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Tokenization

Aria PRIME tokenizes $100M Korean music catalogs

Aria debuts $100M music IP tokenization via Story Protocol

by admin September 22, 2025

Aria launches Aria PRIME with Story Protocol, tokenizing $100M Korean music catalogs to bring cultural IP into institutional investment markets.

Summary

Aria PRIME launches as an institutional platform for tokenized IP
First deal brings $100M in Korean music catalogs onchain with Story Protocol
Platform plans to expand into other cultural assets like film and art

Aria is moving $100 million in Korean music catalogs onchain through Story Protocol, opening a new market for tokenized cultural IP.

Aria made the announcement on Sept. 22, introducing Aria PRIME, its institutional platform for managing and investing in high-value intellectual property. The launch, done in partnership with Story Protocol (IP) and Contents Technologies, will bring tokenized access to music rights that represent more than half of South Korea’s global music distribution market.

Aria PRIME: turning culture into capital

Film franchises, music catalogs, and other entertainment rights are just a few of the extensive IP portfolios that Aria PRIME is designed to manage. Rights holders benefit from increased liquidity and more transparent ownership structures when these assets are tokenized into fungible units, and institutional investors can access them with the help of blockchain infrastructure.

The Story Layer 1 blockchain, a network designed for IP tokenization, powers the platform. Assets created as Intellectual Property Real-World Assets can be divided into fractional ownership, produce royalties, and be integrated with smart contracts for remix and licensing rights. This design enables both financial utility and new creative models.

Funding and ecosystem growth

Earlier in September, Aria secured $15 million in seed and strategic funding at a $50 million valuation, with support from Polychain Capital, Neo Classic Capital, and the Story Protocol Foundation. The company earns fees from token launches, trading, and IP vault management, but is currently reducing costs to drive adoption.

The $100 million Korean music catalog is Aria PRIME’s first step toward a larger institutional IP market. Cinema, art, and other genres might be added in the future, making cultural intellectual property a scalable financial asset.

By bridging capital markets and entertainment, Aria is positioning IP to function not only as creative output but also as investable capital.

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September 22, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

DeFi Protocol Ondo Finance’s Token Soars Amid Tokenization Hype

by admin September 12, 2025

In brief

Ondo rose nearly 10% Thursday to $1.10, bringing weekly gains to more than 21%, CoinGecko data shows.
Total value locked for Ondo Finance has tripled this year to $1.57 billion.
BlackRock’s move to put ETFs on blockchains is adding credibility to Ondo’s push into tokenized stocks and real-world assets, Decrypt was told.

The token belonging to decentralized finance-focused asset manager and tech firm Ondo Finance is extending gains this week alongside a rising crypto market and fresh headlines related to the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock.

While the crypto market’s broader bullish sentiment is being driven by the strong possibility of a Federal Reserve rate cut decision, the tokens’ rise coincides with BlackRock’s plans to introduce exchange-traded funds onto public blockchains, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Ondo is up nearly 10% on the day to $1.10 after clocking more than 21% gains this week, CoinGecko data shows.

Thursday’s gains follow last week’s launch of tokenized versions of more than 100 U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, and other equities on Ethereum via the DeFi protocol’s Global Markets platform.

Lai Yuen, investment analyst at Fischer8 Capital, told Decrypt Ondo’s price rise is likely driven by “excitement around tokenized stocks.”

Onboarded partners and advisors for Ondo’s Global Markets, which includes the likes of WisdomTree, have helped grow the platform by $160 million in TVL over nine days.

That all but “underscores the project’s strong early traction,” Yuen said.

Ondo Finance’s total value locked, meanwhile, has nearly tripled since the start of 2025, growing from $611 million to $1.57 billion, DefiLlama data shows.

The long-term outlook remains bullish, according to Yuen, who posits that even if the project captures 10% of the stock market, it would translate to “substantial fee generation for Ondo token holders.”

“The project’s regulatory moat, bolstered by its advisory board, provides a durable long-term advantage that will be difficult for competitors to replicate,” he said.

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September 12, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Belarus Banks Ordered to Adopt Crypto, Tokenization as Sanctions Squeeze Economy

by admin September 11, 2025

In brief

President Lukashenko said tokenization can cut intermediaries, automate deals, and boost user control.
Belarus has seen $1.7 billion in crypto payments this year, with $3 billion projected, according to Lukashenko.
Russia-aligned states like Kyrgyzstan have shown similar sanction-driven patterns.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is urging the nation’s banks to ramp up their use of digital assets in a bid to blunt the impact of Western sanctions.

“Today, cryptocurrency-based transactions are more active than ever, and their role in facilitating payments is growing,” Lukashenko said in a meeting held on Tuesday with officials from the country’s National Bank, including heads of the country’s top commercial banks.

External payments through exchanges have racked up $1.7 billion in the first seven months of the year, with estimates suggesting volumes could reach $3 billion by December, President Lukashenko said.

He also discussed tokenization for the financial sector, which he said could help “minimize the presence of intermediaries, automate transactions through smart contracts, and enhance user control over assets,” according to a rough translation of an official transcript.

The head of state later urged the country’s banks to expand the use of digital assets, framing it as a response to sanctions and a way to sustain external payments.

“Digitalization here is not for the sake of digitalization, but for real economic effect,” he added.

Skirting sanctions

The push in Minsk comes as other Moscow-aligned states face similar scrutiny, with reports detailing how Russian entities have exploited Kyrgyzstan’s crypto industry to skirt sanctions.

The country’s crypto industry, which barely existed before 2022, has grown rapidly as Russian entities continued to use it to evade sanctions.

Links have been traced back to the shuttered Russian exchange Garantex, with Kyrgyz platforms appearing to operate like shell companies, according to a report from blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs.

While a 2022 law encouraged growth, volumes reaching $4.2 billion by mid-2024 are seen as driven by demand from Russian users, not locals.

The European Union has imposed sweeping sanctions on Belarus since the disputed 2020 elections, citing systemic repression and rights abuses under Lukashenko’s rule.

Measures now cover 310 individuals and 46 entities, including top officials, state institutions, and businesses tied to the regime. These include travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on providing funds, and were broadened in 2022 to target Belarus’s role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The sanctions, extended until February 2026, are aimed at curbing violence, freeing political prisoners, and pressuring the government into genuine dialogue.

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September 11, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

HSBC, BNP Paribas Join Canton for RWA Tokenization

by admin September 9, 2025

Global banking giants BNP Paribas and HSBC have joined the Canton Foundation, the governing body for the institutional-focused Canton Network blockchain. The banks want to help with the strategic direction and management of the network.

Hubert de Lambilly, Head of Global Markets at BNP Paribas, mentioned that the decision reflects the bank’s dedication to using DLT “to serve our evolving client needs.” Similarly, John O’Neil, Head of Digital Assets and Currencies at HSBC, stated that joining the foundation would help “foster the blockchain industry’s maturation and support the creation of real liquidity in digital asset markets”.

A Network Made for Organizations

The Canton Network is a blockchain that protects anonymity and was made just for banks to cooperate together and issue tokenized assets. The Canton Foundation currently has more than 30 members, thanks to BNP Paribas and HSBC. The larger network ecosystem now has about 400 participants, whose growth indicates that a basic blockchain infrastructure is being targeted by the industry.

This development follows a significant funding milestone for Digital Asset, the technology firm that created the Canton Network. The company recently announced a $135 million strategic funding round led by DRW Venture Capital and Tradeweb Markets.

Yuval Rooz Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Asset said, “This funding confirms what we saw coming years ago: a privacy-enabled public blockchain designed for institutional adoption.” Mathew McDermott, a longtime partner and Global Head of Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs, agreed with the attitude. He said they had a “deep conviction in the strength of their technology.”

The participation of two of the world’s largest banks in a blockchain foundation recognizes its capacity for the future of the ecosystem. It demonstrates a clear shift within the financial sector from exploration to active implementation of DLT.

As institutions like BNP Paribas and HSBC help shape the governance of shared ledgers, the industry moves closer to establishing standardized, interoperable networks for digital finance. This trend, which is being noticed by groups like the World Economic Forum, could make assets that aren’t usually open more efficient and easy to sell.

Also Read: Bitget Transfers 440 Million BGB Tokens to Back Morph L2 Chain

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September 9, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Stablecoins Must Offer Yield to Compete: Former Standard Chartered Tokenization Head

by admin September 9, 2025

In brief

Multiliquid CEO Will Beeson has argued yield is important for stablecoins to scale in a competitive market.
The GENIUS Act banned issuers from paying interest but leaves openings for third-party arrangements.
Banks have warned loopholes could drive trillions in deposits out of the U.S. banking system.

The clash between Wall Street and the crypto sector over yield-bearing stablecoins is intensifying in Washington.

The stablecoin industry needs more options for offering yield to users, according to Will Beeson, founder and CEO of RWA liquidity layer Multiliquid and Uniform Labs, and former head of tokenized asset infrastructure at Standard Chartered.

“In a competitive market with others issuing their own stablecoins, you end up in a situation where you’re looking for ways to incentivize users to use your stablecoin,” Beeson told Decrypt. “The ability to pay yield would be an important way to do that.”

The GENIUS Act and stablecoin yields

Beeson’s comments come as the federal government implements the GENIUS Act, legislation signed by President Donald Trump in July to create the first formal U.S. framework for stablecoin issuance and trading. While the law bars issuers from paying yield, it stops short of banning third parties such as exchanges from offering interest or rewards on stablecoin holdings.

For instance, crypto exchange Coinbase pays interest on USDC balances held on its platform in Circle’s stablecoin USDC, effectively offering yield through a third party.

“What is prohibited under GENIUS is the ability for stablecoin issuers to pay interest or yield directly to holders,” Beeson explained. “The bill does not prevent intermediaries or third parties from paying incentives.”

That gap has become the flashpoint of a lobbying battle. “My understanding is that it has to do with requests by the banking lobby as the regulation was structured, and fears about yield-bearing stablecoins effectively providing a much more attractive savings tool than lower-yielding bank deposits,” Beeson said.

Banks have pressed Congress to close the door completely. In an August 12 letter, the Bank Policy Institute and four other major trade groups warned lawmakers that leaving the so-called loophole intact could drain as much as $6.6 trillion from the U.S. deposit system.

“Without an explicit prohibition applying to exchanges, which act as a distribution channel for stablecoin issuers or business affiliates, the requirements in the GENIUS Act can be easily evaded and undermined by allowing payment of interest indirectly to holders of stablecoins,” it said.

“The result will be greater deposit flight risk, especially in times of stress, that will undermine credit creation throughout the economy,” the BPI’s letter argued, adding that the resulting reduction in credit supply would lead to “higher interest rates, fewer loans, and increased costs for Main Street businesses and households.”

Crypto groups fight back

Crypto groups have fought back. On August 20, the Blockchain Association and the Crypto Council for Innovation sent their own letter urging regulators to resist bank pressure and disputing the $6.6 trillion claim. “This claim does not hold up to scrutiny,” the letter read.

Cutting off yield, they warned, would freeze innovation and leave U.S. firms at a disadvantage internationally. “Allowing responsible, robustly regulated platforms to share benefits with customers is not a loophole – it is a feature that promotes financial inclusion, fosters innovation, and ensures American leadership in the next generation of payments,” they said.

Still, Beeson said expectations for any near-term change to the law should be tempered. “I think realistically it’s less than a fifty percent chance,” he said, pointing to Washington’s legislative gridlock.

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September 9, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Chainlink CEO Sees Tokenization as Sector’s Rising Future After Meeting SEC’s Atkins

by admin September 7, 2025

Chainlink CEO Sergey Nazarov met with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins, who Nazarov said was keenly interested in how best to bring on-chain assets into compliance with securities laws.

The chief executive of Chainlink, a network specializing in authenticating real-world data for smart contracts, said he was impressed with how much the agency has shifted away from whether the U.S. should permit blockchain tokenization innovations into the financial system and instead is looking at how this can be conducted with maximum efficiency and market safety.

“While cryptocurrencies define the majority of our industry’s value today, I personally feel very strongly that the real-world asset trend and digital-asset tokenization in the institutional world will grow to be the majority of the market cap in our industry,” Nazarov told CoinDesk in an interview after his Friday meeting. He said Atkins “has very clear ideas and goals with getting the traditional financial system operating correctly on-chain.”

Nazarov, who also met with the White House’s new crypto liaison, Patrick Witt, on Friday, said he’s very hopeful “based on the urgency and speed” the SEC and the White House are demonstrating. He said he thinks blockchain infrastructure will manage to find a place within broker-dealer and transfer agent rules, allowing full-in tokenization “maybe by the middle of next year.”

The Chainlink co-founder said one central task is getting blockchains to fully meet the standards for a “legally binding transfer” of assets. “That’s a class of problems that’s now getting worked through with us,” he said, adding that Atkins understands it well and noted the chairman’s recent address in which he announced his “Project Crypto” initiative.

An SEC spokesman declined to comment on the meeting, though the agency has been building momentum with crypto-friendly statements, remarks and policy maneuvers. Just last week, the securities regulator issued a joint statement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to tell registered platforms that they’re OK to pursue spot trading of certain crypto assets, issued a near-term agenda that is crowded with crypto initiatives and got together with the CFTC on Friday to tell reporters that the two markets regulators will now be working in lockstep to pave the way for crypto.

Under Atkins’ predecessor, Gary Gensler, the agency had resisted embarking on tailored digital assets regulation. Atkins says the existing securities laws and agency powers offer ample authority to start work on friendly policies to clarify how the government approaches crypto.

Meanwhile, the Senate is working on a crypto market structure bill that would establish new laws for crypto and for its regulators. That effort saw some progress on Friday as a new, lengthier version of the Senate Banking Committee’s earlier bill began circulating.

Chainlink’s network was also among the digital assets venues chosen by the U.S. Department of Commerce last week when, for the first time, the federal government issued major economic data — the gross domestic product report — via blockchain. That’s set to be an ongoing trend for Commerce and other agencies, according to the officials behind the release.

“Our industry has a very unique kind of moment in time right now, that if it uses it well it can solidify its position in the U.S. and therefore the global economy,” Nazarov said.

Read More: SEC, CFTC Chiefs Say Crypto Turf Wars Over as Agencies Move Ahead on Joint Work

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September 7, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Tokenization Offers ‘Enhanced Liquidity,’ but Faces Major Hurdles, BofA Says

by admin September 7, 2025

Tokenization is the next big step in how financial assets are housed, and offers advantages over existing traditional structures, Wall Street firm Bank of America (BAC) said in a Friday report, noting that it also brings risks.

At its core, tokenization is the process of converting ownership of real-world assets, from stocks and bonds to real estate, private equity, and even art, into digital tokens recorded on a blockchain.

Tokenization follows a lineage that began with mutual funds and expanded through separately managed accounts, collective investment trusts, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and according to the bank’s analysts, this model could reshape the way investors access and manage assets by offering a number of advantages over traditional structures.

Among the most important benefits are enhanced liquidity, analysts led by Craig Siegenthaler wrote, adding that 24/7 trading could open up secondary markets for previously illiquid private assets, and faster, frictionless settlements that eliminate the multi-day delays common in today’s financial markets.

Tokenization also allows for fractional ownership, the analysts said, reducing investment minimums and broadening access to portfolios. Transparency is another advantage, as blockchain ledgers provide immutable and publicly accessible records of ownership and transactions.

Lower fees are possible by cutting out intermediaries, and smart contracts can automate key processes such as dividend payments, coupon distributions, and voting rights, while also helping to navigate regulatory requirements and even the complexities of private equity capital calls, the report noted.

According to data provider RWA.xyz the value of real-world assets represented on-chain exceeds $28 billion.

Tokenization risks

Still, Bank of America cautioned that tokenization faces significant hurdles before it can achieve widespread adoption.

Regulatory uncertainty remains the biggest challenge. While U.S. policymakers have signaled support, future administrations could reverse course, and many jurisdictions are still in the process of writing rules.

The bank said custody is another concern, as investors risk losing access to assets if private keys are misplaced, and institutional-grade custody solutions are still developing.

On the technology side, vulnerabilities in smart contracts or blockchain platforms leave room for exploitation, and integration with legacy financial infrastructure presents additional obstacles, given the reliance of most institutions on traditional systems.

And when it comes to publicly traded assets, existing U.S. markets already offer deep liquidity, low fees, and strong investor protections, making the case for tokenized versions less compelling, the report added.

Read more: Ondo Finance Rolls Out Tokenized U.S. Stocks, ETFs as Equity Tokenization Ramps Up

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September 7, 2025 0 comments

President Donald Trump and Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek

NFT Gaming

Tokenization Is ‘Mutual Fund 3.0,’ Bank of America (BAC) Says

by admin September 5, 2025

Bank of America (BAC) sees tokenization, the creation of a virtual investment vehicle on the blockchain linked to a tangible asset, as the next phase in the evolution of investment products, describing it as “mutual fund 3.0,” the Wall Street bank said in a Friday report.

Just as mutual funds first emerged in 1924 and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) reshaped investing in the 2000s, blockchain technology could underpin a new generation of financial vehicles, analysts led by Craig Siegenthaler wrote.

Real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is advancing quickly. The bank noted that firms like Securitize are working with managers including BlackRock (BLK), Apollo, KKR and Hamilton Lane to issue tokenized funds. Asset manager WisdomTree (WT) built its own tokenization engine, giving it the ability to offer more than a dozen tokenized funds.

According to data provider RWA.xyz the value of real-word assets represented on-chain exceeds $28 billion, largely in private credit and Treasuries.

Still, regulation remains a headwind. The GENIUS and Clarity Acts address stablecoins, but leave many questions about tokenized funds unresolved. Still, the bank argues, the advantages of tokenization will drive adoption over time despite limited access for U.S. investors today.

The case for tokenized equities is weaker because U.S. brokers already offer commission-free stock and exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading after Robinhood’s (HOOD) disruption in 2019, the analysts wrote.

That shift pushed firms toward monetizing client cash and order flow, making tokenized versions of these assets less compelling, the bank’s analysts said. But tokenized money market funds, powered by smart contracts, could upend those cash sweep economics and open new revenue models.

Distribution is still the bottleneck. Platforms offering tokenized funds remain rare, though online brokers like Robinhood, Public and eToro (ETOR) are well positioned given their crypto businesses and younger, self-custody-oriented client bases. Coinbase (COIN) may also emerge as a partner as it expands beyond pure crypto, the report added.

Bank of America expects tokenized money market funds to lead adoption thanks to their attractive yields relative to stablecoins, which cannot pay interest under the Genius Act, with private credit and high yield likely to follow.

Read more: Boerse Stuttgart Unveils Pan-European Settlement Platform for Tokenized Assets

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September 5, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Ripple Issues 5-Year Tokenization Prediction: Details

by admin September 4, 2025

In its recent tweet, Ripple shared a five-year prediction for the tokenization market, stating that by 2030, 10% of global assets are expected to be tokenized.

By 2030, 10% of global assets are expected to be tokenized. 📶

To seize this opportunity, institutions need a foundation of trust: https://t.co/PnJ793K7Tk

Discover how Ripple Custody delivers enterprise-grade security and the infrastructure for:
🔒 Safekeeping of private keys…

— Ripple (@Ripple) September 3, 2025

Digital asset custody is anticipated to drive this adoption surge, with crypto assets under custody projected to reach $16 trillion by 2030. Custody, a core safekeeping capability, is the bedrock of institutional digital asset services ranging from tokenized real estate and treasuries to stablecoins and cryptocurrencies.

XRP Ledger welcomes major amendment

In a major milestone for institutional and user adoption, the Credentials amendment is now active on XRPL’s mainnet.

SEC Crypto Task Force And Kraken Discuss Asset Tokenization

by admin August 27, 2025

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff and crypto exchange Kraken recently discussed various issues related to the tokenization of traditional assets and the regulatory framework for these assets.

Kraken Meets With Crypto Task Force

On Monday, Kraken and the US SEC Crypto Task Force’s staff met to discuss the tokenization of traditional assets and a potential tokenized trading system in the US. The Commission’s staff had a meeting with representatives from Payward, Inc., Kraken Securities LLC, and law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.

According to the SEC’s memorandum, the agenda included approaches to address issues related to the regulation of crypto assets and the legal and regulatory framework for operating a tokenized trading system.

Notably, the topics also included an outline of the core components of the proposed tokenized trading system’s architecture, addressing potentially relevant provisions under the federal securities laws, examining how the SEC can provide regulatory clarity and facilitate innovation, and discussing the benefits of tokenization.

The reunion follows the crypto exchange’s interest in launching tokenized stocks of popular equities outside of the US. In May, Kraken announced its plan to allow non-US customers to trade a tokenized version of popular equities, offering over 50 stocks and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), like Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia.

Kraken’s tokenized equities enable users in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia to invest in US stocks even when the US stock market is closed, with lower trading costs and faster settlement.

Similarly, Coinbase is seeking the SEC’s approval to offer tokenized stocks to its customers. In June, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Paul Grewal, told Reuters that the emerging sector is a “huge priority” for the crypto exchange.

Nonetheless, Coinbase would need to be granted a “no action letter” or exemptive relief from the Commission, as typically, companies that offer trading in securities must be registered as broker-dealers under the securities regulator.

“With a no-action letter, an issuer of a tokenized equity or a platform that wishes to offer secondary trading in those equities can have some confidence, some comfort, that the SEC has adopted its view of why this product is compliant,” Grewal stated, noting that, “it’s that confidence that has been lacking so far, and I think really held back a lot of the institutional adoption” of crypto and blockchain technology.

Industry Concerns For Tokenized Equities

Kraken’s push for regulatory clarity regarding tokenized stocks also follows recent concerns from the world’s biggest stock exchanges. On August 25, Reuters reported that the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) called on securities regulators to crack down on tokenized equities, arguing that the blockchain-based tokens “create new risks for investors and could harm market integrity.”

The letter was reportedly sent to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and global securities watchdog IOSCO’s Fintech Task Force on August 22. The coalition expressed its concerns that these tokens “mimic” equities without providing the same rights or trading safeguards.

Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum outlined some of the major challenges for tokenized equities adoption, including the lack of sufficient secondary-market liquidity and a clear global standard.

“We are alarmed at the plethora of brokers and crypto-trading platforms offering or intending to offer so-called tokenised U.S. stocks,” the WFE wrote in the recent letter, suggesting that issuers of stock could suffer reputational damage if the tokens fail.

The WFE urged regulators to apply securities rules to tokenized assets, clarify legal frameworks for ownership and custody, and prevent them from being marketed as equivalent to stocks.

Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $110,337 in the one-week chart. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView

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August 27, 2025 0 comments