TLDR
- RL1 launched as a Luxembourg cooperative with 10 founding financial institutions across European markets today.
- SWIAT will remain RL1’s core technology provider for token issuance, digital custody and settlement services.
- The network aims to reduce fragmentation across Europe’s regulated tokenized asset market infrastructure and governance.
- RL1 builds on SWIAT’s DLT network, which processed over €700 million in total transactions recently.
- Cecabank and Crédit Mutuel joined RL1 alongside ABN AMRO, DekaBank, DZ BANK and others today.
European financial institutions have launched Regulated Layer One, a shared blockchain network designed to support regulated digital asset markets across Europe.
German blockchain infrastructure provider SWIAT said RL1 is now operating as an independent European Cooperative Society in Luxembourg. The network starts with 10 founding financial institutions and aims to reduce fragmentation in tokenized finance.
RL1 Launches With 10 Founding Institutions
RL1 launched with Cecabank and Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale joining as new members. Existing participants include ABN AMRO, DekaBank, DZ BANK, LBBW, Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking, SC Ventures, Seturion, and Chartered Investment.
German development banks KfW and L-Bank will continue supporting the project’s development. The structure gives regulated institutions a shared blockchain layer for issuance, custody, settlement, and collateral use cases.
SWIAT CEO and Chief Commercial Officer Dr. Timo Reinschmidt said, “I am delighted to see so many leading financial institutions supporting the RL1 initiative.”
He added that the commitment shows growing industry demand for shared regulated digital market infrastructure. Reinschmidt said such infrastructure is needed to support wider digital asset adoption across Europe.
Banks Move From Tokenization Pilots to Shared Infrastructure
The launch comes as banks move beyond separate tokenization tests toward common market systems. RL1 aims to give institutions a neutral infrastructure layer that supports interoperability, governance, and scalable digital asset applications.
Many financial firms have tested tokenized securities through individual projects. However, separate systems can limit liquidity, settlement efficiency, and access between market participants.
RL1 is designed to connect regulated institutions through one shared framework. The network can support token issuance, digital custody, collateral management, and other capital markets services.
Henning Vollbehr, managing director of RL1, said, “RL1 is the result of our collective work and the evolution of SWIAT, which I have had the privilege of helping to shape over the past four years.”
Vollbehr said RL1 will serve as connecting infrastructure for Europe’s digital financial market. He said the network will help institutions move from isolated tokenization efforts toward an integrated and scalable capital markets ecosystem.
SWIAT Remains Core Technology Provider
SWIAT will remain the core technology provider for RL1, even as governance moves to the cooperative structure. The company will continue providing blockchain infrastructure for regulated financial applications.
SWIAT said its production-ready distributed ledger technology network has processed more than 50 transactions worth over €700 million during the past three years. That network forms the technical base for RL1.
The cooperative model gives participating institutions a role in governance while keeping SWIAT focused on technology delivery. RL1 is also in discussions with more banks, including NatWest.
Reinschmidt said RL1 builds on work developed over several years. He said the launch shows the industry working together to create “open, interoperable, and scalable infrastructure for Europe’s digital capital markets.”
RL1 plans to onboard more members and expand use cases as demand grows for tokenized securities, digital money, collateral tools, and blockchain settlement infrastructure. The network now enters its next phase with a regulated structure and a wider group of European financial institutions.
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