World Economic Forum Spotlights XRP Ledger in Powering $1B Private Equity Tokenization
May 26, 2025
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recognized the XRP Ledger (XRPL) as a core technology in the global push toward asset tokenization.
In its May 2025 report titled “Asset Tokenization in Financial Markets,” the WEF highlighted a landmark development related to XRPL. Specifically, it noted that Aurum Equity Partners had launched the world’s first combined private equity and debt tokenized fund, valued at $1 billion, on the XRPL.
XRP Ledger Hosting World’s First $1B Tokenized Private Equity Fund
Notably, this tokenized fund leverages XRPL’s decentralized Layer-1 infrastructure to digitize ownership in a traditionally illiquid asset class. The initiative enables greater investor access and liquidity through global secondary markets, reducing barriers to entry and improving transparency.
Aurum Equity announced the development back in October 2024. At the time, the fund disclosed it would support the development of AI-operated, ESG-focused data centers across the U.S., UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, and Europe.
The initiative utilizes Zoniqx’s Tokenized Asset Lifecycle Management (TALM) platform and the DyCIST protocol to enable secure, compliant, and interoperable financial instruments. By leveraging XRPL’s speed, security, and low cost, the fund aims to increase liquidity and accessibility in traditionally illiquid markets.
Key benefits for investors include access to diversified, liquid, and secure investment options. Meanwhile, for institutions, it offers new revenue opportunities and improved risk management.
David Schwartz, Ripple’s CTO, commented on the collaboration, saying, “XRPL’s efficiency enables better management of tokenized private equity.”
Likewise, Venkat Bussa, CEO of Aurum, said the project represents a major step in bringing real-world assets to the blockchain.
Given this pivotal development in the global tokenization market, the WEF cited it in its latest industry report as an important effort. Notably, widely followed XRP community researcher “SMQKE” drew attention to the WEF’s comment in a recent tweet.
JUST IN: May 2025 World Economic Forum report, “Asset Tokenization in Financial Markets,” highlights XRP Ledger powering $1B private equity tokenization and Ripple’s crypto custody tech via BitGo and Metaco as key infrastructure for the next generation of value exchange.
12…pic.twitter.com/wLHPXtPrVu — SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) May 21, 2025
Ripple’s Custody Tech Gains Recognition via BitGo and Metaco
In addition to XRPL’s role, the WEF also cited Ripple’s expanding custody infrastructure as vital to the evolving tokenized economy.
Specifically, the report highlights BitGo and Metaco, the latter of which was acquired by Ripple, as key custody providers offering secure crypto asset management solutions for institutional tokenized assets.
These providers are described as essential players in safeguarding tokenized equity. They help financial institutions meet regulatory and compliance requirements while bridging the gap between traditional and decentralized financial infrastructure.
Tokenization Set to Reshape Global Markets
Meanwhile, the WEF projects the global private equity market to grow from $5.3 trillion in 2023 to $7 trillion by 2030, with 10% expected to be tokenized. XRPL’s involvement in tokenizing a $1 billion fund sets a precedent for broader adoption across other asset classes.
Indeed, in January 2025, Ripple and Ondo Finance partnered to bring the Ondo Short-Term U.S. Government Treasuries (OUSG) fund to the XRP Ledger.
Backed by BlackRock’s BUIDL fund, OUSG offers institutional investors secure, compliant, yield-bearing exposure to U.S. Treasuries on-chain.
This move follows OpenEden’s tokenized T-bill launch on XRPL in 2024 and confirms the XRPL’s growing role in institutional DeFi.
With Ripple’s infrastructure powering real-world use cases in asset tokenization and custody, XRP and XRPL are playing a foundational role in the next generation of global finance.
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