National Bank of Canada invests in Canadian dollar-backed stablecoin project
The investment in Tetra Digital marks the first-ever crypto project funding by one of the country’s “Big Six” banks. Previously, fintech firms Urbana, Shakepay, ATB Financial, Purpose, Wealthsimple, and Shopify had already joined the Canadian stablecoin initiative. The name of the new digital asset and the exact stakes of institutional investors in Tetra Digital have not yet been disclosed.
According to Didier Lavallee, CEO of Tetra Digital, the launch of the CAD-pegged stablecoin is scheduled for the first half of 2026 — once issuance and circulation rules are approved by the Treasury Board of Alberta. The regulatory framework for stablecoins in Canada is still being shaped, which may affect the final timeline of the project, Lavallee added.
The Bank of Canada (BoC) does not directly support the issuance of private stablecoins but acknowledges their potential as an innovative payment tool. The central bank believes stablecoins could become attractive if they are convertible into Canada’s fiat currency and subject to proper regulation.
Earlier this year, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) announced plans to strengthen monitoring and analysis of cryptocurrency transactions to counter money laundering.
See also: "Vietnam launches state-controlled crypto trading"
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