Tokenization of assets and products

Abstract

This article is about tokenization of assets and products based on blockchain technology. Tokenization continues the idea of securities, but only in the field of digital technologies. Various financial instruments have long been used that eliminate the risks of turnover of valuable physical assets, such as precious metals, by replacing them with less valuable equivalents. This is, for example, the use of banknotes and coins made of non-precious metals, Bank checks, and so on. Tokenization allows you to convert rights to a valuable physical asset into a digital token. The objects of tokenization can be real estate, various securities, manufactured products or raw materials, and so on. Such a token can be put into circulation on primary and secondary markets, as well as, often, «cashed» – that is, it can be exchanged from the manufacturer for the corresponding products. An important feature of tokenization is the ability to divide the value of indivisible assets, such as art and collectibles. This allows you to attract investors with small capital and makes it easier to benefit from initially expensive and low-liquid assets. However, this technology has a number of problems. The main problem with tokenization is that there is still no clear regulation of these digital assets in all countries of the world. In the United States, for example, tokens are often equated with securities. In Germany, it is considered that each case of tokenization should be considered separately, but tokens that grant rights similar to those granted by traditional shares are classified as financial instruments and are subject to appropriate regulation. In the future, after the problems are resolved, tokenization can replace the traditional way of representing the value of physical assets – securities, and also become a convenient financial tool for trading products and assets.