Unlocking the Potential of RWAs with Web3 Integrations

Tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is one of the hottest areas in the blockchain space. One estimate for RWA tokens says that they’ll reach a market cap of at least $3.5 trillion and as much as $10 trillion by 2030.

RWA tokens on their own have significant potential to disrupt traditional financial (TradFi) systems and markets. However, they only make up one small piece of the greater Web3 ecosystem. When considered in this context, the potential applications of RWA tokens expand dramatically.

What are RWAs?

RWA tokenization involves tracking ownership of physical assets on the blockchain. While non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were originally used to demonstrate ownership of digital art — like Bored Apes — they can also be used to track ownership of real-world assets, such as art, real estate, financial instruments, and similar assets.

RWAs begin with the tokenization process, which is when tokens are created to encode ownership of the RWA. This can only be accomplished by the asset’s legitimate owner, and proving token legitimacy is one of the major challenges of RWA tokenization. Anyone can create a token, but that doesn’t mean that they are the true owner of an associated RWA or have the right to tokenize it on-chain.

Once RWAs are tokenized, they operate similarly to any other NFT on the blockchain. They can be bought, sold, and traded on the blockchain, creating new opportunities and use cases for the underlying physical assets. The global nature of the blockchain can also make these assets available to new investors and buyers that might not have access to traditional financial market.s

Exploring Web3 Technologies

Often, the term Web3 is used synonymously with the word blockchain. The blockchain’s decentralized computing and ability for content creators to own their content creates a contrast with Web2 — the current Internet where users can only read and write content.

However, Web3 extends far beyond the blockchain and includes various emerging technologies such as:

• Internet of Things (IoT) devices

• Edge Computing

• Metaverse

• Artificial Intelligence

These technologies align well with the blockchain ethos and the goals of RWA tokenization. For example, IoT devices and edge computing have the potential to decentralize computing systems, moving away from centralized cloud infrastructure.

RWAs in the Web3 Ecosystem

RWA tokens alone have various potential applications. Turning ownership records of physical assets into NFTs eliminates many of the bottlenecks and roadblocks that complicate the process of buying, selling, and trading these assets or proving ownership and provenance.

However, the full potential of RWA tokenization is only unlocked when they are integrated into the greater Web3 ecosystem. Many of the components of Web3 have direct applications to RWA tokenization, addressing some of its greatest challenges and unlocking new opportunities.

IoT and Edge Computing for Verification

One of the hardest problems in RWA tokenization is proving that a token actually tracks and confers ownership of an RWA. There have been numerous cases of fake tokens being created that claim to confer ownership of digital art without the knowledge or consent of the artist or true owner.

IoT devices and edge computing have the potential to provide physical proof of the authenticity of an RWA token tracked on the blockchain. An RFID chip or microcontroller attached to the physical device can encode information about the RWA token, providing physical proof of the authenticity of the associated token.

Blockchain Tracks Ownership and Provenance

The goal of RWA tokenization is to move real-world assets on-chain. By doing so, they record ownership data on the blockchain’s immutable digital ledger and provide all of the same capabilities as other types of tokens.

Moving RWAs on-chain provides a variety of different benefits. Blockchains are more transparent than traditional processes for buying and selling RWAs and can have lower fees by cutting out the middleman. Additionally, the global blockchain network opens up new potential markets and creates a highly resilient system.

One of the biggest benefits of blockchain technology for RWAs is smart contracts. Once an RWA is a token, smart contracts can be written to perform various operations with that token. NFTs can easily implement fractional ownership of assets, and smart contracts can be used to implement other financial instruments, such as futures. The unique capabilities of smart contracts also have the potential to introduce totally new asset classes or applications of RWAs that are not feasible with traditional financial systems.

Metaverse and AI Make RWAs Digital

The defining feature of RWAs is that they’re (mostly) physical items that exist in the real world. However, the growth of the metaverse means that people are spending more time in the digital world, and this trend is likely to continue in the future.

As metaverse usage becomes more widespread, RWA tokens offer the potential to bridge the physical and digital worlds. With these tokens, people can prove ownership of physical objects, and metaverses can be programmed to reflect this. This could mean allowing people to display luxury or limited-edition items in the real world in the metaverse or could be used to manage access to digital experiences based on ownership of real-world items or tickets.

Securing RWAs and Web3

RWA tokens and the greater Web3 ecosystem have the potential to revolutionize how real-world assets are managed, tracked, and used. In addition to simplifying proof of ownership, they also unlock new potential use cases due to the existence of smart contracts and edge computing.

However, it’s also important to consider the potential security implications of moving asset ownership on-chain. Currently, blockchain and DeFi are facing significant challenges related to protecting private keys, smart contracts, and cryptocurrencies against hacks and theft. If valuable real-world assets — such as property — are tracked on-chain, the potential for high-value and high-impact hacks will only increase.

As Web3 projects begin to use RWAs to bridge the physical and on-chain worlds, it’s important to ensure that these projects are implemented using security best practices and cybersecurity programs. For help in performing smart contract audits and designing security protocols for your on-chain project, reach out to Halborn.