WHAT ARE REAL WORLD ASSETS (RWA)?

May 13

Just 3-5 years ago, the concept of "real assets" was clear-cut - physical items that could be owned such as stocks, gold, and currency. On the other hand, "derivatives" referred to intangible assets like swaps, options, and CFDs that allowed for profit-making. However, the emergence of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology has completely transformed this landscape. Not long ago, cryptocurrencies were seen as a separate entity, often labeled as a risky and unsecured financial scheme. But today, they are being recognized as valuable commodities and even as securities. What's even more fascinating is the rise of a new category - Real World Assets.

💡 Real World Assets are a unique category of financial instruments that are based on blockchain technology.


💹 Real World Assets is a market where real world assets are tokenized on the blockchain. These tokenized assets, which we refer to as real assets, are essentially moving traditional assets into decentralized financial applications. The goal is to leverage technology to potentially lower fees and management costs associated with these assets.


📍 REAL WORLD ASSETS EXAMPLES:

➡️ Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are centralized and backed by real assets. For instance, Tether's USDT is backed by stocks, government bonds, and fiat currencies, and undergoes some level of auditing. This process is known as tokenization, where the value of the collateral is denominated in stablecoins equivalent to fiat money. The pegging ratio is 1:1, meaning that the value of the stablecoin is directly tied to the value of the underlying assets. Any fluctuations in the value of the assets are balanced out by adding more collateral to maintain the stability of the stablecoin.

🔴 One major drawback of this model lies in the vulnerability to fluctuations in exchange rates of the real asset. In the event that stocks experience significant drawdowns of 20-30%, it is essential for the collateral to be able to mitigate this risk. Furthermore, as the stock value increases, Tether continues to issue additional USDT. Traders are already familiar with the challenges of decoupling stablecoins from their corresponding assets, particularly in the case of centralized stablecoins as opposed to algorithmic ones.

➡️ Private lending, specifically in the form of decentralized lending, has seen a significant player emerge in the form of DAO MakerDAO, the issuer of the DAI stablecoin. In a major move, this startup secured a hefty $100 million credit line with a US bank in mid-2022, backed by real assets as collateral. The startup was able to profit from this arrangement with an impressive 3% annual return. It is noteworthy that regulators did not pay attention to this deal.

➡️ Government bonds are a popular choice for investors seeking stability. Some companies have taken this a step further by issuing stablecoins that are backed by government securities. For example, Ondo Finance offers the USDY stablecoin, while Mountain Protocol offers USDM, which is based on Ethereum. These startups manage stablecoins backed by U.S. Treasury bonds, considered one of the most reliable instruments in the market. Investors can also earn passive income of 5% on top of the stability these investments offer.

➡️ Tokenized securities are on the rise, although the market has not yet reached its full potential. Bitfinex exchange is at the forefront of this trend, with their subsidiary launching the first tokenized bonds in October 2023. These bonds offer investors a tempting yield of 10% and a three-year maturity period. In essence, these tokenized securities work much like traditional bonds, where investors trade tokens for a share of the security and receive passive income in return.

🔴 Investors should be intrigued by the inquiry into how the issuer plans to allocate the funds raised and where the profit is being generated from. This question remains unanswered, as the tokenization process is still evolving. By 2024, HSBC, the British bank, is gearing up to introduce a service for managing tokenized bonds. In October 2023, JPMorgan and Barclays, along with investment firm BlackRock, unveiled a platform for transforming shares into digital assets called the Tokenized Collateral Network.

➡️ Green tokens are an emerging trend in the world of digital assets, with artificial intelligence specifically identifying them as a key player in the future. An interesting fact is that KlimaDAO, a startup backed by billionaire Mark Cuban, ultimately did not succeed in its mission to raise funds to incentivize companies to reduce their emissions. Despite this setback, the concept of green investments and tokens is likely to become a prominent tool in the future. This new form of investment may revolutionize the way companies approach sustainability and incentivize environmentally conscious behaviors. Stay tuned for more developments in the world of green tokens.


➡️ Paxos, a startup in the cryptocurrency industry, has made a connection to precious metals through the creation of gold tokens. Pax Gold has successfully replicated the value of physical gold, allowing investors to easily participate in the gold market without the need to purchase actual bullion or deal with brokers and confusing financial instruments like CFDs and swap fees. By purchasing PAXG cryptocurrency, investors can securely store it in a cold wallet, minimizing the risks associated with exchange bankruptcies or broker insolvencies.

➡️ In January 2023, the real estate startup MarketDAO facilitated a $7 million loan in cryptocurrency DAI to a French conglomerate. The loan was backed by mortgage bonds worth $40 million in US dollars. While this practice is still inconsistent, it marks the beginning of a promising trend in the real estate industry.

➡️ Paintings, sculptures, and other works of art, as well as collectibles, have long been valued for their beauty and uniqueness. The original concept behind NFTs was to revolutionize ownership by tying it to the blockchain, thereby ensuring copyright protection. In 2021-2022, we witnessed the initial steps towards digitizing and transferring paintings onto the blockchain. The future of this trend remains uncertain, but the concept has proven to be functional and shows promise for the art world.

🔴 The prospects for Real World Assets are significant and promising. However, accurately assessing these prospects is currently difficult as the tool is still in development and has not yet found its niche. Several factors are necessary for its success.

1️⃣ Firstly, there needs to be greater user engagement in cryptocurrency and digital technologies. Despite the widespread availability of the internet, not everyone has sufficient knowledge about these topics, let alone blockchain technology.

2️⃣ Secondly, there needs to be real interest and potential benefits from the tool. This can manifest in various ways, such as generating profit or simplifying certain actions. For example, the tool could speed up data transfers, protect copyrights, and make it more accessible for everyday users. Users must see the usefulness of the tool for it to be successful.


📍 CONCLUSION
Currently, the reality is that the global market is valued at hundreds of trillions of dollars, a figure that the cryptocurrency market cannot compete with. For instance, as of 2020 estimates, the worldwide real estate market is valued at approximately $326 trillion in US dollars. According to RWA.xyz, the funds locked in blockchain technology total $4.5 billion, with just over $500 million in loans issued. However, the revolution of Real World Assets technology is on the horizon. In the next 1-2 years, this tool will begin gaining traction among the masses, similar to the rise of artificial intelligence in 2023. It is predicted that in 5 years, RWA technology will reach its peak of popularity.

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