In an era where the lines between traditional finance (TradFi) and cryptocurrencies continue to blur, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) stands out as one of the hottest trends. This trend, which allows tangible assets such as vehicles and real estate to be bought and sold as tokens on a blockchain, promises to revolutionize the efficiency and speed of asset transactions.
Last week, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, positioned itself at the forefront of this movement with the to throw of a US$100 million tokenization fund, which has already attracted more than US$240 million in investments in the first week.
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, has been outspoken about the potential of tokenization, stating that RWAs “could once again revolutionize finance.” This comment has contributed to a notable increase in the valuation of several RWA crypto tokens in recent weeks. In light of these developments, crypto analysts at Layergg have identified a specific crypto project that they believe could attract significant interest from BlackRock.
Why BlackRock might choose Aptos
The project in question is Aptos, which stands out for its potential in the RWA space. According to Layergg analysis Shared on X (formerly Twitter), the narrative around RWA and tokenization, reinforced by BlackRock’s involvement, suggests a nascent but rapidly growing interest in this sector.
They highlight that mid- to low-cap RWA projects listed on Binance have performed exceptionally well, indicating broader market interest stimulated by narrative-based investment strategies. However, BlackRock’s favorite crypto project could be Aptos.
A closer look at Aptos reveals several factors that could make it an attractive partner for BlackRock. Firstly, Aptos is set to make a significant RWA-related announcement in April, coinciding with the Aptos DeFi DAYS event on April 2-5.
![Why BlackRock Could Bet on This RWA Token: Crypto Analyst 1 DeFi Fit Days](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GJq2MdGbgAAXxpP.jpg)
This announcement is speculated to involve a partnership with a global asset management company, potentially BlackRock. “A partnership with a global asset management company is expected to be announced. There is speculation that this could include BlackRock,” the analysts noted.
The basis for this speculation includes Aptos CEO Mo Shaikh’s previous tenure at BlackRock, suggesting pre-existing industry connections that could facilitate such a partnership.
![Why BlackRock Could Bet on This RWA Token: Crypto Analyst 2 Aptos Founder Mo Shaikh](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GJq2XKQa0AAzH2d.png)
Furthermore, Aptos founder Mo Shaikh and Aptos Labs ecosystem head Neil H have hinted at this since the beginning. In mid-February, Shaikh revealed via X: “I sat down with three of the biggest asset managers in the world this week. A little preview… while the year started with ETFs, it will end with massive on-chain RWA, growth in Asia, and everything else using parallelization on Aptos See you in Hong Kong.”
On February 21, Shaikh also commented on a post on X by Dan Morehead, founder and managing partner of Pantera Capital. Morehead stated: “Tomorrow I will speak at BlackRock’s Institutional Digital Assets Summit. (…) The existence of this Summit **IS** the big change. I’m very excited about this. Mo Shaikh commented mysteriously: “There is a summit in this.”
![Why BlackRock Could Bet on This RWA Token: Crypto Analyst 3 Clues from Aptos founder](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GJq2TDlbkAAZFGN-1.jpg)
Furthermore, Adam Cader, founder of Thala Labs recently stated via X that “something is cooking for Aptos. I am a co-founder of the largest application on the network and here is my list of the next significant catalysts for the entire ecosystem.” Cader referenced Shaikh’s statement and added that Blackrock, Vanguard and Fidelity are the three largest asset managers in the world.
“If I had to guess, this refers to them using the chain in some way/integrating it into one of their products which has precedents in the TradFi world. Also note that Blackrock is the most crypto-aligned of the bunch,” he said via X.
Crypto Revolution: Will APT Follow AVAX?
But that is not all. Aptos has been suggested to explore partnerships with other large asset management firms, including Franklin Templetonwhich has already invested in Aptos (level 3) and planned to use its blockchain for money market funds.
Such strategic alliances could position Aptos similarly to how Avalanche has benefited from its partnerships in the Project Guardian initiative (JPMorgan and Wisdomtree), experiencing a substantial price increase following the announcement. “Avalanche saw a more than 4x price increase following the ‘Project Guardian’ news,” Layergg noted.
They concluded: “If a partnership with BlackRock proceeds, more ‘great partnerships’ will naturally emerge.”
At press time, APT was trading at $17.59, up 87% over the past five weeks.
![Why BlackRock Could Bet on This RWA Token: Crypto Analyst 4 Aptos price](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/APTUSD_2024-03-28_15-11-34.png)
Featured image of Pensions and Investments, chart from TradingView.com
Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent NewsBTC’s opinion on buying, selling or holding any investments and, naturally, investing carries risks. We advise that you conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use the information provided on this website at your own risk.