- ParaFi Capital is tokenizing a portion of its $1.2-billion venture capital fund using the Avalanche blockchain.
- Tokenization is gaining popularity in the financial world, with major players like BlackRock and a projected $5 trillion market by 2030.
ParaFi Capital, a digital asset management firm, has introduced tokenization in its investment operations by offering a minority stake in its $ 1.2 billion venture capital fund through the Avalanche blockchain. The Securitize platform facilitates the tokenization process, allowing the partial tokenization of the fund to be traded.
Tokenization meets private markets 🤝
Alternative asset management firm with $1B+ in AUM expands its L1 blockchain footprint.
ParaFi has tapped Securitize, a tokenization giant managing $950M+ in investments, to tokenize an interest in one of its venture funds on Avalanche.… pic.twitter.com/zn0D3r8Kuf
— Avalanche 🔺 (@avax) September 12, 2024
Through tokenization of ownership stakes, ParaFi Capital seeks to make investments more accessible. Every token corresponds to a portion of the asset belonging to the fund. This model makes it easier for small investors to access markets that used to be dominated by large institutions or high-net-worth individuals. The ability to trade ownership stakes on digital platforms offers increased liquidity and efficiency in managing these assets.
Avalanche Blockchain Powers Fund Tokenization Initiative
The fund tokenization by ParaFi Capital comes after the firm raised $120 million in August from investors such as Theta Capital Management and Accolade Partners. In addition, the firm has made strategic investments in the Securitize platform and Avalanche blockchain, reflecting its dedication to expanding the use of blockchain in finance.
Avalanche was chosen for this project because it is EVM compatible, has fast transaction finality and low fees. It also has a growing ecosystem of tokenized assets, which makes it a suitable partner for ParaFi’s tokenization.
Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, shared his excitement about the partnership, stating that this would help ParaFi to grow its network through this initiative. The Avalanche tokenization ecosystem has been continuously expanding, with recent additions such as a $419 million on-chain fund by Franklin Templeton and a $50 million Vista initiative by the Avalanche Foundation to promote asset tokenization on the network.
However, ParaFi Capital is not the only fund manager that sees the possibility of using blockchain in the management of funds. In 2023, BlackRock, one of the largest asset managers in the world, introduced its BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) on the Ethereum blockchain. This fund tokenizes conventional assets, such as US Treasurys and cash, which is another example of how tokenization is used in conventional finance.
Tokenized Securities Market Shows Rapid Growth and Potential
According to data from Dune Analytics, by September 11th, the number of tokenized securities had crossed $1. 6 billion, marking an 11% rise in the last month. Tokenized securities are slowly emerging as a new market with the possibility of expanding in the future. Citi estimates that the tokenization market could grow to $5 trillion by 2030 due to blockchain integration in finance.
Securitize, which facilitates over $950 million in tokenized investments, has partnered with several high-profile companies, including BlackRock and KKR. Earlier this year, ParaFi participated in a $47 million funding round for Securitize, which was led by BlackRock. This investment underscores the growing interest from major players in the financial world in the tokenization of assets.
McKinsey & Company reported that the tokenized asset market is expected to reach $2 trillion by 2030 despite a slow start. Similarly, the Global Financial Markets Association and Boston Consulting Group estimate the global value of tokenized illiquid assets could hit $16 trillion by 2030. Even more conservative estimates suggest the market could grow to $5 trillion within the next decade
Recognizing the potential, many companies are making moves into the tokenization space. Goldman Sachs, for example, has announced plans to launch three new tokenization products later this year, driven by growing demand from clients.