MARCO-POLO-NETWORK
Marco Polo Network blockchain trade finance R3 Corda ceased 2023.
Definition
Marco Polo Network history + lessons: (1) Founded 2017 by TradeIX (London startup) + R3 Corda enterprise blockchain platform ; backed by major banks consortium including BNP Paribas, ING, Commerzbank, Standard Chartered (founding partners). (2) Architecture: R3 Corda permissioned DLT, smart contracts coded Corda Kotlin language, data shared selectively between counterparties (privacy-preserving DLT design vs public blockchain), Corda Network underlying infrastructure. (3) Products: Open Account trade finance (Receivables Discounting + Payment Commitments + Payables Finance + Confirmed Order), bypass traditional L/C + Documentary Collections rendering open account more secure via DLT. (4) Pilots ~2018-2021: multiple pilots BNP Paribas + ING + Commerzbank + others doing real trade finance transactions over Marco Polo Network. (5) Failure 2023: TradeIX faced financial difficulties + bank consortium pulled back, network ceased operations early 2023 ; banks shifted resources to other DLT trade finance initiatives (Contour, we.trade, Komgo - many also subsequently shutdown). (6) Lessons learned: blockchain trade finance scale challenges - need critical mass shippers + carriers + banks + customs + ports simultaneously, governance challenges multi-stakeholder consortium, technology maturity + interoperability, regulatory complexity cross-border, traditional bank infrastructure entrenched difficult displace. (7) Successor initiatives: MLETR (Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records UNCITRAL 2017) provides legal basis e-Bills of Lading + e-Bills of Exchange, multiple jurisdictions adopting MLETR (UK ETDA 2023 + Singapore ETA 2021), enabling future digital trade finance via mature legal framework rather pure DLT solutions.
Origin
Marco Polo Network launched 2017 by TradeIX + R3 Corda consortium banks ; pilots 2018-2021 ; ceased operations early 2023 ; TradeIX financial difficulties + consortium dissolution.
Example in context
Pilot trade transaction Marco Polo Network ~2019: German automotive parts supplier ships to Mexican OEM, supplier uploads commercial invoice + B/L + packing list onto Marco Polo Corda DLT, OEM acknowledges receipt + commits to pay 60 days, BNP Paribas issues Receivables Discounting to supplier (supplier paid immediately discount rate ~3%), at maturity OEM pays BNP Paribas via traditional rails, transaction recorded immutable Corda ledger shared all parties.
Related terms
- Contour DLT — similar ceased trade DLT.
- we.trade DLT — similar ceased trade DLT.