Republic Tokenizes Animoca Brands Equity on Solana

The real-world asset tokenization company Republic announced it will tokenize equity in major Hong Kong-based Web3 investment firm Animoca Brands, marking one of the most significant private equity tokenizations to date. This strategic move will leverage Solana’s blockchain infrastructure to create digital tokens representing ownership in Animoca Brands, a company that despite its substantial portfolio of over 600 Web3 investments, remains privately held without any public exchange listing. The tokenization effectively bridges the gap between traditional private equity and blockchain-enabled accessibility.

Andrew Durgee, co-CEO at Republic, emphasized the transformative nature of this initiative, stating that it sets “a precedent for how companies can structure their equity for the future.” This statement underscores the broader implications for corporate finance and capital formation, suggesting that tokenization could become a standard approach for private companies seeking to maintain control while expanding their investor base. The move represents a fundamental shift in how private company equity can be structured and distributed globally.

The tokenization of Animoca Brands’ equity fundamentally redefines who can participate in private market investments. Historically, access to promising private companies like Animoca Brands has been restricted to venture capital firms, institutional investors, and accredited individuals meeting specific wealth thresholds. Through this RWA tokenization on Solana, retail investors worldwide will gain unprecedented exposure to a Web3 giant that has remained inaccessible through traditional public markets.

Solana Foundation president Lily Liu highlighted the democratizing potential of this development, noting that the move “showcases what internet capital markets make possible,” giving retail investors access to opportunities once reserved for private markets. This alignment between blockchain infrastructure and investment accessibility represents a core promise of Web3 finance—breaking down barriers that have traditionally separated mainstream investors from high-growth private opportunities. The Solana blockchain’s scalability and low transaction costs make such broad-based participation economically feasible.

Animoca Brands’ position as a Hong Kong-based Web3 investment powerhouse with stakes in more than 600 Web3 projects makes this tokenization particularly significant. The company’s extensive portfolio spans gaming, metaverse, DeFi, and NFT projects, positioning it as a bellwether for the broader Web3 ecosystem. By tokenizing its equity, Republic is effectively creating a proxy investment vehicle for exposure to the entire Web3 sector through one of its most active and influential players.

The initiative also represents a major validation of the real-world asset tokenization trend that has been gaining momentum throughout 2024. RWA tokenization involves converting physical or traditional financial assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, creating new possibilities for liquidity, fractional ownership, and global accessibility. Republic’s move with Animoca Brands demonstrates how established private companies can leverage blockchain technology to expand their capital base while maintaining their private status.

This development signals a maturation of the RWA tokenization market beyond simple assets like real estate or commodities into complex equity structures. As more companies observe Animoca Brands’ approach to equity tokenization, similar initiatives will likely emerge across various sectors, potentially transforming how private companies approach fundraising and investor relations in the blockchain era.