Latest news with #MaartenHenskens
Crypto Insight
6 days ago
- Business
- Crypto Insight
Asia's tokenization boom is shifting capital away from the West: Expert
Asia's leadership in tokenization is drawing growing attention from global investors, with regulatory clarity in the region attracting capital that was once on the sidelines, according to Maarten Henskens, head of protocol growth at Startale Group. 'We're seeing Western institutions set up Asia-Pacific operations not just to follow capital, but to participate in innovation,' he told Cointelegraph. Henskens pointed out the distinct yet complementary approaches taken by Japan and Hong Kong to advance real-world asset (RWA) adoption. Japan's regulatory framework has been deliberate and forward-looking, establishing a strong foundation of institutional trust. 'MUFG's infrastructure for security token issuance is a good example of how the ecosystem is maturing,' he noted. Japan's Payment Services Act (PSA) also allows trusted stablecoins to hold up to 50% of their reserves in low-risk government bonds and term deposits, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to regulation. Hong Kong, by contrast, has moved swiftly, launching the Ensemble Sandbox as a fast-track regulatory innovation hub. 'While Japan is building long-term depth, Hong Kong is showing how agility can bring experimentation to life,' Henskens said. Tokenized bonds and ETFs drive adoption The rise of tokenized bonds and ETFs is playing a key role in bringing traditional investors into crypto markets. In Japan, real estate security tokens are making previously closed markets accessible to retail investors, sometimes more so than traditional J-REITs. Tokenization streamlines fund administration and increases transparency, allowing asset managers to connect directly with end-users. 'This efficiency, paired with improved transparency, could make these products compelling to traditional investors who might not otherwise enter the crypto space,' Henskens said. He flagged cross-border interoperability as the next major milestone. 'Seamless and compliant movement of tokenized assets across jurisdictions' will be critical for scaling adoption. In Asia, this means linking infrastructure across countries like Japan and Hong Kong, while globally, regulatory frameworks must reflect the technical realities of tokenized finance, especially around settlement, compliance, and custody. Dubai's tokenization push Dubai has been another Asian country making strides in tokenization. The city's regulatory authorities have introduced progressive frameworks that encourage the issuance and trading of tokenized securities, attracting global investors and fintech firms. In May, the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, Dubai's crypto regulator, updated its guidelines to include provisions for RWA tokenization. Lawyer Irina Heaver told Cointelegraph these rules give issuers and exchanges a clear path to launch and trade tokenized real estate assets. Last month, the Dubai Land Department, in collaboration with VARA and top developers, successfully tokenized and sold two apartments, with the entire offering selling out within minutes, according to Heaver. Buyers came from over 35 countries, and notably, 70% were first-time real estate investors in Dubai. 'We're already seeing a network effect: innovation in one jurisdiction sparks progress in another,' Henskens said. 'Different regions may optimize for different outcomes, and that's a strength, not a liability,' he added. Source:
Business Mayor
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Astar's Yoki Legacy will launch on Sony's Soneium blockchain
Astar, a collective driving Web3 adoption originating from Japan, is relaunching its Yoki Origins as Yoki Legacy on Sony's Soneium blockchain. Yoki Origins was digital collectible adventure that launched last year with partners like Casio, Japan Airlines, JR Kyushu Railway Company, Quickswap, Rarible, and others. Now it is called Yoki Legacy. Soneium is Sony's Block Solutions Labs' Layer 2 blockchain. 'As an ecosystem that puts creativity and accessibility at its core, Soneium is the ideal home for Yoki Legacy. We're excited to see the project relaunch on a platform built to support creators and IP-driven innovation' said Maarten Henskens, head of Astar Foundation, in a statement. 'This move reflects our commitment to preserving and growing the Yoki IP, which was originally created and launched by Astar Foundation on Astar zkEVM. By bringing Yoki to Soneium, we're making sure it stays accessible in an ecosystem designed to empower collators, creatives, and content built around intellectual property.' Initially deployed on Japan's leading blockchain ecosystem Astar Network, Yoki Origins was successful, driving strong engagement and high volumes of on-chain transactions, Astar said. Now, the IP has been relaunched on Soneium. Since then, the game saw 59,000 unique addresses created by players, with 2.5 million Yoki-related non-fungible tokens (NFTs) minted in total and 40 different projects getting involved. Built on the principle that blockchain should be accessible, scalable, efficient, and solve genuine problems for everyone, Soneium aims to deliver innovative decentralized apps — such as Yoki Origins — spanning entertainment, gaming, finance, and numerous other possibilities, Sony said. Read More TinyBuild shuts Versus Evil, lays off 13 At launch, Soneium was supported by some of the world's most prominent and well-established Web3 technology partners, including Astar Network, Circle, Optimism, Alchemy, The Graph, and Chainlink. Gameplay for Yoki Legacy. With its relaunch on Soneium, Yoki Origins will further expand the blockchain's ecosystem, offering new experiences by drawing inspiration from Pokémon and traditional Japanese culture where people can collect 'Yokis' to complete a special notebook. As part of the new season, the relaunch introduces a more streamlined version of the original Yoki and its core game mechanics, making it even easier for people to enjoy its ecosystem. For example, instead of 48 Yokis (12 basic and 36 evolved), the game now features 24 — 12 basic and 12 evolved. By collecting three identical basic Yokis, users can 'fuse' them into an evolved one. Yoki Origins' native token, previously known as Omamori (OMA), is now rebranded as OMASTR, reflecting its deeper integration with Astar. This change enhances the token's utility by allowing users to mint OMASTR on Soneium using Astar Network's native token, ASTR, without any daily minting limits. This aims to open up greater flexibility and access for users looking to engage more actively in the ecosystem. The newly updated OMASTR token is primarily used for acquiring capsules from the capsule machines, a popular feature in Yoki Origins. They allow users to obtain various Yokis by spending OMASTR tokens to 'spin' or 'pull' capsules. In total, there are now three distinct capsule machines, each offering a unique set of Yokis and featuring four different capsule types, which create a layer of variety and anticipation for users as they collect their precious creatures. To make the experience even more rewarding, users will earn special ACS Points by minting, fusing, and completing their notebooks. The Astar Contribution Score initiative, launched by the Astar Foundation with a reward pool of 100 million ASTR, is designed to drive user adoption and incentivize on-chain activity, all while expanding the utility of ASTR tokens and boosting the growth of Soneium. At launch, a pool of two million ACS will be available, with the possibility of additional points being added in the future. As a special incentive, players who complete their Yoki notebook by June 1 will receive an exclusive Yoki OG Badge, a unique reward from the collaboration between Astar and Soneium. Sony said the Soneium OG Badge is more than just a digital token—it's a badge of honor, symbolizing a user's commitment and belief in the Soneium vision. Holders of this badge will be recognized as pioneers who have played a key role in shaping the development and growth of the Soneium ecosystem.
