BNB News Today: Tokenization Bridges Traditional and DeFi Worlds as APAC Leads RWA Surge

CMB International has launched a $3.8 billion money market fund on the BNB Chain, marking a significant milestone in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) and expanding institutional access to blockchain-based financial products. The fund, represented by tokens CMBMINT and CMBIMINT, allows accredited investors to subscribe using fiat or stablecoins, with real-time redemption capabilities facilitated by DigiFT and OnChain platforms, according to a Blockonomi article. This initiative, a collaboration between CMB International Asset Management and BNB Chain, positions the fund as one of Asia-Pacific's top-performing money market offerings, according to the BNB Chain blog.

The move underscores the growing role of blockchain in bridging traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems. By leveraging BNB Chain's low transaction costs and scalability, the fund enables investors to deploy tokenized assets in DeFi applications such as lending, staking, and yield farming through protocols like Venus Protocol and ListaDAO, as noted in the Blockonomi article. Adam Bai, Head of CMB International Asset Management, emphasized that blockchain adoption enhances global accessibility while maintaining institutional-grade compliance and risk management, the Blockonomi article added. Since its 2024 inception, the fund has allocated at least 70% of its net asset value to high-quality USD-denominated deposits and money market instruments, according to the BNB Chain blog.

APAC has emerged as a global leader in RWA tokenization, driven by regulatory innovation and cross-border collaboration. Singapore's MAS Project Guardian, Hong Kong's Digital Bond Grant Scheme, and Japan's FSA initiatives have collectively advanced interoperability standards and live-market adoption, according to a Codeum analysis. BNB Chain's ecosystem has become a key player in this shift, hosting tokenized treasuries, real estate, and now institutional-grade money market funds, as detailed in an Orochi guide. The chain's daily decentralized exchange (DEX) volume surpassed $100 billion in June 2025, reflecting robust infrastructure and liquidity, as reported by the Blockonomi article.

The CMB fund's integration with DeFi protocols highlights the expanding utility of tokenized assets. Investors can use CMBMINT and CMBIMINT as collateral on platforms like Venus Protocol to mint stablecoins or access liquidity without selling underlying assets, as explained in a Venus Protocol guide. This synergy between traditional finance and decentralized systems aligns with broader trends in APAC, where regulators and institutions are prioritizing "same risk, same rules" enforcement and cross-chain interoperability, according to BeInCrypto.

While challenges such as data sovereignty and smart contract risks persist, as noted by the Codeum analysis, the CMB launch signals a maturing RWA market. With BNB Chain's active ecosystem—including partnerships with Franklin Templeton, Securitize, and Chainlink—the platform is solidifying its position as a tokenization layer for institutional assets, as observed in the BNB Chain blog. As APAC regulators continue refining frameworks for digital bonds and multi-currency settlements, the path for broader adoption of tokenized funds and structured products appears increasingly viable, according to the Orochi guide.

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