XDC Network, a Layer-1 blockchain platform focused on trade finance, cross-border payments, and real-world asset tokenization, has announced a strategic partnership with NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL, a company within the NTT DOCOMO Group. As part of the collaboration, NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL will join the XDC blockchain as an institutional masternode validator, marking a significant step in expanding enterprise participation in blockchain infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region.

The partnership represents the first time XDC Network has onboarded a validator from a Japanese telecommunications group, highlighting the increasing convergence of telecommunications, blockchain, and digital finance.

NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL Joins XDC as Institutional Validator

By becoming an institutional masternode validator, NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL will help validate transactions, maintain network security, and participate in governance decisions across the XDC blockchain.

The move strengthens XDC Network’s validator ecosystem by adding one of Japan’s most established enterprise groups to its institutional validator community, further enhancing the network’s reliability, decentralization, and resilience.

The NTT DOCOMO Group operates across mobile communications, ICT services, financial and payment solutions, digital transformation (DX), and global enterprise services, making it one of Japan’s leading technology organizations.

Supporting the Next Generation of Digital Finance

The collaboration comes as financial institutions and enterprises across Asia increasingly adopt blockchain technology to modernize payment infrastructure, enable tokenization, and improve cross-border financial transactions.

Commenting on the partnership, Ritesh Kakkad, Co-Founder of XDC Network, said the addition of NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL strengthens the network’s institutional credibility.

“A validator is more than a participant—it is a guardian of the network. We are proud to welcome NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL as an XDC masternode operator, bringing a world-class institutional profile to strengthen the security, decentralization, and resilience of XDC Network.”

He added that trusted blockchain infrastructure will play a critical role in supporting emerging technologies such as Agentic AI, tokenized assets, autonomous financial systems, digital trade, and machine-to-machine payments.

NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL Expands into Blockchain Infrastructure

Noriyuki Kaya, Head of Service Operations Office, Digital Platform Service Business Division at NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL, said the partnership builds on the group’s long-standing experience in supporting mission-critical enterprise infrastructure.

According to Kaya, joining XDC Network as a validator aligns with the company’s strategy of contributing to enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure and supporting the evolution of digital finance.

Growing Institutional Adoption Across Asia-Pacific

Shanlong James Chen, Chief Partnerships Officer at XDC Network, described the partnership as another milestone in the network’s institutional growth strategy.

He noted that bringing a company from one of Japan’s largest telecommunications groups into the validator ecosystem reinforces XDC Network’s position as an enterprise blockchain platform capable of supporting real-world financial applications where security, uptime, and scalability are essential.

What is XDC Network?

XDC Network is an enterprise-focused Layer-1 blockchain designed to support:

• Global Trade Finance
• Cross-Border Payments
• Supply Chain Finance
• Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization
• Enterprise Blockchain Applications

The network uses the XDPoS (Delegated Proof of Stake) consensus mechanism, which enables faster transaction processing while maintaining network security and energy efficiency.

How XDC Masternodes Work

Institutional masternodes form the backbone of the XDC blockchain.

Each validator is required to stake at least 10 million XDC tokens to participate in transaction validation, governance, and network maintenance.

With the addition of NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL, XDC Network now has more than 20 institutional masternode operators, representing a broad range of financial institutions, exchanges, technology companies, and enterprise organizations.

Global Validator Ecosystem Continues to Expand

XDC Network’s validator community includes several globally recognized organizations, including:

• HashKey
• SBI VC Trade
• Animoca Brands
• Deutsche Telekom
• Cumberland
• CertiK

These validators span Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, making XDC one of the most geographically diverse enterprise blockchain ecosystems.

Strengthening Enterprise Blockchain Adoption

As enterprises continue exploring blockchain-powered financial infrastructure, collaborations between blockchain networks and established global technology companies are becoming increasingly important.

The partnership between XDC Network and NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL reflects a broader trend toward institutional adoption of decentralized infrastructure, particularly in areas such as digital finance, trade, payments, tokenized assets, and AI-enabled financial services.

With growing participation from global enterprises and institutional validators, XDC Network is positioning itself as a key infrastructure platform for the next generation of enterprise blockchain applications.