JPMorgan has launched JPM Coin on the Base blockchain, allowing institutional clients to move funds 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
How JPM Coin Works
- JPM Coin is a bank-issued deposit token that represents actual fiat (dollar) liabilities held at JPMorgan.
- Institutional clients can convert their dollar deposits into JPM Coin, move the token on the Base blockchain, and then redeem it back into their on-bank balances.
- This system enables faster, round-the-clock settlement and improves cross-border efficiency by settling transfers outside normal bank operating hours and reducing the number of steps in institutional transactions.
- The current launch is a pilot-to-production rollout, not a stablecoin release for retail customers.
Rationale and Regulatory Context
- The timing of the launch is influenced by shifting regulatory policies and growing market demand for digital assets.
- U.S. regulators are actively debating frameworks for digital assets (e.g., the GENIUS Act), prompting banks to test tokenized deposits under strict compliance.
- JPMorgan's model keeps reserve liabilities on the bank’s balance sheet, meaning it might face different regulatory scrutiny than private stablecoins, although strict oversight and reporting are still key.
Pilot Participation and Future Expansion
- The public rollout began with a pilot involving three key partners:
- Mastercard: Focused on network and merchant connectivity.
- Coinbase: Provided essential on- and off-ramp tooling for seamless conversion between bank deposits and tokens, aligning with its push into institutional prime services.
- B2C2: Worked on liquidity and market-making for institutional transfers.
- JPMorgan plans to eventually broaden access to client-of-client flows.
- Future plans include launching a euro-denominated token, JPME, and supporting multiple blockchains beyond Base, suggesting a roadmap towards broader interoperability and a hybrid model for cross-chain settlement.
November 2025, Cryptoniteuae