Apex Fund Manager Plans to Buy Tokenization Company Tokeny
In a significant move towards the future of finance, Apex Group, a leading global financial services provider, has announced the acquisition of Tokeny, a pioneering player in the tokenization industry. This strategic move has propelled Apex Group into the forefront of tokenized asset services, marking the launch of "Apex Digital 3.0."
Apex Digital 3.0, the first global asset servicing platform designed to bridge traditional finance (TradFi) and blockchain markets at scale, integrates Tokeny's tokenisation capabilities. The platform offers modular services for stablecoin issuers, including manufacturing, issuance, distribution, and proof of reserve, with plans to extend similar services to issuers of tokenized money market funds.
The acquisition of Tokeny, which took place in mid 2019, has been instrumental in Apex Group's advancement of tokenization projects and partnerships. In December 2023, Tokeny's lead strategic investor became Apex Group, further strengthening the alliance.
Peter Hughes, Founder and CEO of Apex Group, stated that the acquisition enhances Apex's ability to deliver comprehensive, future-proof solutions. Luc Falempin, CEO of Tokeny, added that Apex Group brings institutional distribution and credibility to tokenization.
Apex Group's commitment to expanding tokenization services is evident in the new hires specializing in digital assets, as well as the partnerships with incumbent asset managers such as Hamilton Lane and crypto native firms like Deutsche Boerse owned Crypto Finance.
The automation enabled by smart contracts and the reach of permissionless blockchains offers a cost-effective pathway for alternative asset managers to expand their retail reach. This is exemplified by Apex Group's tokenization of $32 billion in assets, as suggested by a client survey from around four years ago, suggesting a much higher current total.
Tokeny is renowned for creating the T-REX ERC-3643 securities tokenization standard, which supports permissioned tokens on public blockchains. The company has also partnered with data automation firm Inveniam, which manages over $65 billion of assets on its platform.
Recent developments in regulatory compliance are also boosting the adoption of tokenized assets. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is running tokenization pilots for collateral, enabling tokenized assets to be posted as margin. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to review the retail threshold for investing in fixed-term private funds.
Apex Group's acquisition of Tokeny is not only enhancing its ability to deliver comprehensive, future-proof solutions but also facilitating integration between traditional finance systems and blockchain infrastructure. This was evident in a cross-chain deliver versus payment (DvP) trial between the Polygon and Base blockchains, which involved Tokeny.
In addition, Apex Group has inked a deal with Coinbase Asset Management to provide digital fund administration services and acquired the permissioned administration platform FundAdminChain in early 2022.
With these developments, Apex Group is leveraging its acquisition of Tokeny to build a comprehensive ecosystem for tokenized financial products, focusing on regulatory compliance, institutional adoption, and expanded digital asset servicing capabilities.
[1] Apex Group Press Release, "Apex Group Launches Apex Digital 3.0: The First Global Asset Servicing Platform Bridging TradFi and Blockchain Markets at Scale," [date], [link] [2] Tokeny Press Release, "Tokeny and Apex Group Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate the Adoption of Tokenised Assets," [date], [link] [5] Apex Group Press Release, "Apex Group Acquires Tokeny Over a Three-Year Period," [date], [link]
- Apex Digital 3.0, the first global asset servicing platform, integrates Tokeny's tokenization capabilities, offering modular services for stablecoin issuers and plans to extend these to tokenized money market funds.
- The acquisition of Tokeny by Apex Group in mid 2019 has enabled the expansion of tokenization projects and partnerships, as demonstrated by Apex Group's tokenization of $32 billion in assets suggested by a client survey.
- Tokeny is recognized for creating the T-REX ERC-3643 securities tokenization standard, which supports permissioned tokens on public blockchains, and for partnering with data automation firm Inveniam, managing over $65 billion of assets.
- Recent regulatory developments, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)'s tokenization pilots for collateral and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)'s review of the retail threshold for investing in fixed-term private funds, are boosting the adoption of tokenized assets.
- Apex Group is leveraging its acquisition of Tokeny to build a comprehensive ecosystem for tokenized financial products, focusing on regulatory compliance, institutional adoption, and expanded digital asset servicing capabilities, as evidenced by deals with Coinbase Asset Management and the acquisition of the permissioned administration platform FundAdminChain.