The concept of buying and holding U.S. Treasury bills (T-Bills) through digital tokens are gaining momentum, and Abu Dhabi is jumping ship, to be a part of a growing trend — tokenization.
Abu Dhabi-based companies Realize and Neovision Wealth Management recently launched the Realize T-BILLS Fund, an investment vehicle that lets investors hold T-Bills as digital assets on the blockchain.
This fund buys units from trusted U.S. Treasury ETFs — like BlackRock’s iShares and State Street’s SPDR — and converts them into secure, tradable tokens called $RBILL.
What Is the Realize T-BILLS Fund?
It’s fascinating to think that when you own part of the U.S. Treasury bill that you can view and manage from your smartphone, day or night. The Realize T-BILLS Fund does precisely that by taking stable U.S. government bonds, or T-Bills, and making them digital through a process called tokenization.
According to Realize co-founder Dominik Schiener, the fund aims to “bring fungible assets onchain.” T-Bills are already known as some of the most stable investments, often yielding around 5% annually, and now they’re available to a broader audience on blockchain.
Unlike purchasing individual T-Bills, which must be renewed every few months as they mature, Realize’s approach makes life simpler. By buying shares in ETFs holding these T-Bills, investors avoid constant fees and management costs associated with frequent repurchasing.
According to Dr. Ryan Lemand, CEO of Neovision, this approach “makes sense” for streamlining costs while still offering the benefits of stable government-backed assets.
Why Tokenize T-Bills?
Imagine the stability of U.S. Treasury bills combined with the flexibility of cryptocurrency — this is essentially what tokenized T-Bills offer. By turning T-Bills into blockchain tokens, they become highly accessible, liquid, and tradable worldwide.
Tokenized T-Bills are stored on public blockchains, and represent safe, yield-generating investments that anyone can access.
This fund, the first of its kind in the Middle East, opens up U.S. Treasury bills to investors who may otherwise face challenges accessing U.S. markets.
BlackRock, a financial giant, pioneered similar efforts with its tokenized fund BUIDL, which launched on Ethereum and now has a market cap of $530 million.
Advantages of Tokenized T-Bills
Tokenized T-Bills combine the security of traditional finance with the speed and accessibility of blockchain. Here’s why they’re gaining traction:
Tokenized T-Bills are like digital cash, instantly transferable across borders. Imagine wanting to invest in T-Bills from Europe or Asia — traditionally, this could involve high fees and multiple intermediaries. With tokens, you can move your assets easily and affordably from anywhere.
Traditional T-Bills are limited by banking hours and geographic restrictions, but tokenized T-Bills can be traded 24/7. For investors used to crypto, the ability to manage assets at any time without waiting for the next business day is invaluable.
Blockchain provides an added layer of security. Transactions are recorded on a transparent, unchangeable ledger, ensuring your assets are secure and easily verifiable. You don’t have to rely on any single bank or institution, which reduces the risk of fraud or loss.
By purchasing shares in ETFs, the fund can avoid transaction costs associated with buying individual Treasury bills. Investors can also skip the constant reinvestment process, making this approach more straightforward and cost-effective.
Tokenization Opens Doors to New Financial Possibilities
With Abu Dhabi’s Realize T-BILLS Fund paving the way, more regions and institutions could begin exploring tokenized assets
Dr. Lemand, the CEO of Neovision, believes this is just the beginning.
“Tokenized ETFs,” he says, “are a powerful tool to make Treasury bills accessible to a wider audience.” In regions where investing in U.S. markets is complicated or limited, tokenized T-Bills present a straightforward solution, providing access to reliable, low-risk investments on a blockchain platform.
Asset Managers Embrace Tokenization
The enthusiasm around tokenized assets isn’t limited to Realize and Neovision; it’s part of a larger trend capturing the attention of financial giants worldwide.
Asset managers like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton have already ventured into the tokenized market, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has predicted massive growth in tokenized assets by 2030. BCG’s projections suggest that tokenized real-world assets could reach $16 trillion in market value by then, with the tokenized fund sector alone estimated to reach $600 billion if it follows similar growth trajectories as exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Institutions recognize the potential for tokenized assets to revolutionize finance. BlackRock’s tokenized BUIDL fund on Ethereum, for example, has reached a market cap of $530 million, investing in assets like U.S. Treasury bills and repurchase agreements. Franklin Templeton also manages a tokenized money market fund, blending traditional finance with the transparency and efficiency of blockchain.
What Are We Doing at TokenFi?
TokenFi is redefining accessibility in the world of blockchain with its by making it easier than ever to tokenize real-world assets (RWAs) and data.
Our upcoming RWA Tokenization Module is designed to bring the vast potential of tokenization to everyone — not just those with coding expertise or deep blockchain knowledge.
In addition to our RWA Tokenization Module, we’re building tools that bridge the gap between users and blockchain technology. With TokenFi’s Token Launcher, users can create fully-audited tokens (ERC-20, ERC-721, and ERC-1155) on leading EVM-compatible blockchains in as little as 1–2 minutes, all without any coding skills required.
For users who prefer messaging apps, our TokenFi QuickLaunch Bot enables token creation across top EVM chains directly through Telegram and Discord.
