Asia Drives Blockchain Integration in Real-World Finance

Asia is quietly reshaping the blockchain landscape by integrating it into the real-world financial ecosystem, moving away from speculative crypto markets toward tokenized infrastructure and tangible assets. At the forefront of this shift are Asia-based firms like Amber Premium and Evolve, which are using blockchain to tokenize renewable energy, infrastructure, and financial instruments, providing institutional investors with more stable and transparent alternatives to traditional investment vehicles [1].

Amber Premium, a Thailand-based institutional crypto services provider, has positioned itself as a regulated gateway into Web3 by merging with iClick and securing a Nasdaq listing. The firm operates across multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore, where it is licensed under the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and offers a range of tokenized products such as clean energy debt and stablecoins. As of Q1 2025, Amber managed $1.275 billion in assets under management across 928 active clients, largely from Greater China, the Middle East, and North America. While Amber’s revenue remains modest—$14.94 million in Q1 2025—it prioritizes regulatory compliance and infrastructure development over short-term profits [1].

Evolve, a Canadian firm with a growing presence in Asia, is tokenizing renewable energy infrastructure such as solar farms and EV battery stations. The company, co-founded by Maverick Hui, has received regulatory approval in Canada for several ETFs and partners with U.S. custodians like Coinbase Custody Trust. In early 2025, Evolve partnered with Mile Green, a manufacturer of e-scooters and battery stations, to tokenize clean energy assets backed by $50 million in funding from CMAG Funds [1].

Both companies reflect a broader trend in Asia: the tokenization of real-world assets is gaining momentum as regulators create more favorable environments. Hong Kong and Singapore, for example, offer innovation sandboxes and clearer regulatory frameworks, though both still impose strict limitations on retail access and wallet-to-wallet transfers. Meanwhile, mainland China continues to experiment with blockchain through state-backed initiatives like the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) and the e-CNY digital currency, despite its broader restrictions on crypto trading [1].

The evolving regulatory environment in the U.S. is also supporting Asia-led blockchain innovation. The second Trump administration introduced a more pro-crypto stance, including a new executive order and a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. These developments are expected to provide a more stable legal foundation for tokenized finance, potentially attracting institutional capital into digital assets and infrastructure tokens [1].

Despite these advances, challenges remain. Liquidity in the tokenized asset space is still limited, and valuations for firms like Amber Premium have declined sharply since their Nasdaq listing. Legal and technical barriers—such as ensuring that blockchain tokens represent enforceable rights in physical assets—also persist. Analysts suggest the market is in its early stages, with Standard Chartered predicting it could grow to $30.1 trillion over the next decade [1].

As regulatory frameworks evolve and infrastructure matures, Asia is proving to be the vanguard of a new financial paradigm: one where blockchain no longer exists in isolation but serves as the backbone of a more inclusive, efficient, and transparent global financial system.

Source: [1] Asia’s quiet tokenization revolution shows how the blockchain becomes ‘real’ (https://fortune.com/asia/2025/08/11/real-world-assets-blockchain-asia-evolve-amber-mile-green/)