PE / VCJul 23

Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Capital joins tokenization push as Coinbase takes stake in onchain fund

CoinDesk3 min read
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Capital joins tokenization push as Coinbase takes stake in onchain fund
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Mubadala Capital, the asset management arm of Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, has launched a tokenized version of its private markets strategy on the blockchain. Utilizing infrastructure from UAE-based firm KAIO, the fund is accessible across the Base, Solana, and Sui networks and has already secured approximately $75 million in assets. Coinbase has notably integrated the fund into its corporate balance sheet, marking a significant instance of a publicly traded crypto firm investing in a tokenized private markets product. This development highlights the accelerating trend of major institutional players, including BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, migrating traditional fund infrastructure to blockchain rails to enhance accessibility and composability. By tokenizing these assets, Mubadala aims to extend institutional-grade investment opportunities to a broader range of qualified investors while maintaining rigorous management standards. The move aligns with the UAE's strategic ambition to establish itself as a global hub for tokenized finance through supportive regulatory frameworks. As traditional finance firms continue to modernize, the integration of programmable, regulated assets into the onchain economy represents a critical step toward the projected multi-trillion dollar growth of the tokenized securities market.

Key points
  • Mubadala Capital launched a tokenized private markets fund with $75 million in assets.
  • The fund utilizes KAIO infrastructure and operates on Base, Solana, and Sui blockchains.
  • Coinbase added the tokenized fund to its corporate balance sheet as a treasury holding.
  • KAIO platform now manages $144 million in total tokenized funds across various clients.
Background

Mubadala Capital is the asset management subsidiary of the Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, managing a massive portfolio of global private market investments. Tokenization in this context involves issuing digital tokens on a blockchain that represent ownership shares in a traditional investment fund, allowing for 24/7 settlement, increased transparency, and potential use as collateral in decentralized finance protocols.

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    Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Capital joins tokenization push as Coinbase takes stake in onchain fund | RWA Signal