CMB International Asset Management (CMBI), a Hong Kong-based arm of China Merchants Bank, has tokenized its $3.8 billion USD Money Market Fund on the BNB Chain. The move was announced on Wednesday by BNB Chain, marking one of the largest real-world asset (RWA) tokenization efforts by a major Chinese financial institution.
This development expands on CMBI’s earlier partnership with Singapore-based DigiFT, which tokenized the same fund on Solana in August. The collaboration with BNB Chain brings the fund to a layer-1 blockchain ecosystem widely used for decentralized finance and asset management applications.
The launch also follows reports that China’s securities regulator had advised domestic brokerages in Hong Kong to temporarily halt their RWA projects, signaling a more cautious approach to blockchain-based financial innovations in the region.
CMBI and BNB Chain Expand RWA Access for Accredited Investors
CMB International Asset Management’s partnership with BNB Chain marks a key step in introducing real-world assets to one of the most active blockchain ecosystems, according to the announcement.
Through this collaboration, accredited investors can now access CMB International’s $3.8 billion USD Money Market Fund directly onchain, either through fiat or stablecoin investments. The initiative introduces two new tokens, CMBMINT and CMBIMINT, on the BNB Chain, which can also be redeemed via the DigiFT platform.
The launch further integrates RWA infrastructure provider OnChain, allowing investors to utilize their tokenized fund holdings across various DeFi applications, including lending and yield-generating platforms.
Inside CMB International’s Growing USD Money Market Fund
Launched in early 2024, the CMB International USD Money Market Fund operates as a sub-fund under the CMB International Open-ended Fund Company—an umbrella fund structure registered in Hong Kong.*
The fund mainly focuses on U.S. dollar-denominated deposits and government-backed money market instruments across regions such as the United States, Singapore, the European Union, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Data from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) shows the fund’s steady expansion since its debut, with assets under management rising by 24%—from $2.9 billion in April to $3.6 billion by August.
