SmarterMarkets™ Re-engineering Tokenization Episode 7 | Julian Kwan, CEO, IXS and InvestaX
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Nov 29, 2025 Julian Kwan, CEO of IXS and InvestaX, delves into the world of blockchain tokenization, sharing his journey from launching real estate crowdfunding in Asia to navigating the challenges of tokenizing real assets. He highlights the regulatory landscape in Singapore and contrasts TradFi with crypto perspectives. Kwan discusses the rising popularity of tokenized treasuries and the need for robust infrastructure in this space. He also predicts that tokenization will increasingly merge with DeFi, paving the way for innovative financial applications.
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From Real Estate Crowdfunding To Tokenization
- Julian started with real estate crowdfunding in 2015 and pivoted after seeing ICOs and blockchain in 2017–18.
- He realized tokenization could digitize shares across many asset classes, not just property.
Regulation Sees Assets, Not Paper
- Tokenization fits all asset types because regulation cares about the asset, not the paper format.
- Singapore told Julian in 2018 that existing rules applied equally to tokens, accelerating his work there.
Design For Compliance From Day One
- Build with KYC and compliance as defaults, not afterthoughts.
- Avoid the crypto-era reflex that open, anonymous distribution is always acceptable for securities.