In a significant development, Rabobank has joined hands with ABN AMRO, Assetblocks, and 2Tokens to collectively apply for participation in the European Blockchain Sandbox (EBS), securing acceptance into the 1st Cohort of 2023. This collaborative venture seeks to explore the innovative potential of tokenized financial securities and stablecoin integration, with the overarching goal of bridging the divide between tangible assets and the digital economy through the tokenization of real-world assets and the utilization of euros for transactions.
The Assetblocks ‘base case’ represents a groundbreaking opportunity for individuals to invest in tracking stocks that mirror renewable energy sources. Through the acquisition of these tokens, investors attain co-ownership rights over solar, wind, or battery parks, entitling them to a share in the profits generated by these sustainable assets.
To ensure legal compliance and instill confidence in the security of their holdings, proof of ownership is represented by a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), a classification aligned with MiFID II regulations. Currently, transactions related to NFT purchases or sales, as well as dividend distributions, are facilitated using traditional euros.
Rabobank, ABN AMRO, Assetblocks, and 2Tokens embark on a pioneering journey to explore the integration of tokenized financial securities and stablecoins within the European Blockchain Sandbox.
This innovative use case aims to delve into the feasibility of employing euros or bank deposit stablecoins within a sandbox environment. Both non-hosted and hosted wallets, offered by financial institutions, will support these stablecoin transactions, introducing new levels of accessibility and convenience for investors.
Furthermore, the exploration of alternative options for tokenizing these assets as financial instruments, known as security tokens, remains on the agenda. The acceptance into the European Blockchain Sandbox will provide a safe platform for discussions with EU regulatory authorities and individual European member state frameworks on pertinent regulatory matters.
Crucially, the NFTs incorporate embedded metadata, supplying essential information about the underlying assets. This feature empowers investors to track production and access real-time value data, thereby enhancing transparency and trust.
In adherence to regulatory requirements, all investors must complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure during the onboarding process. Once successfully whitelisted, investors can seamlessly acquire NFTs using euros, with a keen interest in exploring the adoption of euro-based stablecoins. This process encompasses the whitelisting of both non-hosted and hosted wallets.
Alex Bausch, Chairman at 2Tokens, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to collaborate with ABN AMRO, Assetblocks, and Rabobank in our application for the EBS. Assetblocks represents a significant step forward in democratizing investments and creating a decentralized economy. By leveraging blockchain technology, we are opening up new possibilities for investors and contributing to a sustainable future.”
Meindert Jansberg, CEO of Assetblocks, emphasized the significance of this regulatory sandbox collaboration, saying, “By collaborating with ABN AMRO and Rabobank in this regulatory sandbox, the project aims to help create a common understanding of the true possibilities of tokenization in a fully compliant way. Using this approach, the project hopes to pave the path for future tokenization and stablecoin-related projects, unleashing the full potential of tokenization for society.”
Martijn Siebrand, Digital Assets ABN AMRO, highlighted the value of participating in the EBS use case, explaining, “The use case in the EBS is of interest because we can build further on our digital assets capabilities and learn about new topics and developments. We will learn from the regulators as well as from the use case together with industry partners.”
Marjan van der Plas, Blockchain Acceleration Lab at Rabobank, underscored the need for regulatory clarity in the evolving digital and tokenized assets landscape, stating, “In the new digital and tokenized assets space, there is still a lot of ambiguity in regulatory frameworks. The EBS provides an excellent opportunity for us and our partners to safely experiment with the regulators to further shape our mutual understanding of these frameworks. The lessons learned from these joint experiments can be a next step in the development of digital and tokenized assets in the EU.”
In conclusion, this collaborative initiative by Rabobank, ABN AMRO, Assetblocks, and 2Tokens marks a significant stride towards harnessing the potential of tokenized financial securities and stablecoin integration within the European Blockchain Sandbox. Their participation in the 1st Cohort of 2023 is poised to catalyze discussions with regulatory authorities, while also pioneering new possibilities for investors in the digital economy. With an emphasis on transparency, compliance, and innovation, this endeavor is set to shape the future of tokenization and digital assets in the European Union.
