Russian Banking Giant T-Bank Rolls Out Tokenized Investments

Key Takeaways

• T-Bank has launched a blockchain-based tokenization initiative.
• The bank’s tokenized offerings include bonds, art investments, and scholarship programs.
• Unlike traditional RWA tokenization, T-Bank’s initiative is centered on providing services rather than tradable assets.

Russian banking giant T-Bank (formerly Tinkoff Bank) kicked off its blockchain-powered tokenized investment initiative.

This initiative aims to introduce a range of tokenized financial products and services that are currently unavailable in traditional markets.

The tokenized investments will use smart contracts to automate transactions, providing a new class of financial products tailored to qualified investors initially, with plans for broader access by 2025.

Tokenized Investments for a Broader Market

According to a local media outlet , the new initiative will offer qualified investors access to a full-fledged secondary market featuring market makers, continuous liquidity, instant order execution, and detailed product reporting.

Additionally, educational courses will be provided to help investors navigate this new market.

The tokenized investment initiative is part of Russia’s growing digital financial assets (DFA) ecosystem.

DFAs, unlike real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, focus on offering services rather than tradable products.

These assets, issued through blockchain technology, are restricted to private blockchains rather than public networks and are issued by operators approved by the Bank of Russia, such as Sber, Alfa-Bank, Masterchain, and now T-Bank.

T-Bank secured regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Russia to launch DFAs in March.

T-Bank’s Pilot Tokenized Investment Line

T-Bank has launched eight pilot tokenized products with potential yields of up to 27.5% per year. These offerings are issued on the Atomyze platform. Some of the services include:

• T-Bank Loans: Tokenized loans are structured as shares in a mutual investment fund (MIF). Investors hold a portion of the portfolio and receive interest payments into their “smart accounts” once accrued.
• Smart Floater: A tokenized bond with a floating interest rate. When the Central Bank tightens its credit policy, the yield on the smart floater increases. Even with a reduced key rate, investors are guaranteed a minimum return of 23.5% annually.
• Art Tokens: These tokens allow artists to digitize their artwork and earn income from its sale. While similar to NFTs, these tokens come with a fixed lower return, ensuring that investors will receive their funds back even if the artwork doesn’t sell.
• Scholarship Tokens: Focused on student scholarships, these tokens enable students to partner with university programs supported by T-Bank and other Russian corporations. The invested funds are used to provide scholarships to top-performing students.