Tokenisation: How real-world assets are going digital

Written by Milagros E

Posted on March 11th, 2024

Dive into the world of crypto with our guide on tokenisation, demystifying the process of turning real-world assets into digital tokens.

Have you ever heard of the concept of tokenisation? Imagine a new world of investment opportunities, where real estate, art, gold, and even stocks can be seamlessly represented as digital tokens. Tokenisation is the future of investing, and it’s happening right now!

Unlike the wild nature often associated with traditional cryptocurrencies, tokenising real-world assets introduces a layer of stability and intrinsic value to the digital asset sphere. This article guides you through the complex geography of tokenisation, breaking down its core concepts, benefits, and the transformative impact it holds. 

What is tokenisation?

At its core, tokenisation is a revolutionary concept that brings real-world assets into the digital domain. Imagine transforming tangible items like real estate, artwork, or even your favourite music into digital tokens on a blockchain. These tokens act as digital representations, creating a bridge between physical assets and the virtual world of crypto.

Tokenisation is turning assets or rights into tokens. What are tokens? tokens are digital representations of assets, rights, or utilities that transform how we perceive and interact with value. Unlike traditional physical currency, tokens exist exclusively in the digital space, taking advantage of the security and transparency of blockchain technology.

Each token corresponds to a share, a piece, or a right associated with a specific asset. These digital tokens enable the ownership, transfer, and sometimes even the fractionalisation of traditionally illiquid or high-value assets. Let’s break this down:

- Asset representation: Traditional assets, such as real estate, art, or gold, have a physical existence. Tokenisation converts these physical assets into digital tokens, making them tradable on blockchain platforms.

- Digital tokens: These tokens are like digital certificates, representing ownership or rights to a portion of the actual asset. They are securely stored on a blockchain, ensuring transparency and immutability.

- Ownership and transfer: When you own tokens, you hold a digital stake in the underlying asset. The blockchain facilitates secure and transparent transactions.

- Fractionalisation: One significant advantage of tokenisation is the ability to divide assets into smaller fractions. This means multiple people can own a portion of a high-value asset, making investing more accessible.

Why tokenisation matters

In the traditional world we know, assets like real estate, stocks, and commodities have long been bound by physical and bureaucratic constraints. Buying, selling, or transferring ownership often involves intermediaries, paperwork, and lengthy settlement periods.

That is not needed anymore. Imagine tokenisation as a digital wizard, turning physical and tangible assets into divisible and tradeable units on a blockchain. This process brings several advantages that echo across different domains.

Democratising asset ownership

Tokenisation tears down the barriers to entry for various asset classes, allowing fractional ownership. Instead of needing substantial capital to buy an entire property or share, individuals can invest in fractions of them. This democratisation broadens access, empowering smaller investors to participate in previously exclusive markets.

Liquidity

Traditional assets are often not liquid, meaning they cannot be quickly bought or sold without lowering their market value. Tokenisation enables enabling fractional ownership. This divisibility facilitates the creation of secondary markets where tokenised assets can be traded 24/7. Investors gain the ability to exit or enter positions more efficiently, improving overall market liquidity.

Transparency and trust

Blockchain, the underlying technology for tokenisation, introduces transparency into the ownership and transactional history of assets. Every transfer, division, or change in ownership is recorded on an immutable log. This transparency builds trust, reduces fraud, and ensures the authenticity of asset ownership.

Efficiency

Tokenisation simplifies the process of buying, selling, and transferring assets. Like it’s usual in the crypto exchange universe, transactions can occur almost instantly, facilitated by smart contracts—self-executing contracts with predefined rules. This system is more efficient and less bureaucratic, allowing faster and cheaper transactions.

Unlocking new investment avenues

By tokenising a diverse array of assets, new crypto investment opportunities come to light. Investors can create portfolios that mix traditional and tokenised assets, promoting innovation in investment strategies.

Integration with DeFi

The rise of decentralised finance (DeFi) is closely related to tokenisation. Tokenised assets seamlessly integrate into DeFi protocols, unlocking new lending, borrowing, and yield farming possibilities. 

Final thoughts

Blockchain technology has evolved to include real-world assets through tokenisation. This is a significant shift in the world of crypto. Tokenisation democratises investment and blockchain's transparency ensures trust, reducing fraud and simplifying transactions.

As regulatory frameworks evolve and technology advances, tokenisation’s role will likely grow. It represents empowerment, transparency, and endless possibilities—a transformative force in the ongoing finance history.

Token.com stands as a gateway, providing users effortless access to the world of tokenised real-world assets and the best crypto to invest in, making the complexities of asset ownership and investment more accessible than ever before.

Learn more about token.com here

Please note: Investing in cryptoassets is risky. Due to the volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors run the risk of losing their funds when they make an investment. Returns from cryptoasset investing are not guaranteed, therefore users should always be aware of the risks.