How Tokenized Assets Work in Crypto Markets Jesse Knutson ATC #603

Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) represent a critical evolution in financial infrastructure, offering 24-7, 365-day settlement and increased capital efficiency that traditional markets currently lack. Jesse Knutson, Head of Operations at Bitfinex Securities, highlights how tokenization bridges the gap for SMEs in emerging markets like Latin America, providing access to global capital through regulated, blockchain-based instruments. Unlike the speculative nature of the 2017 ICO era, modern security token offerings (STOs) emphasize investor protection, regulatory compliance, and transparency. By utilizing the Liquid Network, Bitfinex Securities enables self-custody and peer-to-peer trading of tokenized bonds, ETFs, and treasuries. This transition toward digital assets is not a threat to traditional finance but a necessary upgrade, enabling a more inclusive, efficient, and sovereign financial ecosystem that empowers individual investors while maintaining the rigorous standards required by global regulators.