Mark Wightman’s Post

Next step in our mission to provide tailored solutions to our clients so they can fund, grow, and protect their businesses for the long run.

Lazard Ventures into Tokenized Funds with Bitfinex Securities and SkyBridge Invest Traditional finance meets digital innovation as Lazard (NYSE: LAZ), a global financial services leader with $245 billion AUM, partners with Bitfinex Securities and SkyBridge Invest to launch tokenized funds. This initiative, under Kazakhstan’s regulated framework, aims to extend Lazard’s funds to a broader retail audience, making assets like global and emerging market equities more accessible. Tokenization as a Transformative Force "We are a B2B investment firm, and this is a good way for us to service retail investors," noted Matthias Kruse, Managing Director at Lazard, highlighting that tokenization brings efficiency, liquidity, and lower operational costs to asset management. Tokenization is rapidly gaining traction, with assets like bonds, credit, and funds now being placed on blockchain for faster settlement and increased efficiency compared to traditional processes. Competitive Landscape Lazard's venture into tokenized funds places it at the forefront of asset management innovation, joining firms like BlackRock and HSBC already in the tokenization space. While ARK Invest has not yet entered this field, firms embracing tokenization are positioned to leverage enhanced liquidity, streamlined operations, and faster transactions as key advantages. Lazard’s partnership with Bitfinex Securities could establish it as a market leader, showcasing the integration of digital asset solutions within traditional finance. Industry Forecast Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is forecasted to become a multi-trillion-dollar market. Global reports from McKinsey, BCG, and 21Shares underline its potential to reshape asset ownership and investing. Lazard’s move exemplifies the strategic shift of traditional firms toward the digital asset economy, unlocking new opportunities for retail investors and pioneering advancements in the financial services industry. #DigitalAssets #Tokenization #Lazard #BitfinexSecurities #SkyBridgeInvest #AssetManagement #Blockchain #FinanceInnovation #RWAMarket #Investment #ARKInvest

"BlackRock’s growing confidence in the digital assets market is also highlighted by its backing for Securitize, joining Tradeweb and Hamilton Lane in a $47mm fundraising round for the platform, which uses digital tokens to represent assets." As Will Schmitt and Brooke Masters write today in the Financial Times, BlackRock's long-term bet is to speed up settlement of deals and transfer of their funds, making them more attractive to investors who want access to their money immediately. Highly recommend reading the full article to understand how the world's largest asset manager is tapping into tokenization technology to dive deeper into the digital asset space:

The Forbes article discusses how BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has shifted its perspective on digital assets. Initially skeptical, BlackRock has now embraced digital assets, particularly cryptocurrencies, due to growing demand from institutional clients and the recognition of potential returns. The firm sees digital assets as a key part of the financial future, largely influenced by the increasing institutional interest and the growing infrastructure around cryptocurrencies. The $4 trillion referenced in the article represents the massive amounts of liquidity that could potentially flow into digital assets if institutional adoption continues. This move by BlackRock signals a broader shift within traditional finance, where skepticism is being replaced by cautious optimism, driven by real client demand and the evolution of regulatory frameworks that make digital assets more viable for mainstream investment. https://lnkd.in/g8zMs4Tq

📰 Forbes reports on BlackRock’s foray into tokenization: BUIDL attracted “$240M in deposits during its first week, with Ondo Finance contributing a sizable portion.” 🙌 Ondo Finance has contributed $221M or approximately 48% of the Total Value Locked (TVL) driven by demand for $OUSG after rolling out new enhancements like 24/7 Instant Mints and Redemptions! 🙏 Thanks for the mention Natalia Karayaneva. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/gxg_nKjx

Tokenization in the fund industry: why it is the future but not yet the present, and a possible solution. My latest article on Fundiligence. Tokenization has the potential to revolutionize Luxembourg’s financial services sector and offering opportunities for fractional ownership, operational efficiencies, and liquidity. However, under the current regulatory framework, these benefits remain largely more theoretical than practical for the Luxembourg’s fund industry. In this article, I analyze three key use cases - RAIFs, UCITS funds, and real estate assets and a potential solution - to understand the opportunities and challenges of tokenization.

Very important precedent. It also highlights how early we are in a journey. Several cornerstone issues should be addressed: 1. Assets. (Bonds in that case, but all financial assets eventually) should be natively issued on-chain. With that comes a series of technical (like on what chain) and regulatory issues. 2. Stable coins should mass adopted in order to transact. 3. If shares=tokens do tokens=shares? If yes, that kills most of the new economy, if no, why shares (and financial assets broadly) follow current regulatory regime. What we can take from this for sure, is that all current “crypto” market is still in a “dream and hope” stage.

THE DEATH OF ETFS MAY BE SOMEWHAT PREMATURE 🧛♂️ Interesting thoughts from the CEO of Schroder’s this week, who predicted that the introduction of digital wallets will see the end of the fund structure, which would include ETFs. Whilst this might seem radical, we think it’s something which has merit. The Asset Management industry is no different than any other industry in that technology forces change. Now, whilst many in the industry might resist that change kicking and screaming (our mutual fund friends, for example), it would be naïve to believe everything will stay the same forever, right❓ Also in the news: Invesco EMEA, First Trust Global Portfolios, ARK Invest Europe, WisdomTree in Europe, HSBC Asset Management, Fidelity Investments, PT Asset Management, LLC, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., Obra Capital, Strive, Global X ETFs, Olga De Tapia, Peter Harrison, Sean Hagerty, Matt Maillet, Audrey Belloff, Dave Mazza, Tom Stephens CLICK to read more about this  👇 Stay ahead and informed subscribing to our global weekly newsletter covering the ETF and Digital Assets industry. BLACKWATER #etfs  #etp #crypto #mutualfunds #bitcoin #digitalassets #assetmanagement #etfconsulting #etfrecruiting #etfPR #etfcontentcreation https://shorturl.at/esASW

How Australian Fund Managers Can Compete in the Digital Asset space. In a recent webinar hosted on ausbiz, Michael Bacina, and Nick Bishop CFA delved into an increasingly pivotal discussion in the financial industry right now: the rise of decentralised finance (DeFi) and its implications for fund managers globally. Despite its potential to revolutionise investment strategies, it appears that Australian fund managers are not capitalising on this opportunity as quickly as their counterparts in the US, such as Blackrock and Fidelity, who are already reaping significant benefits from the space. Key Insights from the Webinar: Understanding DeFi: We provided a primer on the DeFi ecosystem, highlighting how it can provide Australian Asset managers unrivalled access with more utility than spot ETFs. Actionable Strategies: The webinar covered tangible strategies for Australian fund managers to navigate and incorporate digital assets into their wholesale portfolios, ensuring they are not left behind before the laws of diffusion make it too late to make gains in the space. Competitive Edge: We discussed how leveraging DeFi could enhance portfolio performance and maintain competitiveness on the global stage, particularly against US managers who are currently leading the charge. Why This Matters: The global landscape of investment is swiftly evolving to "on-chain", with digital assets and DeFi at the forefront of this transformation. While US fund managers like Blackrock and Fidelity are already making significant strides in this arena, there's a pressing need for Australian fund managers to bridge this gap and explore the untapped potential of DeFi to enhance their market position. Watch the Full Webinar Below: The webinar is not just a call to action; it's a comprehensive guide for Australian fund managers to navigate and thrive in the DeFi ecosystem. As the financial landscape continues to evolve, the opportunity for growth and innovation in the DeFi space cannot be overlooked. I invite you to watch the session and join the conversation on how we, as a community, can leverage these insights to ensure Australian fund managers are not only competitive but also leading in the dynamic world of digital asset investment. #DeFi #FundManagement #DigitalAssets #AusBiz #InvestmentStrategies #FinancialInnovation

this is the beginning of the tokenization of the capital markets , no more paper certificates at clearing agents / transfer agents / dtc / dwac etc ... people will own stock via NFTs in crypto wallets 🔐 #blackrock #defi #stockmarket