A new push to modernize real world asset trading on blockchain is taking shape as Tenbin Labs secures fresh capital to expand its tokenized gold and foreign exchange offerings. The New York based startup has raised 7 million dollars in seed funding led by Galaxy Ventures, the investment arm of Galaxy Digital, with participation from major crypto trading and venture firms. Tenbin is positioning itself as an alternative to existing onchain asset models that rely heavily on custodial structures and often struggle with slow settlement and price inefficiencies. The company aims to use regulated futures markets as the backbone for its products, allowing tokenized assets to more closely mirror real world prices while remaining fully usable across decentralized finance platforms. Its approach reflects a broader industry shift toward building blockchain based financial instruments that emphasize liquidity, speed and yield rather than simple digital representations of offchain assets.
Tenbin’s core model centers on using futures contracts from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to anchor pricing and hedge exposure, instead of holding physical assets or relying on wrapped custody solutions. This structure allows the protocol to capture futures basis yield, the spread between spot and futures prices, and pass that return directly to token holders. According to the company, this design supports rapid minting and redemption, minimal fees under normal market conditions and seamless movement of tokens across DeFi applications. The first product planned is a tokenized gold asset expected to launch early this year, with infrastructure support from prime brokerage firms Hidden Road and StoneX. By focusing on settlement efficiency and pricing accuracy, Tenbin is attempting to address long standing criticisms that many tokenized assets fail to deliver meaningful improvements over traditional market access.
Beyond gold, Tenbin plans to roll out high yield foreign exchange tokens linked to emerging market currencies such as the Brazilian real and Mexican peso. These products are aimed at crypto native investors looking for yield and diversification beyond U.S. dollar based stablecoins. As demand grows for alternatives that offer exposure to global markets without direct interaction with local banking systems, Tenbin sees an opportunity to attract a new segment of DeFi users. The strategy aligns with a wider trend in digital finance where stable value tokens are evolving into yield generating instruments tied to commodities and currencies. If successful, Tenbin’s model could signal a shift in how tokenized assets are structured, moving the sector closer to institutional grade standards while maintaining the flexibility and accessibility that define blockchain based markets.
