Preface
In recent years, the craze for generative AI technology has swept the world, but distributed ledger technology (DLT) has quietly opened up new application scenarios in the field of financial services. Through the innovative technology of fund tokenization, the many advantages of DLT have been unprecedentedly exerted in the field of asset management. This technology can not only enhance value creation and increase transparency, but also simplify transaction processing. With the combination of the automatic execution capability of smart contracts and DLT, fund tokenization brings huge potential value to financial institutions and investors.
This article will comprehensively explore the technical principles of fund tokenization, the current status of the industry, future development prospects, and how financial institutions can seize this opportunity.
Executive Summary
The core value of fund tokenization
Fund tokenization is a profound change in the field of asset management, which can be called the "third revolution in asset management". By representing fund ownership in the form of digital tokens on the blockchain, fund tokenization creates the following core values for the industry:
Maximizing investor returns: Instant settlement and lower transaction costs will generate approximately $100 billion in additional returns per year for mutual fund investors worldwide.
Wider investment groups: Tokenized funds lower the investment threshold and provide more flexible investment options for virtual asset holders and traditional investors.
Business innovation for financial institutions: Fund tokenization provides asset management companies and wealth management companies with opportunities to develop new products, optimize distribution and enhance customer experience.
Market potential and growth trends
By the end of 2024, the assets under management (AUM) of tokenized funds are expected to exceed $2 billion. In the next 12 to 18 months, as regulated on-chain currencies (such as stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and central bank digital currencies) become more popular, the demand for tokenized funds will grow significantly. By 2030, the assets under management of tokenized funds may reach $600 billion or even higher.
Key turning points for the industry
We predict that tokenized funds will usher in a critical turning point in industry development in the next 12 to 18 months. Early adopters will gain significant advantages by grabbing market share and building brand recognition, while subsequent entrants will need to innovate in niche areas. To drive industry growth, financial institutions need to establish a clear regulatory framework, unified technical standards and global interoperability.
Technical principles and application scenarios of fund tokenization
What is fund tokenization?
Fund tokenization refers to the use of blockchain technology to represent the ownership of a fund as a digital token. These tokens are registered and traded on the blockchain, and their function is similar to the way a traditional transfer agent records fund shares. The implementation of tokenized funds can be achieved through existing unit trusts or fund company entities without changing the existing legal and operational framework.
The two-step transformation process of tokenization
The transformation process of fund tokenization is divided into two stages:
Blockchain registration of fund shares: enabling instant transfer of ownership.
Invest in other tokenized assets: such as tokenized bonds and real estate assets.
Completing the first step unlocks significant value, paving the way for future asset tokenization.
Advantages of fund tokenization
All-weather trading: Investors can conduct secondary market transfers at any time.
Lower the investment threshold: allow more investors to participate through shareholding.
Instant settlement and collateral: Realize real-time fund flow under a sound regulatory framework.
ETF-like features
Tokenized funds share many similarities with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including high liquidity, price transparency, and simplified management. However, unlike ETFs, tokenized funds leverage blockchain technology to achieve greater efficiency and flexibility.
Value created for investors and financial institutions
Investor returns
Fund tokenization brings the following four benefits to investors:
Instant Settlement: Unleashing the productivity of locked-up capital, increasing investment returns by approximately $50 billion per year.
Lower Fees: Transaction fees are close to the ETF average (0.09%), saving approximately $33 billion per year.
Interest income: Tokenized funds are easier to lend, generating approximately $12 billion in additional income.
Day Trading Opportunities: Capture intraday fund NAV movements, generating $80 billion to $400 billion in potential gains annually.
Commercialization opportunities for financial institutions
Wealth and asset management firms can achieve revenue growth in five key areas:
Meeting on-chain investment needs: Filling the investment gap of virtual asset holders in real-world assets.
Protect traditional investors: Attract more capital inflows through the popularization of on-chain currencies.
Enhance fund distribution: Attract new investors with fractionalization and instant trading.
Personalized portfolios: Optimizing customer experience through smart contracts.
Improve asset utility: Simplify the process of borrowing and lending using funds as collateral.
What the industry will look like in the next 12 to 18 months
Popularity of on-chain currencies
Regulated on-chain currencies (such as stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and CBDCs) are developing rapidly around the world. The programmability of these currencies and the ability to simultaneously settle with tokenized assets will drive the growth of demand for tokenized funds.
The formation of the flywheel effect
With the participation of virtual asset holders and traditional financial institutions, the growth of tokenized funds will form a flywheel effect. By 2030, the assets under management of tokenized funds may reach 1% of the assets under management of global mutual funds and ETFs.
Global collaboration and standardization
To achieve a frictionless industry, global financial institutions need to collaborate on:
Regulatory clarity: Establish rules such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC).
Operational standardization: ensuring cross-chain interoperability and unified data processes.
Technical interoperability: Enable seamless connectivity between public and private blockchains.
Blueprint for a new capability ecosystem
Modular technology stack
Financial institutions can navigate the complexity of tokenization through a modular technology stack that includes:
Asset layer: manage tokenized asset types.
Solution layer: meeting business needs.
Permission control layer: ensuring compliance.
Infrastructure layer: provides security and scalability.
Compliance and cost efficiency
When it comes to compliance, financial institutions need to address issues such as data privacy, security and disaster recovery. At the same time, development costs can be significantly reduced by leveraging the "permissioned" settings of public blockchains.
Swift action needed
With the growth of tokenized currencies, the financial services industry is on the brink of transformation. Tokenized funds have the potential to generate hundreds of billions of dollars in returns for investors and create new business opportunities for financial institutions.
The next 12 to 18 months will be a critical period for the industry. Financial institutions need to act quickly to seize the opportunity and take a leading position in this emerging space by developing a clear vision, ensuring compliance and technology interoperability.
Summarize
Tokenized funds are the third revolution in the asset management industry. Through fund tokenization, financial institutions can achieve value creation, transparency and efficiency, while investors can enjoy higher returns and more flexible investment options. With the popularization of on-chain currencies and the advancement of global collaboration, tokenized funds will become a core component of future financial services. Financial institutions must act quickly to seize this historic opportunity.