RWA market still has one big hurdle to jump before it can take off

As a researcher who has spent years navigating the complex worlds of both TradFi and DeFi, I firmly believe that the future of real-world asset (RWA) adoption lies at the intersection of these two domains. However, the challenge of verifying and authenticating these assets on a massive scale remains a significant hurdle.


In the world of blockchain, it’s becoming more common for people to use real-world assets (like stocks or property), and this trend is creating a logical intersection between conventional banking (traditional finance, or TradFi) and financial systems that operate without central authority (decentralized finance, or DeFi).

To achieve widespread acceptance and broaden the range of available investment options with Real Asset-Backed Securities (RWAs), the sector faces a substantial challenge: finding a method to validate and authenticate these assets in a way that is efficient, transparent, and reliable on a large scale.

Expert estimates range from  $10 trillion (Asset Manager 21.co) to $16 trillion (Boston Consulting Group and ADDX) by 2030 for tokenized RWAs, which are projected to become a mammoth industry in years to come. 

Even though the market for tokenized Real World Assets (RWAs) expands, it’s essential to establish sturdy verification processes that maintain both on-chain and off-chain authenticity. This is vital for building investors’ trust and promoting the overall development of the ecosystem.

Current challenges in verifying real-world assets

As a researcher delving into the realm of Real-World Assets (RWAs), I’ve come to appreciate the one-of-a-kind hurdles these assets present in comparison to their digital counterparts. RWAs, encompassing tangible assets like real estate, commodities, or art, necessitate specialized verification methods distinct from those used for digital assets.

In many cases, the processes used to authenticate Renewable Energy Warranties (REWAs) are divided and heavily dependent on various third parties, leading to unnecessary inefficiencies and increasing chances of fraud or ambiguity.

In this field, one significant issue is the absence of standardization. Currently, there’s no common method for validating Return on Warranty Assets (RWAs), which leads to a variety of approaches being used. This diversity in practices might create disagreements among market players.

As a researcher, I’ve observed a notable issue of trust deficiency due to the vulnerability of conventional verification systems that are centered around third parties. These systems can be prone to manipulation or mistakes, which in turn weakens investors’ faith and confidence.

As a researcher, I ponder whether it’s always feasible to guarantee absolute assurance that a third-party provider of custodial management services won’t employ an imprudent staff member who might accidentally misplace or harm the asset. The unpredictability inherent in human behavior makes this a challenging assurance to provide.

Additionally, scaling is another significant hurdle because verifying assets across multiple legal systems, adhering to various legal regulations, and guaranteeing smooth scalability for tokenization systems can be quite complex and challenging.

Historically, secretive dealings regarding derivatives and other financial products in traditional finance (TradFi) have often introduced risk into the market, a phenomenon that was evident before the 2008 financial meltdown.

If there aren’t strong and dependable verification mechanisms in place, the tokenized Retail Wealth Administration (RWA) market might mirror the secrecy and distrust sometimes found in Traditional Finance (TradFi), which could discourage investors from entering this promising new financial industry.

Scalable and transparent verification

In order to tackle these issues, the sector needs to adopt cutting-edge approaches that make use of the distinct advantages offered by blockchain technology and other upcoming technologies. The fundamental qualities of blockchain – permanence, distributed control, and openness – serve as a robust base for creating more trustworthy and adaptable verification mechanisms.

As a crypto investor, I find that linking my digital identity to smart contracts offers a seamless way for assets to be automatically and continuously verified. This reduces the need for centralized intermediaries, thereby decreasing potential risks associated with them.

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As a data analyst, I can’t stress enough the importance of decentralized oracles and third-party auditors in maintaining a seamless connection between off-chain data and on-chain activities. Decentralized oracle networks serve to uphold data authenticity by pooling information from numerous reliable sources, thus increasing its credibility. Meanwhile, external auditors or validators bolster trust by independently verifying that off-chain data is accurately represented on the blockchain.

In addition, implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning for asset authentication noticeably improves the precision and speed of RWA validation procedures. By integrating these technologies with Internet of Things (IoT) devices, AI offers real-time monitoring and verification of physical assets, providing an essential extra layer of trust that gives confidence to both investors and market participants.

Standardizing RWA verification

Moving ahead with verifying Scalable RWA requires setting up a unified system that matches industry norms and adheres to regulations. Creating common standards and procedures for RWA verification decreases risk and enhances cross-border compatibility, offering investors a more seamless and secure journey.

However, it’s simpler to propose such actions than it is to put them into practice. Establishing and enforcing standardized guidelines for asset verification necessitates cooperation among industry groups, regulatory entities, and other involved parties.

By being forward-thinking yet mindful, adopting a strategy that considers the interests of everyone involved could foster progress towards equitable and just guidelines.

As an analyst, I cannot overlook the importance of regulatory aspects in setting up RWA verification systems. Navigating intricate legal landscapes is crucial to our system’s success. Balancing compliance with local and global regulations within a decentralized structure is no easy feat, but it is an essential part of our journey.

One potential solution is establishing self-regulatory organizations that can provide oversight and guidance to market participants, striking a balance between regulatory oversight and industry growth. 

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Key entities like major banks and substantial investment groups significantly influence the formation of such standards. Utilizing their reputation and knowledge, these institutions can contribute to creating advanced blended models, improving the verification procedure whilst maintaining both scalability and openness.

As a collaborative participant in the financial sector, I aim to foster partnerships between established finance and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) entities. By doing so, we can collectively develop robust, interconnected, and compliant systems that uphold the trustworthiness of both on-chain and off-chain transactions.

Employing blockchain technology, decentralized oracles, artificial intelligence, and standardized structures, the Real-World Assets (RWA) market could tackle existing obstacles and realize its full promise, thereby ushering in a period of unprecedented financial advancement and accessibility.

Tomer holds the positions of both Chief Marketing Officer at Kima Network and Investment Director at ChainGPT Labs. In addition to this, he has invested in more than 60 projects as an angel investor, and provides strategic advice for more than a dozen of these ventures.

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2024-10-24 17:33