Base network—a token built for use by institutional clients.
While it’s not yet clear whether the JPM Coin will play a role in the Alibaba partnership, the launch of the latter’s system represents a step toward broader tokenization adoption in real-world B2B applications.
Alibaba’s business segment has also seen rapid growth in its supplier base. The brand’s number of active suppliers worldwide has grown by 50% year-over-year during the March-October period.
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