Ex-SEC Commissioner Takes on Key Role at Blockchain Real Estate Platform Propy
Shalini Nagarajan
Crypto Reporter
Shalini Nagarajan
Part of the Team Since
Jan 2024
About Author
Shalini is a crypto reporter who provides in-depth reports on daily developments and regulatory shifts in the cryptocurrency sector.
Has Also Written
Last updated:
September 13, 2024
Blockchain real estate platform Propy on Friday appointed Michael Piwowar, a former acting SEC chairman and commissioner, as an advisory Board member. He will guide the company through key regulatory environments, the company said.
Michael Piwowar was a US SEC commissioner from 2013 to 2018. He now serves as a distinguished policy fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Financial Markets and Policy. He also worked as a senior economist at the White House under George Bush and Barack Obama.
“I’m incredibly excited to be aligning with Propy as the real estate market presents an enormous opportunity for innovation,” Piwowar said. “Real estate is a cornerstone of the global economy, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and AI are essential to overcoming the many challenges the industry faces.”
Former Wall Street Journal Columnist Michael Casey Joins Propy BoardAlso on Friday, Propy announced that journalist Michael Casey joined its Board after serving four years as Chief Content Officer at CoinDesk. Casey also helped launch the MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative, where he still advises.
Before that, he worked at The Wall Street Journal as a reporter, editor and columnist. He has also authored six books, including his latest, “Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming Liberty, Humanity, and Dignity in the Digital Age,” co-written with business leader Frank McCourt.
Propy uses blockchain, smart contracts, and cryptocurrency to revolutionize real estate transactions. Users start by selecting properties like traditional listings, but Propy adds blockchain for extra verification and security. Once the buyer and seller agree, Propy creates, encrypts, and records the purchase agreement on the blockchain.
Michael Arrington and Grant Cardone Among Propy Users TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington was an early adopter, selling a Kyiv apartment as an NFT through Propy. Likewise, entrepreneur Grant Cardone listed his $42m Miami property on Propy.
In March, Propy launched Propykeys, allowing users worldwide to create digital addresses for physical properties, from homes to global landmarks. Built on Ethereum L2 Base, this initiative enhances deed security by moving from paper records to blockchain. This shift not only combats deed fraud but also streamlines many aspects of traditional real estate transactions.
Singapore's proximity to China, Japan, and India, paired with world-class trade infrastructure and a stable political and regulatory landscape, cements its status as a premier business hub in the region. With English as an official language, communication, and navigation are furthermore effortless—Singapore can be regarded as the West's gateway to Asia.
Takeaway 1: Invest In China
At the Milken Institute's Asia Summit, Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warned of looming economic challenges, describing it as a "hundred-year storm." While U.S. assets may be fairly valued, they carry more risk to the downside. Accordingly, Dalio advised diversifying into Asia, with China offering significant potential for growth.
"You need to diversify into Asia," Hui said. "That's where the growth is."
Takeaway 2: Global Trade Order Disrupted
Peter Mandelson, the co-founder and president of Global Counsel and chairman of the International Advisory Board, focused on growing uncertainties around the global trading order and the shift towards a multipolar world, noting that "danger signals are flashing."
Jacqueline Poh, managing director of Singapore's Economic Development Board, pointed out that Southeast Asia—especially Singapore—is benefiting. While global trade as a percentage of GDP has decreased, foreign direct investment (FDI) has risen in Southeast Asia, with companies increasingly moving their global supply chain hubs to Singapore.
Also Read: Japan’s Nikkei Plummets Over 2,000 Points Amid Change Of Guard, While Chinese Market Extends Stimulus-Driven Run: What’s Driving Sentiment In Asia
Takeaway 3: Recruiting Beyond Universities
Takeaway 4: Words To Motivate A Workforce
On the same panel, James Vowles, the team principal of Williams Racing, shared his approach to leadership, which focuses on trusting and empowering his team.
"My job is to put them on a pedestal and promote them to the world," he said. "They are remarkable individuals—let the world know that."
Takeaway 5: Walk Before Running In Crypto
Wrapping up Benzinga's coverage at the Milken Institute's Asia Summit, Crypto.com's President and Chief Operating Officer, Eric Anziani, expressed a more measured approach to making digital assets accessible to everyone worldwide.
"We like to set the foundation before we run," he explained. "Then we go aggressive and put our name out there," referencing Crypto.com's strategic approach to marketing, something its competitor OKX serendipitously nailed across the city after it unveiled the limited-edition ‘Legend Reborn' livery on the car that ended up winning the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
"If you look at crypto, for a large part of our existence, it's been a very engineering-lead industry," OKX's Chief Marketing Officer Haider Rafique shared during a TOKEN2049 panel alongside McLaren Racing driver Lando Norris. "We want to be remembered as a design and engineering-led technology company."
Takeaway 6: Crypto Moving To Horizontal Model
"Only the professional trading firms and HFTs have been able to have access to that."
Takeaway 7: Crypto's Real-World Use Cases
Propy co-founder Denitza Tyufekchieva privately showcased how blockchain makes real estate transactions faster and safer. She explains that Propy automates processes like title transfers and escrow, allowing buyers to verify funds and complete purchases within minutes. Conversely, agents can lean on AI to cut paperwork and focus more on clients.
"We've built this transactional engine that allows the instant access of transfer of ownership and transfer of funds and everything to be recorded on-chain," Tyufekchieva said, noting Propy is building a single source on-chain registry for real estate ownership. "Our mission is to help end users buy and sell real estate quickly."
Read Next:
Economist Ben Golub Sounds Alarm On Upcoming US Shipping Strike Affecting 36 Ports: ‘Chaotic Supply Chain Crisis’ Of 2021-2022 Threatens To Resurface Photo courtesy of OKX.
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
As the U.S. Congress heads toward what many predict will be its most crypto-friendly session yet, Tanya Solati, vice president of business development at Propy, saw this as an opportunity for meaningful regulatory progress.
Solati, who will be speaking at the upcoming Benzinga Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19, shared her perspective on what's needed to advance the digital asset space, particularly regarding tax reforms and tokenization.
Simplifying Tax Rules to Encourage UseSolati pointed to the current tax laws as a significant barrier to broader adoption. Under existing rules, every crypto-to-fiat transaction results in a capital gains tax, making daily use impractical.
“A major game changer could be reworking tax laws, especially for small transactions,” Solati explained, emphasizing that removing such penalties could enable a more seamless user experience.
This reform would make digital currencies more suitable for everyday transactions, which she believes could drive wider engagement. Removing tax penalties on smaller exchanges would make digital currencies more practical, allowing users to trade, purchase and sell without constant tax implications.
Real-World Asset Tokenization Gains MomentumA central focus of Solati's discussion was the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), which she believed was a crucial step in the evolution of the digital finance landscape.
"With BlackRock heavily investing in tokenized RWAs, it's clear that this represents a shift in the future of finance," she said. Solati viewed this development as a significant indicator of where digital assets are headed as traditional finance players move deeper into the space.
Solati noted that for this tokenization model to reach its full potential, regulatory frameworks must accommodate smoother transaction processes and avoid tax triggers at every step. Adjusting these laws could allow the RWA market to expand further, making it more appealing to investors and users.
Defining Digital Assets ClearlyIn addition to tax adjustments, Solati emphasized the importance of clearly defining different types of digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and DeFi tokens. She suggested clearer definitions could provide the foundation for more precise regulations, leading to better compliance and wider adoption.
Solati sees the potential for these regulatory developments to create a more organized and accessible digital asset environment. With clearer guidelines, she believes that institutions, retail investors, and everyday users will be more comfortable engaging with digital currencies.
Looking AheadWhile there are still many challenges ahead, Solati remained optimistic. She saw the upcoming legislative session as an opportunity to address the issues holding back digital asset adoption, primarily through tax reforms and clear regulations.
Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
With the rising institutional interest in digital assets, Tanya Solati, vice president of business development at Propy, recently shared her perspective on why firms like BlackRock and PayPal are increasing their involvement in the blockchain space.
Solati will speak at the upcoming Benzinga Future of Digital Assets event, focusing on regulatory changes and their impact on digital finance.
Regulatory Clarity Behind Institutional MovesSolati attributed the surge in institutional participation to clearer regulations. "One of the strengths of the U.S. market is the clear and structured regulatory process, which is why it continues to attract so much global investment," she noted. She pointed out that the recent approval of crypto-related ETFs, which had previously faced delays, has significantly contributed to this shift.
Solati explained that firms like BlackRock, previously hesitant to enter the crypto space, are now moving forward because of greater regulatory certainty.
"BlackRock has invested tremendous resources behind the scenes, dedicating countless hours and thousands of meetings to navigate the complexities," Solati said. She emphasized that a firm of BlackRock's caliber would not commit such efforts without seeing strong potential in the evolving market.
Realigning Institutional PrioritiesAccording to Solati, the recent momentum isn't primarily driven by blockchain technology or philosophy but rather by a more defined regulatory framework. "This regulatory certainty, rather than the underlying tech, unlocks institutional interest in the space," she said. She emphasized that having clear guidelines has helped institutions navigate the complexities of the crypto market, fostering increased engagement.
What’s AheadPhoto by stockphoto-graf on Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
High entry barriers, complex transaction processes, and geographical boundaries have historically constrained the real estate and fine art markets.
These difficulties though aren’t slowing down the management of traditional assets—especially on the blockchain. According to a report by Standard Chartered, tokenized Real-World Assets (RWAs) will reach $30 trillion by 2034. This significant potential growth points to the untapped potential of real-world assets. Tokenization through the blockchain is revolutionizing how traditional assets are managed today. It is transforming global trade by improving accessibility and liquidity.
Blockchain technology is shaking up traditional asset management by improving transparency and immutability, increasing efficiency, enhancing security, and providing global accessibility. There is less intermediary involvement in tokenized assets, unlike what is obtainable with traditional asset management. Eliminating middlemen makes the process more transparent (reducing fraud and increasing trust) and less complex. In this article, we will explore how traditional assets are being bridged to the digital space using tokenization.
Real-World Assets TokenizationReal-world asset tokenization is the process of issuing digital tokens based on the blockchain to physical or traditional assets like gold, real estate, machinery, etc. Essentially, the tokenization of these assets involves creating tokens that are typically issued as smart contracts on blockchain networks like Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, etc. Every token issued represents a fractional ownership of the underlying asset, and this is backed by a legal framework ensuring the connection between the token and the physical asset.
A wide variety of assets can be tokenized, they include:
Financial Instruments like stocks, bonds, and other structured products Real Estate like commercial and residential properties Commodities like gold, silver, oil, etc Assets like arts and collectibles RWA Tokenization and the Opportunities in the Market We are at a transformative phase in the financial markets with RWA tokenization. This use case of blockchain technology has seen renowned financial institutions and fintech innovators actively developing and partnering with tokenization platforms. According to forecasts, it is predicted that 7-9% of investors’ portfolios will be allocated to tokenized assets by 2027 and the industry is on course to reach that.
A pointer to this is the market experiencing traction in securities tokenization, with major players like BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Franklin Templeton, and JPMorgan launching dedicated tokenization initiatives. $10 trillion BlackRock for instance recently partnered with Securitize to provide better access to traditional financial products via digitization. BlackRock’s tokenized fund BUIDL, is leading the tokenized Treasury category with a market cap of $541 million. Franklin Templeton’s tokenized Treasury FOBXX is the third-largest with a market capitalization of $410 million.
The Total Value Locked (TVL) in the RWA sector at the time of writing is $6.4 billion. This represents the industry’s economic value and its universal acceptance. As institutional-standard infrastructure continues to mature for trading, custody, and other products and services, private market assets like real estate and private equity have emerged as early adoption leaders.
Some key drivers of this adoption include the demand for access to premium investment opportunities without intermediaries, the push for more liquidity in otherwise traditionally illiquid assets, and major cost reductions in asset management and transactions.
The sector however faces significant challenges still, some of which include the complexity of integrating traditional financial products with blockchain infrastructure and regulatory uncertainty. Other challenges include education and institutional adoption curves, and technicalities around interoperability, scalability, and security.
With regulations, it varies across jurisdictions. Certain regions are emerging as clear leaders in providing regulatory frameworks for tokenized assets. Countries like Switzerland and Singapore have established progressive environments that support the tokenization of RWAs while protecting investors and their investments.
Pioneers at the Forefront of RWA Tokenization Enter RWA Inc. and Others The RWA sector is gaining momentum thanks to the work of projects in the space. RWA Inc. is one such key player and pioneering platform leading the charge in the RWA tokenization sector and redefining how we interact with RWAs on the blockchain. This is the first comprehensive RWA ecosystem offering end-to-end RWA tokenization through a cutting-edge multi-asset platform that includes tokenization-as-a-service, a launchpad, and a marketplace.
RWA Inc. isn’t only digitizing assets, it’s also unlocking an entirely new standard for asset ownership, trading, and management. The multi-asset platform seamlessly integrates a launchpad and a marketplace, while offering tokenization as a service, bridging the gap between traditional finance and a digital future on the blockchain.
Operating in a potential $30 trillion market, RWA Inc. is well-positioned to be a dominant force in the RWA sector as it leverages unmatched regulatory compliance (already established 6 regulated trading licenses in the UAE) and transformative asset accessibility. The licenses RWA Inc. holds positions it as the premier onramp for traditional investment firms, banks, and hedge fund managers. $RWA is the native utility token that fuels the RWA Inc. ecosystem. Other projects at the forefront of RWA tokenization include:
Propy: A decentralized real estate protocol that leverages blockchain technology to facilitate real estate transactions. YieldBricks: a company that provides seamless DeFi pools for tokenizing yield via real estate assets. EstateX: A blockchain-based company that democratizes access to real estate investments with increased liquidity, lower investment minimums, and portfolio diversification. Metamovers: An innovative blockchain platform engineered to transform the secondary market for real-world assets, specifically focusing on real estate. Future of RWA Tokenization Speaking on tokenization and the RWA industry, David Henderson, the Head of Marketing at Backed Finance, a significant player in the tokenization of government securities, said, “The tokenization revolution is in full swing. Financial institutions are embracing this technology, recognizing its potential to reshape the global financial landscape. The distinction between ‘real-world’ and digital assets will blur as blockchains become the settlement layer for all financial transactions, democratizing access to markets worldwide. The future of finance is borderless and inclusive.”
RWA tokenization is at a focal intersection between traditional finance and blockchain innovation. Integrations between tokenized RWAs and DeFi protocols are creating new avenues for yield generation and lending markets. The development of institutional-standard infrastructures also increases adoption by major traditional financial players. As the technology continues to mature, we will see the emergence of sophisticated systems that combine blockchain’s efficiency with the mechanisms of the conventional financial market.
The tokenization of real-world assets is homogenizing access to asset classes that were previously exclusive, reducing market friction, and automating compliance processes. These are potentially profound impacts on traditional finance. The success of these alterations, however, depends largely on continued technology advancements, regulatory clarity, and institutional adoption.
Conclusion One of the most significant innovations in modern finance in recent times is the tokenization of RWAs. They play a major role in bridging the gap between traditional assets and blockchain financial infrastructure. Even though the technology and market frameworks are still evolving, the foundations for massive transformations are being laid by projects like RWA Inc. They are changing how we view asset ownership and trading.
The convergence of technological advancement, increase in institutional interest, and proper regulatory development corroborate that RWA tokenization is a rudimentary shift in the financial markets. And they are set to play a major part in this bull run. So, as an investor or an institution, this is the best time to develop strategic approaches to RWA tokenization.
At the Benzinga Future of Digital Assets conference, experts examined the evolving digital space, focusing on how Web3 technologies could transform data ownership and decentralization.
Leaders in the field shared their thoughts on overcoming technical and regulatory hurdles while building systems that empower users and reduce dependence on centralized models.
A Call for Data OwnershipMarkus Kuhnert, CEO of 1iO, stressed that Web3's primary goal is to give users control over their data. "Web3 is all about cutting out the middleman economy… it's about ownership, owning the data, owning the infrastructure," he explained. According to Kuhnert, decentralization allows individuals and businesses to regain authority over their information, ensuring they can decide how and where it's used.
See Also: Super Micro Surges 10% On Monday Pre-Market After Company Gets Nasdaq Extension To File Annual Report
Kuhnert argued that decentralization should not be limited to financial systems but should extend to all forms of verifiable data. "We need to bring it back to the people and the organizations who produce it," he said, calling for a comprehensive shift toward systems where data creators hold the power.
Usability Challenges in Web3While decentralization holds promise, panelists acknowledged that accessibility remains a challenge. Tanya Solati, vice president of business development at Propy, described the current tools as complex for everyday users. "It's so hard to navigate, and let's face it, I even struggle with private keys, wallets, and decentralized apps," she admitted.
Solati proposed a hybrid model, which she referred to as "Web 2.5," to make decentralized technologies more user-friendly. By blending the scalability and ease of traditional systems with decentralized tools, Solati suggested that Web3 could attract a broader audience.
Retaining Users Through ValueAnother discussion point was maintaining user engagement in a volatile space. Aviad Stein, global head of strategy and innovation at Broadridge Financial, emphasized the importance of delivering tangible benefits. "It's about finding the happy medium between user control and the value they get from granting access to their data," Stein said.
He added that transparency around data use and value would be critical in keeping users invested. Kuhnert echoed this sentiment: “If there's value in it, then people will keep using it."
Building for the FutureAs the conversation concluded, panelists looked ahead to the challenges and opportunities in decentralized technologies. Solati pointed out that fostering user engagement would require better tools and clearer value propositions, ensuring that Web3 can weather market shifts and grow its user base.
With a focus on decentralization, user control, and practical solutions, leaders at the event outlined a path forward for digital assets that emphasizes empowerment and trust.
Now Read:
Nvidia Hit With Antitrust Probe in China, Stock Slides Image: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Propy, a real estate tokenization firm, is introducing crypto-backed mortgage services to the real-world assets, aiming to change how people purchase real estate.
According to a news release, Propy has announced the first-ever crypto loan that will enable prospective real estate buyers to access onchain loans to purchase property in Hawaii.
Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) holders will be able to use their digital assets as collateral to buy real estate. This crypto-backed mortgage service marks the first step in Propy’s mission to make the $300 trillion real estate market more liquid and swappable.
“This isn’t just a milestone; it’s a glimpse into the future of real estate,” said Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy. “We’re demonstrating how blockchain technology can simplify home buying, replacing the traditionally lengthy loan approval process with an instant, efficient solution.”
Propy says this new financing option will allow customers to leverage their cryptocurrency to purchase real estate while retaining ownership of their digital assets.
The loans will be double-collateralized, with the property accounting for 50% of the collateral and BTC or ETH covering the remaining 50%. The interest rate is set at 10%.
Propy’s first offering under this service is a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The property will go on sale on Jan. 29, 2025, with an asking price of $250,000. BTC and ETH holders can use their assets as collateral to access a loan to finance the purchase, the company announced.
Natalia Karayaneva, the real CEO of Propy, with the AI-generated image of their new feature Agent Avery, showcasing how AI will help close the deal with Real World Assets
Propy
I wish I had an AI Agent when buying my first house. It was supposed to be one of the most exciting milestones of my life, but instead, I found myself buried under piles of paper. Each step required another form, another signature, another delay. Even in a digital world, the home-buying process felt frozen in time.
That memory came rushing back when I read about Propy’s latest move. The company just announced a 100 million dollar expansion to modernize the 25 billion dollar U.S. title industry and launched something remarkable: Agent Avery, an AI escrow officer that can automate the entire real estate closing process.
This is more than just a real-estate-tech headline.
It represents a new frontier in how AI and real-world assets (RWA) come together. By merging onchain infrastructure with AI-driven automation, Propy may have built the first decentralized AI agent capable of managing real, tangible value and one that doesn’t just analyze or predict, but actually closes transactions. AI Agents have been built for gyms, and banking, but this is the first as an AI Escrow Officer.
The Paper Problem That AI Can Help SolveThe title and escrow process is one of the most outdated systems in modern finance. According to Rentechdigital, there are 24,028 title companies in North America as of May 2025 — a 0.5% increase since 2023. About 55% (13,270) are single-owner businesses, while the remaining 45% (10,758) belong to larger brands. Nearly 7,000 fragmented title firms operate across the United States, each handling massive amounts of paperwork and manual verification.
According to The National Association of REALTORS found that 63 percent of agents reported title fraud in their markets last year, rising to 92 percent in the Northeast.
MORE FOR YOU
Propy’s plan is to acquire high-performing title and escrow companies in major states like California, Texas, and Florida, and retrofit them with AI and blockchain infrastructure. The goal is to transform paper-based closings into digital, secure, and fully automated operations.
“Closing on a home is still a bureaucratic maze, while Gen-Z and Millennials expect digital, on-demand services,” said Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy and a fellow Forbes contributor. “Avery and our acquisition strategy give us a path to scale nationwide, transforming closings into a faster, AI-driven experience built for modern buyers.”
Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy, who has been a pioneer in Real Estate Real World Assets.
Propy
Meet AI Agent Avery: The First Decentralized AI Escrow OfficerAgent Avery is not a chatbot. She is an intelligent AI agent trained on thousands of real estate transactions to handle every step of an escrow officer’s job, from contracts and compliance to communications and payment processing.
In traditional closings, more than two-thirds of an officer’s time is spent on repetitive administrative work such as lien searches, mortgage payoffs, wire instructions, and document checks.
Avery automates nearly all of it.
She can process crypto and fiat payments, track deadlines, verify compliance with RESPA regulations, and maintain records onchain for audit transparency.
Working 24 hours a day through natural text or voice interactions, Avery reduces workloads by about 40 percent and allows agents to handle more closings per year without additional staff. She is trained to follow real estate law and compliance frameworks, making her both autonomous and trustworthy, which is a foundation for what could become the next generation of AI-powered professionals.
Agent Avery, the first AI Escrow Officer, introduced from Propy
Propy
Propy even envisions Avery evolving into a licensed entity in her own right, similar to how governments in countries like Albania have granted official status to AI systems. The difference here is that Avery is tied directly to real-world transactions and financial flows, creating a bridge between digital intelligence and physical property.
The Big Idea: AI Meets Real World AssetsAgent Avery’s debut is part of a much larger shift. The world of real-world assets, or RWAs, is expanding rapidly as companies tokenize and trade physical assets—homes, vehicles, carbon credits, even art—on blockchain networks. But until now, most of these assets required human intermediaries to complete compliance and settlement. Avery changes that.
“Our long-term vision is for real estate to become programmable; we’re laying the foundation for homes to transact instantly, globally, and securely onchain,” said Karayaneva.
By combining AI with blockchain, Propy has created a fully operational decentralized agent that not only processes data but executes legally binding actions tied to physical property. That makes Avery one of the first true AI-RWA integrations in the market.
AI Agent + Blockchain is the combination that makes Avery so effective.
getty
This is the moment when AI moves from interpreting the physical world to participating in it. An intelligent system like Avery doesn’t just assist humans; it becomes part of the economic fabric—reviewing contracts, ensuring compliance, and finalizing payments.
It is the same logic that underpins the future of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and AI agents in finance, but now applied to the most personal and impactful transaction most people ever make: buying a home.
Financing Real Estate Through DeFi And AIPropy’s model extends beyond automation into how these deals are financed. The company’s 100 million dollar expansion is backed by both traditional lenders and onchain private credit, including crypto-collateralized loans from Morpho, the largest decentralized lending network on Base.
“Onchain private credit is a natural extension of crypto-backed loans,” said Merlin Egalite, cofounder of Morpho. “We’re excited to see how Propy leverages Morpho’s universal lending network to finance its expansion in real estate."
Propy is impacting DeFi. For the first time, DeFi is funding real-world property consolidation at scale. The combination of onchain lending and AI automation makes it possible to move capital faster and more securely across an industry that has long been slow and opaque.
getty
This means that parts of Propy’s M&A activity like buying and upgrading title companies, are being financed directly through decentralized credit pools. For the first time, DeFi is funding real-world property consolidation at scale.
The combination of onchain lending and AI automation makes it possible to move capital faster and more securely across an industry that has long been slow and opaque.
Competitive LandscapePropy focuses on real-world assets but operates within a broader movement that blends AI, blockchain, and finance to modernize how value moves and is recorded. Within real estate itself, a few key players are pushing toward similar transformation but from different angles.
Figure has built a strong foundation in blockchain-based lending through its Figure Heloc product, processing home equity loans on Provenance Blockchain with speed, transparency, and strong ties to capital markets. Its model excels in efficiency and regulatory alignment, though it remains concentrated on financing rather than the full closing cycle. Provenance Blockchain, which underpins Figure, has also become a trusted infrastructure layer for regulated assets and institutional settlement, giving it credibility with banks and mortgage lenders that value compliance-first design.
In the broader non-real-estate RWA space, Stellar and Algorand demonstrate how blockchain rails can move digital assets quickly and affordably across borders. These protocols enable programmable payments, remittances, and asset issuance, and have built strong developer ecosystems. Yet, they serve primarily as infrastructure layers.
They are excellent at moving tokenized value but rely on third parties to manage workflows, compliance, and legal execution. Chainlink, meanwhile, provides the connective tissue that allows RWAs to operate securely by verifying asset prices, proof of reserves, and cross-chain messaging. Its role is foundational for data integrity, though it depends on others to complete end-to-end transactions.
Gold-backed tokens such as Tether Gold (XAUT) and PAX Gold (PAXG) represent another side of the RWA evolution which is tangible, auditable value with clear redemption mechanisms. Their strength lies in trust and custodianship, making them stable instruments for investors seeking inflation hedges. But their function is passive; they store and represent value rather than automate or execute the processes around it.
Propy’s advantage is that it is not only tokenizing or moving assets but it is operationalizing them. By combining blockchain infrastructure with AI automation through Agent Avery, Propy directly tackles the inefficiencies, compliance burdens, and fraud risks in title and escrow.
A Glimpse of the Future of AI Agents OnchainFounded in 2017, Propy has already processed more than four billion dollars in digital real estate transactions. Its acquisition strategy now aims to consolidate mid-sized regional firms with five to fifty million dollars in revenue, giving them instant access to advanced AI and blockchain tools.
By doing so, Propy converts a fragmented, low-margin industry into a high-tech, high-efficiency network where every transaction can be verified, automated, and completed in real time. Morgan Stanley projects that AI could automate 37 percent of real estate tasks and unlock 34 billion dollars in efficiency gains by 2030. Propy is not waiting for that future—it is building it.
Why Does An AI Agent like Avery Matter? The launch of Agent Avery signals a turning point for both AI and blockchain. It shows how decentralized AI agents can take on trusted, regulated roles in handling real-world assets, not just simulate human reasoning but perform the work itself.
For anyone who has ever struggled through stacks of home-buying paperwork, this marks real progress.
The next time you close on a home, your agent might not be a person at all. It might be an AI Agent named Avery who can be your onchain teammate making real estate truly real-time.
Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva (Propy, modified by CoinDesk)Summary
Propy оголосила про розширення на суму 100 мільйонів доларів для придбання компаній з оформлення прав власності на нерухомість по всій території США та оптимізації операцій за допомогою блокчейну та штучного інтелекту.Компанія має на меті досягти оцінки у 1 мільярд доларів шляхом об’єднання прибуткових, середніх за розміром компаній у сфері титулів, повідомила генеральний директор Наталія Караянева.Propy також розробила AI-агента ескроу, Агента Ейвері, щоб зменшити неефективність і заощадити близько 40% робочого навантаження у операціях з нерухомістю.Спеціаліст із токенізації нерухомості Propy окреслив плани щодо розширення на 100 мільйонів доларів для придбання середніх компаній із оформлення титулів власності по всіх США, прагнучи оптимізувати галузь, яка досі значною мірою покладається на ручні процеси, за допомогою блокчейн-технологій та штучного інтелекту (AI).
Упродовж наступних 12 місяців ми плануємо придбати регіональні титульні компанії по всій країні, — заявила генеральний директор Propy Наталія Караянева в інтерв’ю Coindesk. — Це дозволить нам досягти оцінки в один мільярд доларів як технологічна компанія.
Для залучення коштів на ролапи Propy звернулася до поєднання традиційних та ончейн-кредиторів, зокрема з децентралізованої фінансової (DeFi) кредитної платформи Morpho. Propy стверджує, що це один із перших відомих прикладів використання ончейн-приватного кредитування для фінансування злиттів і поглинань (M&A).
Плани розширення з’являються в той час, коли зростає інтерес до токенізації нерухомості — зусилля з цифровізації прав власності на нерухомість та оптимізації транзакцій за допомогою блокчейну для підвищення ефективності. Компанії з оформлення прав власності зосереджуються на перевірці історії власності об’єкта та забезпеченні відсутності юридичних претензій, застав чи спорів, які можуть вплинути на продаж. Вони також видають страхування титулу та керують передачею юридичної власності під час операцій з нерухомістю.
Це ринок обсягом 25 мільярдів доларів, який досі переважно ведеться на паперових носіях і розподілений між майже 7 000 компаній, багато з яких є невеликими сімейними підприємствами, пояснила генеральний директор Propy Наталія Караянева в інтерв’ю Coindesk.
Компанія Propy є ліцензованою титульною фірмою і обробила цифрові операції з нерухомістю на суму 4 мільярди доларів, автоматизуючи трудомісткі процеси за допомогою штучного інтелекту. Придбавши титульні фірми середнього розміру в таких штатах, як Каліфорнія, Флорида та Техас, компанія планує оптимізувати операції, зменшити шахрайство та прискорити час закриття угод, використовуючи технології блокчейн та ШІ, додала вона.
У центрі зусиль Propy — агент Avery, штучний інтелект для ескроу, який було створено для вирішення неефективностей, що займають більшу частину часу офіцера ескроу, повідомила компанія.
Агент Avery був навчений на основі транзакційних даних Propy та працює цілодобово, підтримуючи як традиційні, так і криптовалютні платежі. За оцінками компанії, цей інструмент може скоротити навантаження приблизно на 40%, що дозволяє агентам укладати більше угод.
Разом із розширенням та розвитком штучного інтелекту Propy також додала до своєї консультативної ради колишнього посадовця Міністерства фінансів США Кріса Кемпбелла та співзасновника Science Inc. Майка Джонса, які приєдналися до попередніх призначень, зокрема колишнього комісара SEC Майкла Півоваара.
Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva (Propy, modified by CoinDesk)Summary
Propy announced a $100 million expansion to acquire property title firms across the U.S. and streamline operation with blockchain and AI.The company aims to achieve a $1 billion valuation by rolling up profitable, mid-size title companies, CEO Natalia Karayaneva said.Propy also developed an AI escrow agent, Agent Avery, to reduce inefficiencies and save about 40% of the workload in real estate transactions.Real estate tokenization specialist Propy laid out plans for a $100 million expansion to acquire mid-size property title firms across the U.S., aiming to streamline an industry that still relies heavily on manual processes with blockchain rails and artificial intelligence (AI).
"In the next 12 months, we'll acquire regional title companies across the country," Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva told Coindesk in an interview. "This will allow us to get to a billion dollar valuation as a tech company."
To raise funds for the rollups, Propy has tapped a mix of traditional and onchain lenders, including from decentralized finance (DeFi) credit platform Morpho. Propy claimed that it's one of the first known examples of drawing onchain private credit to fund M&A activity.
The expansion plans come at a time when interest is growing for real estate tokenization, an effort to digitize property rights and streamline transactions through blockchain for efficiency gains. Title firms focus on verifying a property's ownership history and ensure there are no legal claims, liens or disputes that could affect the sale. They also issue title insurance and manage the transfer of legal ownership during real estate transactions.
That's a $25 billion market which still remains largely paper-based and split among nearly 7,000 firms, many of them small mom-and-pop shops, Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva explained Coindesk in an interview.
Propy itself is a licensed title firm and has processed $4 billion in digital real estate transactions automating time-consuming processes with AI. By acquiring mid-sized title firms in states like California, Florida and Texas, the company plans to streamline operations reduce fraud and speed up transaction closing times using blockchain tech and AI, she added.
Central to Propy's efforts is Agent Avery, an AI escrow agent that was built to address inefficiencies that consume the majority of an escrow officer’s time, the firm said.
Agent Avery was trained on Propy’s transaction data and operates 24/7 supporting both traditional and crypto payments. The tool can save about 40% of the workload, the firm estimated, allowing agents to close more deals.
Along with the expansion and AI development, Propy also added former U.S. Treasury official Chris Campbell and Science Inc. co-founder Mike Jones to its advisory board, joining previous appointees including ex-SEC Commissioner Michael Piwowar.
Altcoin Daily host Austin Arnold used a Jan. 1 video titled “Top 6 Crypto Altcoins To Invest In For 2026” to lay out what he framed as three “first-time” catalysts for crypto in 2026 and a corresponding list of six altcoins he says he’d “buy and hold” into that backdrop, spanning smart-contract platforms, AI infrastructure, and tokenization-focused plays.
Arnold opened with the claim that crypto sits at the center of “two mega trends”: digital assets and the tokenization of financial assets and argued the combination of macro policy, US legislation, and SEC posture could drive “trillions of dollars” of new inflows.
The 3 Bullisch Crypto Catalysts First, Arnold pointed to what he described as a monetary-policy regime shift, including the resumption of “reserve management purchases,” and framed it as supportive for risk assets broadly. “We’re starting to see significant stimulus,” he said, adding that markets were already seeing “quantitative easing light” as “the Fed is starting to buy its own bonds,” while suggesting demand for government debt could fall alongside lower rates.
Second, he argued crypto-specific regulation could function like a green light for institutional capital. He singled out the market structure focused Clarity Act, saying its passage would be “like a starter gun for ETH and SOL to run into trillions of dollars of value,” and noted discussion of a US Senate markup date of Jan. 15 with hopes of movement by late January or February.
Third, Arnold highlighted what he called a tokenization push led by SEC chair Paul Atkins, describing “Project Crypto” as an effort to “bring all of traditional finance on the blockchain.”
He paired that theme with a distribution angle around spot crypto ETFs, leaning on a quote he cited about how unusual the early ETF growth was: “These were the single best-selling product in the world and no one was allowed to make a phone call to sell it or advertise it,” he said.
Top 6 Crypto Altcoins To Invest In For 2026 Arnold’s first pick is Ethereum. He frames it as the primary beneficiary of stablecoin growth and added that stablecoins are “mostly on the Ethereum blockchain,” and tied the thesis to regulation via the Genius Act, citing a view that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expects the sector to grow “10x in the next few years.”
Arnold also said Ethereum’s stablecoin share rose to 53% from the high-40s “just a few months” earlier, and argued the link to ETH value accrual runs through fees: “30% of all fees on Ethereum are actually stablecoin revenue,” he said. “So as this is 10x’es the amount of fees, the amount of Ethereum being burned should be 10x to match.”
Arnold’s second pick was Solana, which he portrayed as a usage leader relative to its market value versus Ethereum. He argued Solana is “already one of or if not the most used chain in crypto,” and claimed that through 2025 it was “more used than the entire rest of the industry combined times 2 to three.” He also cited a real-world asset milestone, saying Solana “RWA holders…have surpassed 125,000 holders.”
Cardano is next, which Arnold said had a weak 2025 but could benefit from founder Charles Hoskinson’s push around Midnight. Arnold played a longer excerpt in which Hoskinson argued privacy could be the wedge that changes user behavior:
“They can go through Midnight to Cardano and they get privacy. They do something new and different,” Hoskinson said. “Midnight my view will be through hybrid applications… private prediction markets, private DEXes, private stable coins… maybe… those Bitcoin people are going to want to trade on a private DEX instead of a public DEX.”
Arnold then shifted to AI infrastructure with Bittensor (TAO), calling it “decentralized AI” plumbing and noting it had a recent “halving” and a fixed supply model he compared to Bitcoin’s. He also pointed to early-2026 ETF momentum, saying Grayscale filed an S-1 for a TAO product and Bitwise followed with a Bittensor ETF filing.
For tokenization exposure, Arnold highlighted Ondo Finance (ONDO) ahead of what he described as an Ondo Summit on Feb. 3, where “world leaders, investors, policy makers” would reconvene, and closed his list with Propy, a real-estate-focused project he said is “US licensed” for title and escrow closing and “backed by Coinbase,” positioning it as a bet on bringing home buying and selling “on-chain.”
Arnold closed his list with Propy, explicitly flagging it as the most speculative end of the spectrum and pairing it with a warning that lower-cap exposure can mean “these altcoins go to zero.”
The Altcoin Daily host described it as “essentially real estate on-chain.” He emphasized operational and regulatory positioning as part of the pitch, saying Propy is “US licensed title and escrow closing,” and also highlighted its backers: “They’re backed again by Coinbase.”
The investment thesis, as Arnold presented it, is straightforward tokenization logic applied to housing: bringing parts of the buying and selling process onto rails that can be settled and recorded on-chain, with Propy positioned as a project already operating within the US compliance perimeter he expects to matter more in 2026.
At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $2.98 trillion.
Total crypto market cap hovers below the 2021 high again, 1-week chart | Source: TOTAL on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The blockchain and crypto market is getting substantial investor interest with notable amounts flowing into key initiatives. In this respect, Propy, Metaplanet, and Mesh have witnessed the leading funding rounds in terms of valuation over the past week. As per the data from Fundraising Digest, Talos, Streamex, Flying Tulip, and Startale have also occupied the top positions in the list of the week’s prominent fundraising events. The respective rounds underscore the rising confidence in effective blockchain applications dealing with asset tokenization, trading infrastructure, Web3 innovation, and real estate.
Propy Dominates Past Week’s Top Funding Rounds with $100M Collection Propy has emerged as the leading funding round of the past week. It operates as a well-known technology entity to manage parts of diverse real estate transfers via AI and blockchain technology. Particularly, it has seen a staggering $100M in the latest funding round under the category of Debt Financing.
Subsequently, Metaplanet has experienced the 2nd top crypto fundraising event in the past week. It serves as a Japan-based publicly listed Bitcoin ($BTC) treasury entity. The platform has raised a cumulative amount of almost $78M in its Post-IPO funding round. Additionally, occupying the 3rd position among these fundings, Mesh has effectively gained up to $75M in its Series C funding round. It works as a renowned platform for crypto payment and management.
Following that, the list of the top funding rounds of the week takes into account Talos in the 4th rank. Talos is an entity devoted to the development of technology infrastructure for the trading of digital assets. In its latest funding, Talos has effectively gained a total amount of $35M in an Extended Series B round.
Startale Bottoms List, Getting $13M in Extended Series A Round Streamex has gained the 5th top project in terms of the funding. It mainly deals with the real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Specifically, its new Post-IPO funding round has resulted in the collection of $35M. Along with that, Flying Tulip, which operates as an on-chain exchange for spot trading, structured yield, options, lending, and perpetual contracts, has obtained $25.5M in Series A funding round. Additionally, the Web3 tech platform Startale is the last among the past week’s noteworthy funding rounds, securing $13M in an Extended Series A round.
AUTHOR
Umair Younas is a cryptocurrency-related content writer linked with this work since 2019. Here, at Blockchainreporter, he serves as a news and article writer. He is a crypto, blockchain, NFTs, DeFi, and FinTech enthusiast. He has strong command over writing authentic reviews about brokers and exchanges and he has collaborated with our education team to write educational content as well. He has a dream to raise awareness among people about digital currencies. His works are well-researched and brimmed with information hence they provide fresh insights. Stay tuned to his posts if you want to stay up-to-date with the crypto-verse.
The crypto landscape started the year 2026 with a notable spike in investor confidence. In this respect, January saw many staggering fundraising events across different projects. As per the data from Phoenix Group, Rain, BitGo, and BlackOpal emerged as the top fundraising rounds of January 2026. Along with that, LMAX Group, Alpaca, Tres Finance, 3iQ, Propy, Superstate, and Mesh have also added notable amounts. These events indicate the strong blockchain innovation as well as continued efforts for mainstream adoption.
Rain Leads January’s Crypto Funding Rounds with $250M in Collected Capital As per the market data, Rain has gained the top position among January’s notable crypto funding rounds. Specifically, it raised a total amount of up to $250M. Subsequently, BitGo emerged as the 2nd among the month’s key crypto fundraising events when it comes to valuation. So, it effectively collected a total capital of nearly $212.8M. YZiLabs reportedly led the respective funding round.
Coming after that, BlackOpal obtained the 3rd position with the collection of $200M in its funding in January. Additionally, Mars has become the leading investor in BlackOpal’s funding round. The next name on the list is LMAX Group, with its fundraising in January hitting the $150M mark. Ripple played a critical role in this event, taking the leading position among the investors.
Following that, Alpaca has also gained a crucial status among January’s crypto fundraisers. Hence, its fundraising touched the $150M spot. Kraken, BNP Paribas, and Citadel Securities were the primary contributors to the event. Simultaneously, Tres Finance made a total $130M in its fundraising in January 2026, with Fireblocks being the notable among the investors. Moreover, Coincheck led the $111.8M funding round of 3iQ in the same month.
Mesh Collects $75M in Funding during January’s Building Market Momentum Moving on, Phoenix Group’s list of January’s critical crypto funding rounds includes Propy in the 8th place. The project successfully raised $100M in its fundraising, with Metropolitan being the top among the investors. At the same time, Superstate raised $82.5M in its funding round, and Galaxy Digital was among the noteworthy investors. Ultimately, Mesh’s fundraising initiative amassed $75M from different investors like Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, and SBI Investment.
AUTHOR
Umair Younas is a cryptocurrency-related content writer linked with this work since 2019. Here, at Blockchainreporter, he serves as a news and article writer. He is a crypto, blockchain, NFTs, DeFi, and FinTech enthusiast. He has strong command over writing authentic reviews about brokers and exchanges and he has collaborated with our education team to write educational content as well. He has a dream to raise awareness among people about digital currencies. His works are well-researched and brimmed with information hence they provide fresh insights. Stay tuned to his posts if you want to stay up-to-date with the crypto-verse.
Kyber Network, an on-chain liquidity provider that enables decentralized token swaps, announced today on Twitter that it will be delisting 17 tokens “due to inactivity or token migrations.” Kyber also published a ‘Token Delisting’ article on its blog which explains the factors and processes involved.
We will be delisting the following tokens due to inactivity or token migration:
ADX, BBO, COFI, CNN, DCC, DTH, ELEC, INF, MAS, MOT, OCN, PRO, RCN, SSP, WABI, WINGS, TTC.
They might be listed again with additional liquidity providers.
Learn more: https://t.co/gZzSvQFXuT
— Kyber Network (@KyberNetwork) August 28, 2019
The 17 tokens to be delisted from Kyber Network are:
Kyber’s Reasons For Delisting In its blog post, Kyber Network explained two factors that can cause a delisting. The first being if all of the reserves on Kyber stop supporting a token due to a lack of inventory or other reasons. Therefore, there would be no liquidity to allow token swaps.
The second factor is if a token migrates to another blockchain, and is no longer an ERC20 token.
Kyber stated that it will continue to seek new liquidity providers and that it’s possible for delisted tokens to be listed again.
Kyber Remains One of the Top Ethereum DApps Data from DappRadar shows that Kyber ranks 5th by 7-day volume, with its 7-day volume currently at $1.8 million. Nest, a decentralized digital asset lending platform, currently takes the top spot with a 7-day volume of £31.9 million.
Jon Jordan, the Communications Director at DappRadar, stated that volume is generally the most important metric to use when ranking decentralized finance (DeFi) DApps like Kyber and Nest.
At the start of this year, Blokt also published an article on ‘The Most Popular Ethereum Dapps’ which looked at the number of users per 24 hours, where Kyber also ranked among the top 10.
Kyber Network is More Than a DEX Kyber Network is often thought of as a decentralized exchange (DEX), but it is actually a DeFi platform that enables seamless token swaps. The Kyber liquidity protocol can be utilized by developers to power instant token exchanges within any decentralized application. This includes decentralized wallets, websites, and applications.
Kyber highlights on its website that it can be used with applications such as Coinbase Wallet, ENJIN Wallet, Decentraland, Totle, Uniswap, and many others.
Kyber Swap, on the other hand, is a DEX that is run by the Kyber Network team and utilizes the Kyber Network on-chain liquidity protocol.
Kyber recently retweeted an article from littleboy, a writer at publish0x which clears up these misconceptions:
I just published the article, "Kyber Network is not just a DEX, it is a DeFi platform"https://t.co/XIrLl8lsDU
— littleboy (@littleboy0k) August 25, 2019
KNC Token Is Trading Flat This Year Kyber Network Crystal (KNC) is the native token of Kyber Network. It’s an integral part of Kyber Network and is used by participants to pay network fees, for commissions & referral fees, and facilitates the “smooth operation of the reserves system in Kyber’s liquidity network.”
KNC was sold during the Kyber Network token sale which ended 16 September 2017. The equivalent of $52,000,000 worth of ETH at the time was raised. It can now be bought and sold at many major exchanges including Binance and Huobi Global, and of course using Kyber Network or Kyber Swap.
KNC price performance in 2019 – Source: TradingView.com One KNC token is currently worth $0.1735, which is 7% higher than what it was on the first day of 2019. KNC did briefly hit a high of $0.42 in June of 2019, which was an increase of 160% from the start of the year. While KNC has provided some opportunities for nimble investors to profit from this year, as it stands, its year-to-date gains currently remain relatively flat.
BitStarz Player Wins Record-Breaking $2,459,124! Could you be next to win big? >>>
Blokt is a leading independent privacy resource that maintains the highest possible professional and ethical journalistic standards.
Is the BNB Token a security or a utility token? It’s a question that Binance appears keen to answer, if a recent blog post and a new hashtag, #UseBNB, are anything to go by.
In the post, Binance published an exploration of its multiple use-cases for BNB, which already number over 120 in total.
In SIMETRI’s recently-updated BNB report, researchers highlighted that the number of use cases had “increased substantially”: although BNB began as a means to receive discounted trading fees, it cam now be used throughout the Binance ecosystem as well as with dozens of external providers.
“Since its inception, BNB has increasingly developed its functions and use cases, and has cemented its role as one of the most widely-used utility tokens in the blockchain space,” said a Binance spokesperson.
“BNB has been added and applied in various use cases, both within and beyond the Binance ecosystem.”
BNB can now be used in multiple products including a lending platform, derivatives, margin trading, staking program and futures. The Binance Chain ecosystem has also expanded dramatically, and with it, opportunities for BNB holders to participate in payments across many merchants.
Among the use-cases detailed by Binance in the post:
Merchant payments with BNB. People can pay for goods and services in BNB via TravelbyBit or Pundi X merchant POS systems around the world. In the last month, about 12% of the merchant transactions were in BNB via TravelbyBit POS system. Traveling with BNB. On travel booking platforms such as TravelbyBit and Trip.io, people can use BNB to pay for hotels and flight bookings. On TravelbyBit alone, more than US$700,000 worth flights and hotels were booked between 2018 and 2019. Buying virtual gifts. People can use BNB to pay for virtual gifts on websites such as Gifto. Hiring freelancers. Using platforms like CanWork (with the CanYa coin), you can hire freelancers and pay the fees in BNB. Earning in-game rewards. Get rewarded or pay in BNB for games on VIBEHub Buying property. Pay for real estate assets using BNB on property listing websites such as Propy. Storing BNB using major smartphones. You can store and use BNB through built-in wallets on some of the latest smartphones from Samsung and HTC. But why now discuss BNB utility now? Reading between the lines, Binance seems to be looking to avoid a security classification in the US for BNB.
Advertisement
Following a recent no-fault agreement between EOS and the SEC, which resulted in a $24M fine, it could be argued that Binance sees this as the perfect time to illustrate that it’s grown into a genuine network in which the BNB token drives true utility beyond speculation.
In a report published late last year, eToro’s senior market analyst, Mati Greenspan, wrote that the coin “may contain elements of a Security Token” and although he accepted the coin had certain utilities, he pointed out that the “value of BNB is tied to the performance of the company” with the token burn process comparable to a stock buyback.
Although the contraction in supply may be intended to reduce the concentration of BNB ownership, SIMETRI researchers also suggested that it “may actually increase the likelihood of BNB being considered a security in the US, as token holders directly profit from Binance’s actions.”
However, SIMETRI analysts also noted that utility alone is not the only element examined the by the SEC: the DAO Report represented a watershed moment for cryptocurrency offerings in the USA: those that came before its issuance on July 25th 2017 appear to have been treated more leniently than those that ignored its findings: Binance’s BNB token was offered prior to the DAO Report.
Marc Powers, a partner at BakerHostetler who specializes in blockchain and securities law, told Crypto Briefing that “It was not an active ICO at the time of the SEC report, which to me is critical in analyzing which ICOs the SEC will likely give a pass on unregistered securities offerings.”
EOS, it should be noted, continued to conduct their ICO after the DAO Report guidance.
Binance And The US Market Binance has always been sensitive to the US market. It designed its Binance.US platform, which only opened last month, to be fully compliant with the country’s strict securities laws; seeking approval from state financial regulators, and listing coins that appear likely be classified as utility tokens under American law.
In September, the exchange announced its dollar-backed stablecoin in the U.S, which received regulatory approval from the New York Department of Financial Services.
In addition, unlike many tokens that the SEC has taken action against, Binance does not appear to have explicitly promoted BNB as a speculative asset: the white paper does not mention the possibility that it might rise in value; and it has already been listed on Binance.US – operated by BAM Trading Services.
Against the backdrop of turning Binance.US from a toehold into a major subsidiary, the publication of a report delineating every one of BNB’s use cases appears designed to hone their argument that BNB is not a security.
Should the SEC concur, the exchange will be able to begin introducing all of its other services, through its subsidiary, to the American market.
What does this all mean? It’s no secret that the exchange game isn’t as big as it used to be. Trading volumes are a shadow of what they used to be in 2017, meaning many platforms have taken a hit to their profits.
In a saturated market, providers, including Binance, have generally attempted to diversify their offerings, such as by adding derivatives or lending facilities.
Today’s development shows a new tactic on display: by looking to disarm regulatory intervention in the US, Binance is seeking to capture and hold onto a prize markets
Binance has always had a reputation for outflanking its competitors.
Focusing on the utility of the BNB token shows they’re still working to build the world’s #1 crypto ecosystem.
The full BNB Token Digital Asset Report Update by SIMETRI is available without charge.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Paddy Baker. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.