Tether Partners with Bitfinex, KraneShares for Tokenized Securities

The partnership brings together three distinct but complementary entities, each contributing specialized capabilities to create a comprehensive tokenized securities ecosystem. Hadron by Tether will serve as the technological backbone, providing the secure and scalable infrastructure necessary for tokenized asset markets. Bitfinex Securities contributes its licensed secondary trading platform, which operates under El Salvador’s National Commission of Digital Assets (CNAD) regulatory framework, offering crucial liquidity capabilities. KraneShares, manager of the world’s largest China-focused investment fund, brings extensive ETF expertise and global distribution channels that will help expand the partnership’s reach across multiple markets.

According to the announcement, this strategic arrangement will focus on validating tokenized product structures, analyzing institutional demand, and facilitating the integration of real-world assets onto blockchain networks. The collaboration represents a significant step toward bridging traditional financial products with next-generation financial infrastructure, as emphasized by Paolo Ardoino, Tether CEO and Bitfinex Securities CTO, who noted that working with KraneShares enables the connection between traditional investment products and advanced financial infrastructure.

The timing of this partnership aligns with accelerating institutional interest in real-world asset tokenization and substantial market growth projections. Market experts have predicted that the global tokenized securities sector will expand dramatically from approximately $30 billion in 2025 to roughly $10 trillion by 2030. This projected hundred-fold growth over five years underscores the transformative potential that tokenization represents for capital markets and financial infrastructure.

Jesse Knutson, Head of Operations at Bitfinex Securities, highlighted the critical importance of credible secondary markets in realizing the full potential of tokenized assets. “When investors can trade confidently and regulators have clarity, new classes of capital become accessible,” Knutson stated. He further characterized the collaboration as reflecting “an exciting direction of travel, whereby institutional capital is increasingly migrating to tokenised assets as it recognizes the value of efficiency, scalability, and innovation.” This institutional migration toward tokenized assets forms the fundamental business case driving the partnership.

The partnership leverages El Salvador’s progressive digital asset regulatory framework as its foundational compliance structure. Bitfinex Securities’ licensing under El Salvador’s National Commission of Digital Assets provides the regulatory clarity that institutional participants require when engaging with tokenized securities. This regulatory foundation, combined with KraneShares’ established distribution networks and Tether’s technological capabilities through Hadron, creates a compelling value proposition for institutional adoption.

The collaboration aims to capitalize on the efficiency, scalability, and innovation benefits that blockchain technology offers traditional finance. By creating a foundation for product innovation, cross-border investor access, and operational efficiency, the partnership positions the three companies advantageously within the rapidly evolving tokenization landscape. As institutional capital continues to recognize the value proposition of tokenized assets, this alliance provides the necessary infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and market expertise to facilitate that transition at scale.

This initiative reflects Tether and Bitfinex Securities’ broader commitment to supporting the evolution of capital markets through blockchain integration. The partnership represents a significant milestone in the maturation of tokenized securities, combining established financial expertise with innovative blockchain infrastructure to create a comprehensive solution for the emerging tokenized asset class.