JPMorgan Chase & Co. has filed paperwork for a new tokenized fixed-income money market fund, signaling an escalation in its blockchain ambitions. The JPMorgan OnChain Liquidity-Token Money Market Fund, under the ticker JLTXX, would issue digital tokens on Ethereum. This move comes shortly after BlackRock filed for a similar tokenized money market fund.

The filing positions the banking giant at the forefront of a trend to bring traditional financial instruments onto decentralized ledger systems. By tokenizing a money market fund, it aims to offer investors faster settlement times and enhanced transparency. This initiative builds on JPMorgan's long-running blockchain pilot programs, including its JPM Coin system for institutional payments.

Details on the fund's size and fee structure were not immediately disclosed in the filing. The fund will be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and its tokens are expected to represent direct interests in the underlying securities. CoinGape reported that the filing leverages Ethereum's smart contract capabilities to automate transactions.

The launch could accelerate institutional adoption of blockchain technology within the $6 trillion money market fund industry. It also raises questions about how regulators will oversee tokenized securities. Competitors like Goldman Sachs are likely to follow suit as the technology matures.

Critics argue that tokenized funds still rely on centralized custody and off-chain compliance measures, undermining decentralization principles. Regulatory hurdles around token classification remain unresolved.