Animoca Brands joins XDC as institutional validator

Animoca Brands has joined XDC Network as an institutional masternode validator, adding the Web3 investor and developer to the blockchain's validator base.

It will operate masternodes on a network that handles billions of dollars in trade finance and real-world asset transactions each year. Other validators include Deutsche Telekom, HashKey Cloud, Republic, SBI Holdings and UOB Venture Management.

The appointment is another step in XDC Network's effort to attract larger organisations to help secure its blockchain. XDC focuses on trade finance, cross-border settlement and the tokenisation of real-world assets rather than broader blockchain use cases.

Validator role

Validator nodes play a central role in blockchain networks by confirming transactions and helping maintain system integrity. By adding established corporate participants, XDC aims to deepen institutional involvement in financial areas where tokenised assets and digital settlement tools are drawing increasing attention.

Animoca Brands is one of the most active investors in the Web3 sector, with a portfolio of more than 600 companies and digital assets. It also develops digital asset platforms including Moca Network, Open Campus, Anichess and The Sandbox.

"At XDC Network, we have always believed institutional-grade infrastructure requires institutional-grade validators. Animoca Brands brings not just credibility to our validator set, but a reach into networks that can accelerate the kind of real-world asset activity and liquidity that XDC was designed to support," said Atul Khekade, Co-Founder, XDC Network.

Builder activity

Shanlong James Chen, who leads Asia operations at XDC Network and strategic investments at XVC Tech, said Animoca Brands' portfolio could help expand developer activity on the chain.

"Animoca Brands is an internationally renowned Web3 institution with a vibrant ecosystem of portfolio companies that can potentially build on XDC. With Animoca Brands actively investing in the blockchain space, this partnership also bodes well for builders on XDC Network from a potential funding perspective," said Shanlong James Chen, Head of Asia, XDC Network, and Head of Strategic Investments, XVC Tech.

For Animoca Brands, the validator role gives it a direct presence in infrastructure tied to financial use cases rather than the consumer-facing gaming and metaverse projects for which it is better known. XDC's track record in trade finance and its expanding ecosystem around real-world assets were key factors in the decision.

"XDC's track record in trade finance and its growing ecosystem of real-world asset applications make it a compelling network for us to participate in at the infrastructure level. This partnership allows us to contribute meaningfully to a blockchain that is solving genuine problems in global finance, while building a position that aligns with our long-term outlook on tokenised assets," said Omar Elissar Tse, Managing Director, Global Head of Capital Markets, Animoca Brands.

Institutional push

The move also reflects a broader push across blockchain projects to secure backing from recognisable institutions as the sector tries to move beyond speculative trading and into mainstream financial workflows. Networks focused on tokenised bonds, funds, invoices and other conventional assets increasingly argue that trusted validators and governance structures are essential if banks, asset managers and large corporates are to take part.

XDC Network describes itself as an open-source blockchain protocol focused on international trade and finance. Its structure combines public blockchain features with a design intended to appeal to organisations handling regulated financial activity and cross-border transactions.

Animoca Brands, meanwhile, has expanded from gaming and digital property into a broader digital assets strategy that includes platform development, services for Web3 companies and investment in emerging blockchain businesses. Running masternodes on XDC places it more directly in the operational layer of a blockchain aimed at trade and asset tokenisation.

Together, the companies are linking a network centred on financial market use cases with one of the sector's most active investors.