Blackrock and Bitcoin logo on dark background with shiny details. 3D render. MUENSTER, GERMANY - June 17, 2023
- BlackRock’s BUIDL fund has surpassed $1 billion in assets, driven by institutional investments and the growing adoption of tokenized treasuries, which now exceed $4.4 billion.
- This surge highlights the shift toward blockchain-powered financial instruments, promising greater liquidity, transparency, and efficiency in traditional markets.
BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, known as BUIDL, has reached a significant milestone, surpassing $1 billion in assets under management (AUM) within just a year of its launch. The rapid growth of this fund highlights the increasing influence of tokenized government securities in the financial sector.
A Rapid Ascent
BUIDL experienced a 56.4% surge in assets over 30 days, with the number of holders rising nearly 20% to 61. Ethereum dominates the fund’s holdings with $825.4 million, while the remainder is distributed across networks like Avalanche, Polygon, Aptos, Optimism, and Arbitrum.
A major driver of this surge was a $200 million investment from Ethena Labs, the company behind the USDtb stablecoin. Ethena Labs primarily backs USDtb with BUIDL tokens, which account for over 90% of its reserves.
Launched in March 2023 in partnership with Securitize, BUIDL provides qualified institutional investors with exposure to U.S. dollar yields via blockchain technology. Ondo Finance, another key player in the digital finance sector, also uses BUIDL for its money market fund.
Tokenized Treasuries on the Rise
The success of BUIDL reflects the broader growth of the tokenized treasury market, which now exceeds $4.4 billion. Other major players, such as Franklin Templeton’s OnChain US Government Money Fund (FOBXX) and Hashnote’s USYC, are also making significant contributions to the sector. However, while FOBXX saw a 16% asset increase, USYC’s value dropped by 24.35% in the past month.
Ondo Finance’s USDY, another prominent tokenized treasury fund, grew by 53% in the last 30 days, reaching a market value of over $592 million.
A Changing Financial Landscape
Securitize recently partnered with DeFi-focused oracle provider RedStone to enhance BUIDL’s integration into decentralized finance (DeFi). RedStone will provide price feeds for BUIDL, enabling its use in money markets and collateralized lending platforms.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has emphasized the transformative potential of tokenized assets, stating that blockchain-based securities can democratize investing by making financial assets more accessible.
Meanwhile, Coinbase is revisiting plans to tokenize its stock ($COIN) and other securities in the U.S., a project initially proposed in 2020 but delayed due to regulatory challenges. With evolving regulations and growing institutional interest, tokenized securities are poised to reshape global finance, offering benefits such as enhanced liquidity, transparency, and efficiency.
Final Thoughts
BUIDL’s rapid growth is a testament to the increasing adoption of tokenized treasuries and the shift towards blockchain-powered financial instruments. As more institutions embrace tokenization, the financial landscape is set for a significant transformation, bringing greater accessibility and efficiency to traditional markets.
