Author: Tokenized Toast Club

SIX, the owners of the Spanish stock exchange BME, has invested in the Spanish real estate tokenization platform OpenBrick. It considers the investment as a complement to the SIX Digital Exchange (SDX). OpenBrick was founded by real estate firm Grupo Lar, asset manager Renta 4 Banco, and blockchain development firm ioBuilders. Alongside SIX, the startup is adding strategic partners such as lawyers Garrigues and infrastructure funding firm Teras Capital. As part of the announcement regarding OpenBrick, the BME revealed plans for its central securities depository (CSD) subsidiary, Iberclear, to get a license to operate a DLT trading and settlement platform…

In a future where private assets are tokenized, there will be a need for real-time pricing. Valuations for real estate, private equity, private credit, and infrastructure have historically been manual and lacking standards. Since 2017, Inveniam has aimed to address the data gap by developing solutions and partnering with various data providers, including one of its largest backers, real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. Now, UAE AI firm G42 has invested an undisclosed amount in Inveniam, bringing cumulative funds raised to $120 million. G42 is a substantial company with 25,000 employees spread across seven AI subsidiaries, ranging from the energy sector…

Japanese tokenization platform Progmat is exploring the potential for tokenizing overseas real estate. It’s the most prolific tokenization platform in Japan, founded by MUFG with backing from the other big three banks, SMBC and Mizuho, alongside others. So far, most of the security tokens issued have been linked to single large real estate properties in Japan, with one or two digital bonds. Now they’re considering how to expand the types of security tokens. There’s an affiliated Digital Asset Co-creation Consortium (DCC) with 282 members. A much smaller DCC working group explored which types of tokenized assets to consider. Out of sixteen options, overseas…

This week, the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) unveiled a new DLT platform involving the country’s main banks and insurance firms. It provides a blockchain-based database to coordinate data sharing about insurance policies needed to support mortgage loans. For new mortgages, typically the borrower will visit the bank for the mortgage and then again to demonstrate they have secured the necessary insurance. Banks require insurance coverage to protect their collateral in case of floods or other major damage that could reduce the value of the house. By creating the DLT network, the second visit by the house owner isn’t necessary. For…

Axis, one of India’s top five banks will use JP Morgan‘s Kinexys Digital Payments (formerly JPM Coin) for cross border payments. Swift payments are invariably constrained by differences in bank opening hours, whereas JP Morgan’s blockchain-based bank accounts are available for 24/7 instant payments. This is particularly important for large corporates with subsidiaries spread around the world. It means they can send and receive funds instantly, rather than needing to keep buffers of cash to allow for timing differences. Additionally, the solution supports programmable payments. “We are excited to work with Kinexys by J.P. Morgan to deliver a first in the market…

The Central Bank of the UAE announced it will launch its Digital Dirham central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the fourth quarter of this year. That’s when it plans to launch the retail version of the CBDC, which will be treated as legal tender, requiring people to accept it for payment. The central bank also intends to use the CBDC for wholesale and cross border payment purposes. Alongside the launch of the digital currency, it will also make a Digital Dirham wallet available. While others such as Europe are focused on CBDC for everyday transactions, the central bank clearly has its sights…

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, the parent of Japan’s second largest bank SMBC, is planning to issue a stablecoin. It’s collaborating with Ava Labs, the founder of the Avalanche blockchain, as well as Fireblocks, according to a report from the Nikkei. The bank will work with Japanese IT firm TIS and plans to conduct experiments in Q4 of this year or 2026 Q1, with a live issuance during the following year. One of the primary use cases is to enable corporates to move money around the world instantly and 24/7, sidestepping Swift. While Swift payments should in theory be almost instant, in…

Circle, the issuer of the $60 billion USDC stablecoin, has published a preliminary prospectus for its stock market IPO. The figures show attractive revenues of almost $1.7 billion for 2024, but operating income of just $167 million. While Circle isn’t parsimonious in its spending, the massive dent is the monies paid to Coinbase, which previously had a 50% stake in the stablecoin. Circle spent more than a billion in 2024 in distribution costs, most of which went to Coinbase. The biggest concern is whether this might constrain future opportunities. Despite increasing competition, there are many opportunities given USDC is the leading regulated stablecoin. In late 2024 it…

Republican members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee have sent a letter to federal banking regulators requesting the reversal of policies they claim have impeded financial innovation in digital assets. The letter, addressed to the Chairs or Acting Chairs of the Federal Reserve, FDIC Chairman and OCC, comes after both the OCC and FDIC have already rescinded interpretive letters. The FDIC’s withdrawal was days before the Congressional letter was sent. The digital assets letter was one of several sent to regulators, including the SEC, asking them to rollback moves under the Biden administration. The digital assets letter specifically calls on the Federal Reserve to rescind…