Ripple Labs announced a tokenized money market fund launch in collaboration with Archax and a UK-based asset manager Abrdn on the XRP ledger. The initiative is a significant step in the progression of tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) and the growth of institution-based decentralized finance (DeFi) for the Ripple ecosystem.
According to a Monday, November 25, 2024 press release, the pioneering tokenized money market fund on the XRP ledger is part of a £3.8 billion abrdn Liquidity Fund (LUX) and was facilitated by the Ripple and Archax partnership. The statement revealed that “Archax, the first FCA regulated digital asset exchange, broker and custodian, has provided access to a money market fund from UK asset manager abide in a tokenized form on the XRP Ledger.”
A Crowded Tokenized Money Market Fund Space
The initiative, which demonstrates an ongoing partnership between Ripple and Archax, aims to enhance efficiency and cost savings in capital markets by taking advantage of the XRPL ledger infrastructure. As per the press statement, Ripple Labs will tokenize $5 million on Abrdn’s LUX fund as part of its allocation into RWAs on the XPR ledger via numerous asset managers.
Suggesting that broad adoption of digital securities would define the next evolution of financial market infrastructure, Abrdn Senior Investment Manager Duncan Moir added that “Real benefits are to be had from leveraging the efficiency of moving the end-to-end investment and cash settlement process on-chain.” According to a recent McKinsey report, the tokenized money market fund space is gaining traction with over $1 billion in assets placed under their management, with predictions of reaching at least $16 trillion by 2030.
The Growing Role of Tokenization of Real-World Assets
The Growing Role of Tokenization of Real-World Assets
Ripple enters a crowded tokenized money market fund space where market leader BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund boasts at least $443.9 million in assets under their management. The other competitors that Ripple will be contending with in the RWA space include Stellar and Ethereum, where there is a total of $3.07 billion in tokenized funds and $386.2 million in RWA assets, according to data from Dune Analytics. Additionally, there are government securities such as commodities and money market funds that are mainly tokenized RWAs at $2.28 billion and $1.14 billion, respectively.
The partnership between Ripple and Archax to enter the tokenized money market fund highlights the growing role of the tokenization of real-world assets. The XRP ledger joins leading blockchains like Avalanche and Ethereum in the emerging RWA tokenization space. As the XPRL network continues to grow and more institutional players enter the space, Ripple Labs aims to facilitate the processes by helping streamline settlement and operational processes by enhancing scalability and reducing transaction costs in addition to compliance capabilities. Ripple expects the added advantages will make XPRL the more attractive choice for institutions considering joining blockchains for their real-world applications.
XPRL’s Privileged Position in a Growing In-Chain Economy
Several developments currently show XRPL’s privileged positioning as far as the tokenized money market fund and RWAs go. For example, SG-FORGE, the crypto arm of Societe Generale, recently announced an intention to use the XRPL ecosystem to extend its EUR CoinVerticle Stablecoin. Additionally, OpenEden has leveraged XRP Ledger to grow its tokenization platform using a $10 million investment via US Treasury bills.
The new addition of the Abrdn tokenized money market fund signifies XRPL’s growing influence within the RWA tokenization market. Commenting on the development, RippleX Senior Vice President Markus Infanger stated, “There is no question that the on-chain economy is gaining traction and [XRPL] is excited to seize the incredible opportunity represented by blockchain and digital assets technology to deliver utility at scale.”
Conclusion
The launch of a Ripple tokenized money market fund is a bold statement on the position that Ripple Labs is assuming within the blockchain technology space and broader financial markets. By offering a platform that facilitates reduced costs, faster settlement speeds, and innovative financial tools, the Ripple and Archax partnership with Abrdn is proof that blockchain has the potential to continue disrupting the traditional financial markets. The transformation of XRPL’s position to a potential frontrunner in the world of tokenized assets will further solidify to make Ripple Labs the probable cornerstone of blockchain-based finance.
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