19 May 2026 – XDC Network and Animoca Brands today announced that Animoca Brands has joined the XDC Network as a strategic validator, operating masternodes on a blockchain that processes billions of dollars in trade finance and real-world asset transactions annually.
The announcement is a significant milestone for XDC Network’s institutional validator programme, which has been attracting interest from prominent organisations as demand for enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure accelerates globally. XDC Network’s hybrid architecture is designed specifically for trade finance, cross-border settlement, and real-world asset tokenisation, distinguishing it from general-purpose blockchains competing for institutional adoption.
Animoca Brands, one of the most active investors and builders in Web3, will operate XDC masternodes and join XDC’s validator base to secure the network, alongside other leading institutions including Deutsche Telekom, HashKeyCloud, Republic, SBI Holdings and UOB Venture Management.
Atul Khekade, co-founder of XDC Network, said: “XDC Network has always been built on the conviction that 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.”
Added Shanlong James Chen, Head of Asia at XDC Network and Head of Strategic Investments at XVC Tech (Venture arm of XDC Network), said: “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.”
Samuel Tse, VP of investments, strategies, and partnerships at Animoca Brands, added:”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.”
About XDC Network
XDC Network is an enterprise-ready, open-source blockchain protocol optimised for international trade and finance. Its hybrid architecture supports real-world asset tokenisation, cross-border settlements, and institutional-grade decentralised applications. XDC powers a growing ecosystem of trade finance, stablecoin, and digital asset projects globally.
About Animoca Brands
Animoca Brands Corporation Limited (ACN: 122 921 813) is a global digital assets leader building and investing in impactful technologies and ecosystems to reimagine future economies through AI and the agentic web. It has received broad industry and market recognition including Fortune Crypto 40, Top 50 Blockchain Game Companies 2025, Financial Times’ High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific, and Deloitte Tech Fast. Animoca Brands is recognized for building digital asset platforms such as the Moca Network, Open Campus, Anichess, and The Sandbox, as well as institutional-grade platforms; providing digital asset services to help Web3 companies launch and grow; and investing in frontier Web3 technology, with a portfolio of over 600 companies and digital assets. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.
Media Contacts
XDC Network
Rachna Baruah | rachna@xinfin.org
Animoca Brands
press@animocabrands.com
