What is Asset Tokenization? A Comprehensive Guide

March 17, 2023

Blockchain Basics Industry Applications and dApps

What is Asset Tokenization? A Comprehensive Guide

Asset tokenization is the process by which an issuer creates digital tokens on a distributed ledger or blockchain. Read more about what is asset...

Written By

Shardeum Content Team

Home » Blog » Blockchain Basics » What is Asset Tokenization? A Comprehensive Guide

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Asset tokenization unlocks the potential of previously illiquid and inaccessible assets. By turning tangible assets into digital tokens, asset tokenization is transforming the traditional investment landscape and opening up new opportunities for investors from all sorts of financial backgrounds. But ‘what is asset tokenization?’, you ask? Let’s find out!

What is Asset Tokenization?

So, what is asset tokenization? It is transferring the value of a physical asset into a digital token stored on a blockchain or distributed ledger. In simpler terms, it digitizes real-world assets, such as real estate, artwork, or various forms of securities, into a token that can be traded on blockchain-based platforms. Asset tokenization enables fractional ownership, meaning an asset can be divided into smaller parts, allowing investors to buy and sell fractions of an asset rather than owning it entirely.

This process unlocks liquidity for and gives access to a wider range of investment opportunities, creating new avenues for investment and enabling smaller investors to participate in larger assets previously out of reach. We do hope this answers the question ‘what is asset tokenization?’

How does Asset Tokenization Work?

Now that we are aware of ‘what is asset tokenization?’, let’s jump to how it works! So, asset tokenization is a complex process that involves multiple steps. Here is a detailed breakdown of how asset tokenization works:

Asset selection and evaluation: The first step in asset tokenization is to select an asset and evaluate its value and ownership structure. This could be a physical asset such as real estate, art, or a company’s equity.
Asset ownership verification: The ownership of the asset is verified through legal documentation and processes to ensure that the asset owner has the legal right to tokenize the asset.
Token creation: Digital tokens represent asset ownership once the asset is verified. These tokens are created using a self-executing smart contract operating on a blockchain network.
Token distribution: The tokens are then distributed to investors who have invested in the asset. This is done through an initial coin offering (ICO), where investors can purchase the tokens using cryptocurrency or fiat currency.
Trading: The tokens can be traded on a secondary market, letting investors buy and sell fractional asset ownership. The value of the tokens is determined by market demand and supply.
Asset management: The asset is managed by the asset owner or a third-party asset manager. The token holders have the right to receive a share of the profits or income generated by the asset.
Regulatory compliance: Asset tokenization must comply with local regulatory requirements and securities laws. The tokens may be subject to regulation by securities regulators in certain jurisdictions.
Security and transparency: Asset tokenization provides high security and transparency. The ownership of the tokens is recorded on a decentralized, immutable ledger, ensuring that the asset cannot be tampered with or duplicated.

In summary, asset tokenization is a multi-step process that involves selecting an asset, creating tokens to represent ownership of the asset, distributing the tokens to investors, trading the tokens on a secondary market, managing the asset, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

What are the Types of Tokenized Assets?

Asset tokenization examples include quite a few types, which are:

Fungible Asset Tokenization

Fungible assets are interchangeable and divisible, meaning that one unit of the asset is equivalent to any other unit of the asset. Fungible assets that can be tokenized include currencies, commodities, and securities. Fungible asset tokenization allows for fractional ownership and trading of the asset on a secondary market.

1. Interchangeable

Fungible tokens are interchangeable, meaning that each token is identical to another, and can be exchanged for another token of the same type without any difference in value.

2. Divisible

Fungible tokens can be divided into smaller units, allowing for fractional ownership and trading.

Non-Fungible Asset Tokenization

Non-fungible assets are unique and non-interchangeable, meaning that each unit of the asset has its unique value. Non-fungible assets that can be tokenized include real estate, artwork, and collectibles. Non-fungible asset tokenization allows for fractional ownership and trading of unique assets.

1. Non-Interchangeable

Non-fungible tokens are non-interchangeable, meaning that each token represents a unique asset and cannot be exchanged for another token of the same type.

2. Non-Divisible

Non-fungible tokens are non-divisible, meaning that each token represents a whole unit of the asset and cannot be divided into smaller units.

3. Unique

Non-fungible tokens represent unique assets with their specific value, characteristics, and ownership history.

What are the Advantages of Asset Tokenization?

1. Greater Liquidity

The first of many benefits of asset tokenization is that it can increase liquidity for various assets, including real estate, artwork, and private equity. Asset tokenization can help divide assets into smaller fractions or shares, allowing more investors to participate in ownership. This opens up new investment opportunities for individuals without the resources or access to invest in the entirety of these assets.

Additionally, tokenization allows for assets to be traded on digital marketplaces, which can increase liquidity by providing a more efficient and accessible way to buy and sell assets. Investors can trade tokenized assets 24/7, without intermediaries such as brokers, reducing transaction costs and increasing the speed of transactions.

2. Higher Accessibility

Asset tokenization can increase accessibility to a wider pool of investors who might not otherwise have access to certain assets. The second of many benefits of asset tokenization is that it allows for fractional ownership, meaning investors can buy and own only a portion of an asset rather than buying the entire asset outright. This makes investing in assets that were previously out of reach due to high minimum investment requirements more accessible to a wider range of investors.

Tokenization also allows for assets to be offered on digital marketplaces, which can increase accessibility to investors regardless of their location. This can eliminate barriers to entry for investors who may not have had access to certain types of assets due to geographic restrictions.

3. Transparency

Benefits of asset tokenization also include heightened transparency. Asset tokenization can increase transparency for investors by providing them with a clear view of the underlying assets and their ownership rights. Tokenization allows for creating a digital record or ledger that can provide investors with real-time information about the asset, such as its value, ownership, and history of transactions.

Using asset tokenization, blockchain technology can further enhance transparency by providing a tamper-proof and immutable record of all transactions related to the asset. This means that all transactions can be verified and tracked, which can help to prevent fraud and increase investor trust.

4. Immutability

One of the many benefits of asset tokenization is that it can provide immutability, meaning that once a transaction is recorded on a blockchain, it cannot be altered or removed, creating a permanent record of ownership and transactions. This provides high security and reduces the risks of fraud and error.

Using asset tokenization, blockchain technology can help ensure that an asset’s ownership is clear and cannot be disputed. The blockchain network verifies a token’s ownership, which prevents fraudulent claims of ownership. This can help to reduce the time and cost associated with verifying ownership of an asset.

5. Faster Transactions

Asset tokenization can enable faster and more efficient transactions than traditional asset ownership and transfer methods. Tokenized assets can be traded on digital marketplaces, enabling investors to buy and sell assets quickly and easily without intermediaries such as brokers.

Using asset tokenization, blockchain technology can further increase the speed and efficiency of transactions by enabling near-instant settlement times. This is because asset tokenization-powered blockchain transactions are processed peer-to-peer, without intermediaries, which can help reduce settlement times and associated costs.

Disadvantages of Asset Tokenization

As you learn about ‘what is asset tokenization?’, you must also know about the few disadvantages it has, namely:

1. Not Immune from Cyber–Attacks

Tokens created through asset tokenization are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and other security breaches. While blockchain technology provides high security and immutability, it is not completely immune to attacks. Tokenization platforms and exchanges can be targets of hacking attempts, phishing attacks, and other forms of cyber-attacks that can compromise the security of the platform and the assets held on it.

2. Regulatory Issues

Blockchain-powered asset tokenization is a relatively new and evolving concept, just like all other segments of the crypto space, so regulatory frameworks are still being developed and refined. In some jurisdictions, the lack of clear and consistent regulations can create uncertainty and risk for investors and issuers. Regulatory issues can also arise when tokenized assets cross borders, creating potential legal and regulatory conflicts. Different jurisdictions may have different regulatory requirements for asset tokenization, which can create compliance challenges for issuers and increase costs.

Conclusion

We do hope this blog has helped you understand ‘what is asset tokenization?’, along with relevant concepts such as its working and benefits of asset tokenization. Asset tokenization converts traditional assets, such as real estate, art, or commodities, into digital tokens that can be traded on asset tokenization blockchain-based platforms. Asset tokenization offers several benefits, including greater liquidity, accessibility, transparency, immutability, and faster transactions, which can provide new opportunities and greater exposure for investors as well as asset owners.

However, asset tokenization still also faces potential challenges, such as vulnerability to cyber-attacks and regulatory uncertainty. To address these challenges, tokenization platforms, issuers, investors, and regulators must work together to establish clear and consistent regulations, implement robust security measures, and promote best practices in the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Tokenization, and How does it Work?

Tokenization is converting traditional assets, such as real estate or commodities, into digital tokens that can be traded on asset tokenization blockchain-based platforms. It involves using smart contracts and asset tokenization blockchain technology to create unique, digital representations of assets that can be divided, traded and tracked securely and transparently.

2. Why is Real-World Asset Tokenization a Game-Changer?

Real-world asset tokenization is a game-changer because it creates new investment opportunities and increases liquidity through fractional ownership, and facilitates faster transactions. It also enables asset owners to unlock value in illiquid assets and expand their investor base.

3. What is a Tokenization Example?

An asset tokenization example would be tokens representing fractional ownership of a real-world asset. The tokens can be traded on an asset tokenization blockchain-based platform, providing investors with greater liquidity and the ability to diversify their portfolios. Asset tokenization examples include tokenized art, other collectibles, and commodities such as gold or oil.