Add Hex Trust as a Super Validator (Weight 3)

Please see the updated CIP below that has been updated to fit the typical CIP weight structure — three weights, with two tied to performance. 

Abstract: 

● Add Hex Trust as an SV of Weight 3 

● Hex Trust commits to: 

○ Bring a comprehensive financial ecosystem to Canton network through the integration of regulated custody, on/off-ramp, payments and yield products for stablecoins 

○ Support development of Canton by providing practical feedback and suggestions on documentation, requirements and use cases 

About Applicant: 

Hex Trust is a fully-licensed and regulated digital asset financial institution, providing an end-to-end suite of services to hold, trade, issue and transfer digital assets. Its offerings encompass Custody, Markets services, OTC trading, Escrow and Collateral Management, Staking, Investment solutions, and Asset Issuance all designed to deliver seamless access, robust protection, and operational excellence for institutional and professional clients. 

Founded in 2018 in Hong Kong, Hex Trust has rapidly emerged as a global leader in digital asset custody and financial services, standing at the forefront of innovation in the blockchain and Web3 ecosystem. Built on a foundation of uncompromising security, regulatory compliance, and institutional-grade infrastructure, Hex Trust empowers the world’s most sophisticated investors, builders, and service providers to unlock the full potential of digital assets. 

Distinguished by its in-house technology platform and a team of seasoned financial and blockchain experts, Hex Trust combines deep industry expertise with cutting-edge security protocols to safeguard and grow the digital asset portfolios of its clients. Trusted by over 350 institutional clients, the company continues to set new standards for operational resilience and institutional adoption of digital assets. 

With a global presence spanning Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Italy, and Vietnam, Hex Trust serves a diverse and expanding client base across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Its mission is clear: to be the most trusted partner for institutions navigating the future of finance in the digital age.

Deliverables for full SV Reward: 

SV Reward Mechanics: 

● An extraBeneficiary PartyID associated with the ‘escrowed’ Super Validator will be set up by the GSF with an SV Weight at the maximum earnable weight. This will not include the potential "First to Production" or "Second to Production" bonus weights. 

○ Hex Trust is responsible for coordinating the process of setting up the escrowed weights with the GSF and the operator of the GSF SV node. ○ Hex Trust will be responsible for all costs associated with the operation of the escrow SV 

○ The escrow SV will NOT mint rewards on a block by block basis ○ All escrow SV rewards will go to the Unclaimed Rewards pool ● ⅔ of the Super Validator Operators will update their configurations to allow GSF to host the full weight to be earned by the given Super Validator ● Applicant is required to present proof of successful completed milestones to the Tokenomics Working Group 

○ Applicant is required to present a calculation for number of Canton Coin it should earn for meeting the requirements of the milestone ● If the Tokenomics Working Group agrees the milestone has been met and agrees with the calculation, an announcement will be sent via the Tokenomics-Announce mailing List

○ The GSF will update the extraBeneficiary to an active PartyID controlled by that Super Validator. 

○ ⅔ of Super Validator Operators will then assign a portion of the Unclaimed Rewards to be minted by the Applicant’s Validator, based on the calculation approved by the Tokenomics working group. 

● If any milestones and associated rewards are not achieved by the deadline ○ Applicant will be notified they have not met a deliverable by the GSF ○ Remaining SV Weight assigned to the extraBeneficiary SV will be 

removed from the GSF node configuration, and the total SV weight of the GSF SV node will be reduced by the same amount by a vote of the Super Validators. 

○ The Tokenomics Working Group will make a recommendation to the SVs on what to do with the Unclaimed Rewards 

● Applicant is subject to CIP-0045 : SV Operating Requirements ○ If, at any time, the Applicant has been rewarded SV Weight > 2.5, they are required to operate their SV within 6 months of crossing that Weight. This SV node will join the network with an SV weight of zero (0) and may add weights as the SV completes the milestones listed in this CIP. 

Copyright 

● This CIP is licensed under CC0-1.0: Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal. Changelog 

1. 2025-09-26: Initial draft of the proposal 

2. 2025-11-04: second draft proposal 

3. 2025-11-06: third draft proposal

APPENDIXES 

Appendix I — Motivation 

The Canton Network’s long-term success depends on its ability to bridge institutional finance with decentralized infrastructure in a secure, compliant, and scalable manner. As adoption accelerates, institutional participants require partners that can provide regulated financial services and integrated digital asset infrastructure across jurisdictions. 

Hex Trust — as a regulated financial institution across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe — brings this capability to Canton through its established licensing framework and robust infrastructure spanning custody, brokerage, asset management, and payments. 

Hex Trust’s mission aligns with Canton’s core principles: to create an institutional-grade and interoperable financial network that can power real-world use cases and regulated asset activity at scale. 

Global Regulatory Posture and Institutional Coverage 

Hex Trust operates under a multi-jurisdictional regulatory framework, including licenses and authorizations across key financial hubs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, and Europe. Through these entities, Hex Trust provides: 

● Regulated Custody Services for digital and tokenized assets under financial authority supervision 

● Staking 

● Escrow 

● Wrapping services 

● Broker-Dealer and Asset Management Services, enabling compliant market participation and tokenized investment products 

● Major Payment Institution capabilities, bridging fiat and digital economies through regulated on/off-ramps and settlement rails. 

This regulatory breadth ensures that Canton participants benefit from a globally recognized and compliant framework, unlocking institutional confidence and cross-border utility.