Tokinvest, a regulated marketplace for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, has announced three significant developments: the receipt of Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) multi-asset issuance license, the full sale of its initial tokenized racehorse asset, and the completion of a $3.2 million pre-seed funding round.
With the VARA license, Tokinvest is now among a select group of platforms globally authorized to issue and distribute tokenized real-world assets under a comprehensive regulatory framework. This development positions Dubai as a global hub for asset formation and cross-border investment in the tokenized space. Scott Thiel, CEO and Co-Founder of Tokinvest, stated, “Securing one of the first full issuance licences from VARA demonstrates both the market demand and the trust placed in Tokinvest… It’s a clear signal that Dubai is not just setting the standard in regulation but also emerging as a global capital for asset formation and cross-border investment. We are proud to play a role in shaping Dubai’s leadership in this space, and grateful to VARA for their vision and partnership.”
The company’s inaugural tokenization initiative, a world-class racehorse in collaboration with Evolution Stables, has been fully sold. This marks a first-of-its-kind achievement in the fractionalization of sports assets, attracting investors from three different countries despite the asset being based in New Zealand and issued from Dubai. Alex Baddeley, CEO of Evolution Stables, commented, “Partnering with Tokinvest to bring racehorse tokenisation to life was a groundbreaking step for us. The response has been phenomenal; it’s proof that technology can create access and passion-driven investment opportunities that were never possible before.”
Building on this momentum, Tokinvest plans to introduce tokenized property assets, aiming to broaden access for retail investors to opportunities traditionally reserved for institutional or high-net-worth individuals. Additional asset classes, including commodities, funds, and bonds, are currently undergoing regulatory approval. Early registrants can join a waitlist for “Golden Hour” access, which provides exclusive early entry to the platform for priority allocations in upcoming real estate offerings, subject to regulatory approval. Mr. Thiel noted, “We set out to make investing in real-world assets as simple as buying a stock.”
The debut racehorse token was issued on Polygon, a blockchain protocol recognized for its strategic focus on real-world assets (RWAs). Polygon currently secures over $1.1 billion in RWA value locked. Aishwary Gupta, Head of Payments and RWA at Polygon, said, “RWAs are one of the fastest-growing sectors on-chain, and Polygon has become the natural home for their tokenisation. Tokinvest’s launch of VARA’s first multi-asset issuance from Dubai shows how regulated platforms can now bring high-quality assets to global investors at scale. We’re proud Polygon is the foundation for this milestone.”
The $3.2 million pre-seed funding round received backing from various investors, including venture capitalists, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals such as Triliv Holdings and Exponential Science. The capital will be allocated towards platform development, regulatory expansion initiatives, and the integration of new asset classes, spanning property, funds, and commodities. Jigar Sagar, Founder of Triliv Holdings, commented, “Tokinvest stands out for bringing regulation, trust, and accessibility to real-world asset tokenisation. We invested because their vision to democratise premium assets aligns with Dubai’s ambition and has true global scale.”
