‘We Refused To Do an ICO’: The Truth Behind Canton’s Tokenomics
Canton Network is a new layer-one blockchain protocol designed for financial institutions, emphasizing secure, interoperable, and privacy-preserving transactions. Developed over a decade by Digital Asset, Canton avoided an ICO and pre-mine, focusing on robust tokenomics and learning from earlier blockchain mistakes. The protocol features a “network of networks” architecture aimed at real-world asset tokenization, trading, and settlement. After extensive development, a permissioned version launched in 2020, followed by a permissionless rollout once the team was confident in its stability and privacy approach. Privacy on Canton is managed on a need-to-know basis, enabling compliant sharing with regulators rather than full user anonymity. In 2025, Digital Asset raised $135 million to further develop the ecosystem, while Tharimmune secured $540 million to become a major network validator. Major financial institutions like BNP Paribas, Circle Ventures, Citadel Securities, DTCC, and Goldman Sachs have invested in Canton, signaling strong institutional backing and a shift toward pragmatic privacy and regulatory compliance in crypto.
