Jack Ma’s Alibaba Subsidiary Ant Unveil New Ethereum Layer2 Jovay

The digital asset platform, OSL, has signed a partnership with Ant Digital Technologies at the recently concluded RWA REAL UP Dubai Smmit.

Published by

Sneha Agrawal
May 2, 2025
Jack Ma’s Alibaba Subsidiary Ant Unveil New Ethereum Layer2 Jovay

Jovay:- In a significant move for the development of crypto in the Chinese market, Ant Group and developer of AliPay, Ant Digital Technologies (an affiliate of Alibaba), has officially unveiled Jovay – a new Ethereum Layer 2 protocol tailored for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and cross-border infrastructure.

Initially announced at the RWA REAL UP summit in Dubai May 2025, Jovay claims to deliver up to 100,000 transactions per second and 100 ms response times.

The chain is being developed in partnership with OSL’s regulation infra to drive institutional adoption of RWAs.

Ant Group’s New Layer2 RWA Chain – Jovay

Ant Digital Technologies –  formerly AntChain – is a subsidiary of Ant Group, the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group.

Since June 2018, Jack Ma–linked Ant Group and Alibaba have focused on blockchain infrastructure and tokenized-asset platforms rather than retail crypto trading.

Through AntChain, launched in July 2020, they introduced blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) tools for cross-border settlements, supply-chain tracking, and enterprise solutions.

Till now, it has largely focused on permissioned chains and private enterprise deployments. This partnership with OSL marks its first significant foray into public Layer-2 blockchain infrastructure.

Ant Digital’s new layer2 chain, Jovay built on Ethereum, is designed to interact directly with Ethereum and revolutionize the green financing.

Image

Jovay – New RWA Chain Focuses on Renewable Products

According to the press release Block of Fame got access to,  Jovay is a newly launched Ethereum Layer2 blockchain developed by Ant Digital Technologies. Unveiled at the REAL UP RWA Summit in Dubai, it is purpose-built for tokenizing real-world assets.

It will particularly work in green finance – such as solar panels, EV charging stations, and battery infrastructure. Jovay will turn them into globally tradable digital tokens.

Jovay is powered by DTVM (DeTerministic Virtual Machine) which is a custom-built, Wasm-based and EVM-compatible smart contract. This was unveiled by Ant Digital a week ago. It’s optimized for high-throughput execution and integrates AI capabilities through tools like SmartCogent.

This allows for intelligent contract automation and lifecycle management. Thus, Jovay will enable high-speed, AI-assisted smart contracts and cross-border RWA transactions. Already live, Ant Digital hosts over 14 million tokenized green energy devices, making it the world’s largest platform of its kind.

The development of layer2 Jovay and its DTVM engine could lead to significant advancements in blockchain technology. This is especially for RWAs (real-world assets) and green finance.

Till now, sustainable infrastructure financing has been slow, fragmented, and tied to regional markets.

By tokenizing renewable products, Ant Group’s Jovay can increase scalability for clean energy infrastructure. This will also help in providing faster, efficient cross-border liquidity in renewable energy markets.

Also Read: Next Bitcoin Price Target!

Jack Ma and Alibaba’s Quite Buildings In Crypto

This isn’t the first time a Jack Ma–linked entity has ventured into crypto and blockchain. Over the years, Alibaba and its fintech arm Ant Group have quietly explored Web3 infrastructure.

After China’s September 2021 crypto ban, Ant and Alibaba pivoted to international, regulated, and cross-border blockchain initiatives.

In January 2024, Ant International confirmed plans to apply for a stablecoin issuer licence in Hong Kong under the city’s new framework. It is also lobbying for yuan-pegged stablecoins aimed at offshore markets.

By June 2025, Ant also integrated Circle’s USDC onto its blockchain to ensure interoperability between global stablecoins and Ant’s tokenized payment platforms.

In September 2025, his company / affiliated firm Yunfeng Financial (in which he holds about ~ 11%) bought 10,000 ETH as part of his treasury / Web3 strategy. Last week the same firm invested $22 million in Series A of crypto life insurance firm, Anthea.

Note: This article was published in May 2025 and was updated with latest information on 16th October, 2025.

Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.
Newsletter
Your crypto brief. Delivered every week.
  • Insights that move markets
  • Trusted by top investors and builders
  • Stay ahead every week.
By signing-up you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

About Author

With over four years of experience in covering and tracking the financial markets, Sneha Agrawal is a dedicated Crypto Journalist and Editor with passion for researching and writing the crypto pieces. She is currently leading the Block of Fame, here at CoinGape. She likes to keep track of political, legal and financial happenings all around the world - without which she deems her day incomplete. Apart from her Journalistic endeavours, she is a solo traveler, museum goer, and a keen reader of books.

CoinGape is a burgeoning blockchain and crypto media company. It was recently awarded as the Best Crypto Media Company 2024 at Global Blockchain Show, Dubai. Our goal is to keep industry professionals up to date on the most recent news and developments. We are a team of experts who take great pride in offering unbiased and well researched information to help our readers make informed decisions. Read our Editorial Policy

©2025 All rights reserved