Carlos X. Montoya, I-ON Digital Corp CEO and Chairman: “Our core strengths lie in the unique combination of institutional-grade compliance, deep expertise in financial systems, and a technology stack built from the ground up for real-world asset tokenization.”

I-ON Digital Corp (OTCQB:IONI) is a cutting-edge digital asset infrastructure company focused on transforming unrefined gold reserves into secure, compliant, and liquid financial instruments. Initially conceptualized between 2017 and 2018, the company’s foundational mission was to unlock the untapped value of in-situ gold through the creation of asset-backed digital securities. Early members of the current executive team were instrumental in developing the original patents and executing initial proof-of-concept projects using a scaled-down version of the platform.

In its current form, I-ON Digital was established by a leadership team with deep roots in institutional finance, with the goal of evolving the gold-backed digital asset—Orebits.au—into a transparent, regulatory-compliant financial product. The company acquired the foundational patents; early-stage digitized assets, and core technologies, and re-engineered them into a robust, zero-trust hybrid blockchain platform. This advanced architecture utilizes smart contract automation to enable gold reserve owners and investors to monetize assets without physical extraction—ushering in a new era of sustainable and secure financial ecosystems.

Through the acquisition of Orebits Corp and strategic alliances with top-tier technology partners including Instruxi, Chainlink, and Space and Time, I-ON has integrated AI, Web3 innovation, and regulatory-grade compliance into a powerful real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform. The company’s work was recognized as a winner of the Chainlink Spring 2023 Hackathon.

Today, I-ON Digital Corp stands at the forefront of digital finance—empowering mid-tier banks, institutional investors, and underserved asset holders to participate in the evolving landscape of decentralized finance.

In conversation with Carlos X. Montoya, CEO and Chairman of I-ON Digital Corp

How would you describe the leadership style and approach at I-ON Digital Corp.? How does your executive team's vision influence the company's strategic direction?

At I-ON Digital, our leadership is driven by experience, vision, and an unwavering commitment to trust. As CEO, I bring over 30 years in tier-1 banking, risk management, and financial systems innovation to guide our mission: to transform how the world values and transacts with gold. Our executive team operates with a bold but disciplined approach—blending visionary thinking with strict adherence to transparency, compliance, and security at every level. That’s why we’ve built one of the most rigorous onboarding processes in the industry, ensuring that every gold reserve digitized on our platform is verifiably owned and clearly titled. We don’t cut corners—we raise the standard. By developing proprietary smart contract frameworks and automated workflows within a zero-trust blockchain architecture, we’re not just enabling asset-backed digital securities—we’re building a trusted foundation for sustainable, institutional-grade finance. Our leadership style is clear: think big, build responsibly, and lead with integrity.

 I-ON Digital Corp. focuses on transforming illiquid assets like in situ gold into tradable, compliant digital securities. How does I-ON Digital Corp. overcome challenges in transforming traditional assets like in situ gold into digital securities?

Transforming in-situ gold into compliant, tradable digital securities requires more than innovation—it demands absolute trust, ironclad transparency, and institutional-grade technology. At I-ON Digital, we tackle this challenge head-on with a multi-layered onboarding protocol that goes far beyond industry norms. Every asset we digitize is backed by validated geological data, verified ownership, and a defensible chain of title—then secured within our proprietary hybrid blockchain. This isn’t just about tokenizing gold—it’s about creating a new financial standard. Our compliance-first architecture integrates zero-knowledge proof technology, identity verification through Instruxi Mesh ID, and a treasury model that anchors our ION.au digital security to real-world value. We’re in the process introducing a gold-backed stablecoin, to further generate on-chain liquidity and yield. The result is a fully interoperable, scalable ecosystem that bridges DeFi and TradFi—giving reserve owners access to liquidity without extraction, and investors the confidence of asset-backed transparency. With ION.au at the core, we’re not just digitizing assets—we’re engineering the next chapter in regulated digital finance.

What are the core strengths that differentiate I-ON Digital Corp. from competitors in the asset tokenization industry?

Our core strengths lie in the unique combination of institutional-grade compliance, deep expertise in financial systems, and a technology stack built from the ground up for real-world asset tokenization. Unlike many players in the space, we focus on unlocking the value of in-situ gold—an illiquid, underutilized asset—by digitizing it into ION.au, a secure, auditable digital security. But what truly sets us apart is our end-to-end ecosystem: we combine proprietary onboarding protocols that guarantee ownership and title verification, a hybrid blockchain that embeds compliance and privacy at the protocol level, and a dual-token model that creates real yield through asset-backed stablecoins. While others offer fragmented or speculative solutions, I-ON delivers a transparent, sustainable, and regulator-ready platform designed for long-term institutional trust and adoption.

How do you see I-ON Digital Corp.'s role evolving in the future of asset-backed digital securities?

We see I-ON Digital Corp playing a foundational role in the future of asset-backed digital securities. As the market moves toward digitizing trillions in real-world assets, our mission is to provide the trusted infrastructure that makes it all possible—securely, transparently, and in full regulatory alignment. We’re not just creating digital tokens—we’re building a complete financial ecosystem that validates ownership, ensures compliance, and bridges traditional finance with the decentralized world. ION.au is just the beginning. Over time, we aim to expand into additional asset classes, onboard institutional partners globally, and set the standard for how real-world value flows on-chain. Our role will be that of both innovator and enabler—helping reshape capital markets for a tokenized, interoperable, and more inclusive financial future.

How is I-ON Digital Corp. staying ahead in a rapidly evolving blockchain and DeFi technology?

We stay ahead by focusing on what’s most often overlooked—compliance, scalability, and real-world utility blockchain and DeFi chase hype cycles, we’re building foundational infrastructure that’s built to last. Our use of zero-knowledge technology gives us both scalability and privacy, and our integration with the Instruxi Data Mesh ensures seamless identity verification, real-time asset data, and institutional-grade compliance. We’re not just following trends—we’re setting the standard by embedding regulatory requirements directly into the protocol. This allows institutions to participate confidently, knowing that every asset, transaction, and identity on our network is secure, verified, and audit-ready. In a space where trust and utility are becoming more important than ever, I-ON is delivering both at the infrastructure level.

In what ways does I-ON Digital Corp. contribute to social responsibility efforts, particularly in promoting financial inclusion or education?

At I-ON Digital, we believe financial innovation should go hand in hand with social responsibility. By unlocking the value of untapped gold reserves—particularly in developing regions—we’re helping communities monetize dormant assets without the need for environmentally damaging extraction. Our platform promotes inclusive capital access by allowing verified asset holders to participate in global financial markets, many for the first time. We’re also committed to financial education, working with our partners to demystify blockchain and tokenization through open-access resources and transparent onboarding practices. Whether it’s bringing liquidity to underserved asset holders or ensuring everyone—from small reserve owners to institutional investors—has access to the tools and knowledge to participate, I-ON is building a more inclusive and equitable financial future.

Executive in spotlight

Carlos X. Montoya - Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, I-ON Digital Corp

Carlos X. Montoya is a pioneering force in the evolution of digital finance, with over 35 years of banking industry leadership, the last 10 of which at the intersection of asset tokenization, global custody, and next-generation digital banking. As CEO and Chairman of I-ON Digital Corp, and Founder of Tall Ship Resource Development LLC, MCM Advisors LLC, and Tall Ship Partners Fund LLC, Montoya has led groundbreaking initiatives that are redefining how real-world assets are digitized, secured, and transacted globally.

Recognized for architecting one of the world’s first tier-one compliant digital asset ecosystems, Montoya’s vision integrates blockchain-secured tokenization, institutional-grade custody, and regulatory-aligned digital banking infrastructure into a seamless financial services model. Previously, as President and CEO of Republic Bank of Chicago, he helped drive the institution’s growth trajectory to over $2.2 billion in assets, establishing a blueprint for strategic expansion and innovation.

A Loyola University Chicago graduate and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Montoya has also contributed his leadership to universities, hospitals, museums, and philanthropic organizations. His career embodies a relentless commitment to building resilient, transparent, and accessible financial systems for the digital economy.

“In a space where trust and utility are becoming more important than ever, I-ON is delivering both at the infrastructure level.”