Qatar's Dukhan Bank Joins J.P. Morgan's Blockchain Network for 24/7 Cross-Border Payments

Qatar-based Dukhan Bank has joined Kinexys by J.P. Morgan’s Blockchain Deposit Account network, becoming the first Islamic bank in the country to adopt the blockchain-based payments infrastructure.

The integration enables Dukhan Bank to provide corporate and institutional clients with faster cross-border payment capabilities, including near-instant settlement, programmable payments, and improved liquidity management.

The move marks a new phase in the bank’s digital transformation strategy as financial institutions increasingly explore blockchain-based infrastructure to modernize payment operations and treasury services.

Kinexys by J.P. Morgan’s Blockchain Deposit Account network allows participating banks to process cross-border payments around the clock, including weekends and public holidays.

The network supports multiple global currencies and is designed to improve settlement speed, transparency, and operational efficiency by using blockchain technology as an underlying payment rail.

Through the integration, Dukhan Bank aims to enhance its services for institutional clients managing increasingly global and time-sensitive treasury requirements.

“Going live on Kinexys’ Blockchain Deposit Account network reflects Dukhan Bank’s commitment to delivering innovative, Sharia-compliant solutions that respond to the evolving needs of our clients,” Ahmed I. Hashem, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Dukhan Bank, said.

The adoption highlights the growing interest among Islamic financial institutions in blockchain-based solutions that can support transparency, efficiency, and real-time settlement.

For Sharia-compliant banks, distributed ledger technology offers potential applications in areas such as payments, trade finance, asset tokenization, and liquidity management by providing clearer transaction records and automated processes.

Dukhan Bank’s move follows a broader regional trend of financial institutions in the Middle East investing in digital asset and blockchain infrastructure as governments and banks explore new models for financial innovation.

Kinexys by J.P. Morgan has continued expanding its blockchain infrastructure offering among financial institutions globally.

According to the company, eight of the region’s largest banks are already using its Blockchain Deposit Account network, supporting the adoption of always-on payment and settlement services across the Middle East.

The integration with Dukhan Bank adds another Islamic banking institution to the growing group of financial institutions exploring blockchain-based payment infrastructure.

Dukhan Bank’s adoption of Kinexys reflects a broader shift in how banks are approaching blockchain technology.

Rather than focusing only on digital assets, financial institutions are increasingly deploying blockchain networks as infrastructure layers for faster settlement, improved liquidity management, and more efficient cross-border transactions.

As banks continue to modernize payment systems, blockchain-based networks are emerging as a key component of the next generation of global financial infrastructure.