Definition ∞ Wholesale settlements refer to the large-value transactions between financial institutions, often involving central banks or major commercial banks. In the context of digital assets, this involves the transfer and finalization of significant sums of tokenized money or digital currencies between institutional participants. These settlements typically occur on specialized DLT platforms designed for high efficiency and security. They are crucial for interbank operations and large-scale financial transfers.
Context ∞ The adoption of digital ledger technology for wholesale settlements is a key area of focus for central banks and financial market infrastructures globally. Discussions often address the potential for increased speed, reduced costs, and enhanced transparency compared to traditional settlement systems. Future developments include the piloting of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) for wholesale use and the creation of interoperable DLT networks for cross-border institutional transactions.