Asset Servicing Times · 29 Sep, 14:52 · Finance briefing

Citi Token Services expands global footprint into Japan and UAE

Citigroup has announced the expansion of its tokenisation services into Japan and the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant step in its global asset servicing strategy.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

2.4xfaster promotion with a professional credential

83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Citigroup has announced the expansion of its tokenisation services into Japan and the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant step in its global asset servicing strategy. This move aims to facilitate the digitisation of real-world assets, enabling broader participation in digital capital markets. The initiative leverages blockchain technology to enhance liquidity and accessibility for institutional investors. By entering these key Asian and Middle Eastern markets, Citi seeks to capitalise on growing regional interest in digital finance. The expansion underscores the increasing institutional adoption of tokenised assets, reflecting a broader shift towards digital infrastructure in traditional banking sectors across international jurisdictions.

Employer demand for AI in Banking skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This expansion signals a critical shift towards digital asset infrastructure, elevating the value of skills in blockchain technology, regulatory compliance, and cross-border financial services. If you work in asset management or banking, you must now understand tokenisation mechanics and the specific regulatory landscapes of Japan and the UAE. Professionals in legal and compliance roles should prioritise knowledge of digital asset frameworks. To stay competitive, actively pursue training in distributed ledger technology and international financial regulations. Network with peers in these emerging markets to grasp local operational nuances. Demonstrating expertise in bridging traditional finance with digital innovation will distinguish you. Start by auditing your current skill set against these emerging requirements and identify gaps in your understanding of tokenised asset workflows.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI in Banking, Cyber Security, Compliance And Governance and Finance and Accounting — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.