RBI Launches Unified Markets Interface for Tokenized Finance

In a landmark move to digitize and modernize India’s financial markets, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has developed the Unified Markets Interface (UMI) — a next-generation financial infrastructure that enables the tokenization of financial assets using wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Announced by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra during the Global Fintech Fest 2025, UMI is part of the RBI’s broader vision to harness digital public infrastructure for enhancing market efficiency, security, and financial inclusion.

What is Unified Markets Interface (UMI)?

The Unified Markets Interface is a technology-driven platform designed to,

• Tokenize financial assets (like bonds, securities) into digital tokens using blockchain
• Use wholesale CBDC for settlement and transactions
• Improve market access, transparency, and settlement speed
• Enable fractional ownership and broaden investor participation

Tokenization allows real-world financial assets to be digitally represented on a blockchain, making them tradable, divisible, and more accessible to a wider audience. This brings significant efficiency to capital markets by using smart contracts to automate and streamline settlements.

Early Pilot Outcomes

• The initial pilot program showed promising improvements in market efficiency, validating the potential of UMI to transform India’s financial landscape.
• These outcomes reinforce RBI’s strategic pivot toward using wholesale CBDC not just for payments, but also for complex market operations, positioning India among global leaders in financial digitalization.

Account Aggregator Framework

The Account Aggregator (AA) system was also discussed as a critical enabler of financial inclusion and digitization. The AA framework allows individuals to safely share their financial data with regulated financial institutions.

Current Ecosystem Snapshot,

• 17 Account Aggregators
• 650 Financial Information Users (FIUs)
• 150 Financial Information Providers (FIPs)
• 160 million customer accounts served
• 3.66 billion data requests processed

The AA framework empowers users to manage their data sharing with consent, thereby supporting better financial decision-making and improved access to credit.

Other Digital Products Launched

At the same event, the RBI also launched four new fintech solutions to further boost digital payments and banking,

• UPI HELP – An AI-based support tool using Small Language Models (SLM)
• IoT Payments with UPI – Facilitating payments through connected devices
• Banking Connect – An interoperable net banking interface across banks
• UPI Reserve Pay – New UPI feature for enhanced fund control and preauthorization

These launches show RBI’s commitment to creating a seamless, secure, and inclusive digital finance ecosystem.

Static Facts

• Initiative: Unified Markets Interface (UMI)
• Announced by: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra
• Event: Global Fintech Fest 2025
• Purpose: Tokenization of financial assets using wholesale CBDC
• Concept Used: Asset tokenization via blockchain