Ascend Markets and M1X Global complete first Stellar-based repo with US Treasury bonds

Fintech company Ascend Markets and blockchain infrastructure provider M1X Global announced on October 23, 2026, that they have completed the first officially regulated short-term collateralized lending transaction, known as a repo, conducted entirely on the Stellar (XLM) network. This pilot involved digitized US Treasury bonds used for interbank settlements, marking a significant shift by enabling direct collateral mobilization without the need for centralized clearing houses. The traditional repo market is restricted by the limited operating hours of settlement systems and relies heavily on back-office staff for manual collateral revaluation.