The Bank of England has selected Chainlink to participate in its experimental Synchronisation Lab, a pioneering initiative exploring how digital assets can settle alongside traditional central bank money.
Bridging Blockchain and Central Bank Money
According to the Synchronisation Lab website, “Chainlink will test a decentralised solution to execute synchronised settlement between central bank money and securities issued on a DLT ledger.” The initiative builds on the central bank's broader effort to modernize its Real-Time Gross Settlement infrastructure, known as RT2.
UAC Labs will also participate in the project as a decentralised solution provider, with other notable participants Swift, London Stock Exchange Group, and Partior moving forwards on a variety of different objectives.
Simulated Testing Environment
The Synchronisation Lab will run for 6 months in 2026 and will provide participants with a simulated, non-live environment and dedicated APIs to demonstrate how their platforms would coordinate with payment providers and asset registries. Use cases being tested include foreign-exchange transactions, tokenized bonds and collateral management.
The Bank of England has emphasized that the lab does not handle actual funds or confer regulatory approval. Findings from the experimental program will inform design choices for a potential future live synchronization capability.
The initiative coincides with UK regulatory consultations on systemic stablecoins, signaling the country's broader push to integrate blockchain technology with traditional financial infrastructure while maintaining rigorous oversight standards.
