The World Bank’s IFC invested $40M in Zetrix AI

The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has made an equity investment in Malaysia’s Zetrix AI Berhad to expand digital public infrastructure services in Malaysia and other emerging markets. The company said the funding will support new blockchain-based DPI applications and AI-enabled products.

IFC’s investment totals RM155.6 million (about $40 million), with Zetrix AI saying the work will integrate with MyDigital ID and the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI).

IFC backs blockchain-based DPI rollout in Malaysia

Zetrix AI said the capital will fund the development and rollout of DPI applications designed to improve digital inclusion, access to services, and economic efficiency. The announcement frames the initiative as part of Malaysia’s broader digital transformation push and adds that the services will connect into existing national digital rails.

Judith Green, World Bank Group Country Manager for Malaysia, linked the investment to Malaysia’s Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (2026–2030), saying DPI is key to improving public service delivery, competitiveness, and inclusive growth.

Digital ID verification, trade digitization, and RWA tokenization

Zetrix AI said its DPI products are aimed at making services more efficient, secure, and cost-effective, spanning everything from digital ID verification to the digitalization of international trade and tokenization of real-world assets.

The company also said the investment will support expansion of its DPI services into other emerging markets across ASEAN and beyond, positioning the stack for cross-border use cases rather than Malaysia-only deployments.

Zetrix AI highlights stablecoins and AI as cross-border building blocks

TS Wong, Zetrix AI’s Group Managing Director, said the firm is deploying cross-border blockchain and AI use cases that range from digital IDs and digitized customs clearance processing to large language models and stablecoins. He said IFC’s participation and market access will help accelerate Zetrix AI’s global expansion plans.

What Zetrix AI says it is building

In the company description, Zetrix AI (formerly MY E.G. Services Berhad) said it is deploying blockchain technology and AI across ASEAN, anchored by its Layer-1 blockchain platform Zetrix. It also describes its focus as cross-border transactions, digital identity interoperability, and automation solutions connecting people, businesses, and governments.

Why it matters for crypto

• A World Bank Group institution is directly backing blockchain-based public infrastructure, not just private-sector pilots.
• Integration with national ID and a national blockchain network signals “real rails” adoption, not sandbox experimentation.
• The roadmap explicitly includes tokenization and stablecoin use cases, tying DPI to onchain financial primitives.
• DPI deployments can drive sustained transaction demand (identity, trade, registries), which is structurally different from speculative cycles.

What to watch next

• Product rollout specifics for services connected to MyDigital ID and MBI.
• Which DPI modules Zetrix AI ships first (ID verification, trade workflows, tokenization) and where they go live.
• Any disclosed expansion markets in ASEAN as the company moves beyond Malaysia.
• Follow-on details on the stablecoin-related use cases mentioned by management.

Source: Zetrix Press Release