Matrixport Teams Up with HKUST to Advance Tokenised Gold and RWA Research

Singapore, 14 August 2025 – Matrixport, a leading global provider of crypto financial services, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Institute for Finance Research. The collaboration is intended to advance research on digital assets and the tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA), with the goal of addressing key challenges in fintech development and supporting the integration of traditional and digital financial systems [1].

The partnership will focus on XAUm, a physical gold-backed token issued by Matrixdock, Matrixport’s dedicated RWA tokenisation platform. The institutions will jointly study the global adoption and distribution of tokenised gold products, with an emphasis on user behaviour, market access mechanisms, and channel strategies [1]. This initiative aims to contribute to the broader understanding of how gold-based RWA assets can play a role in portfolio construction, macroeconomic hedging, and enhancing financial system resilience [1].

In addition to XAUm, the collaboration will explore on-chain data analytics and visualisation related to RWA. The study will examine asset flows, transaction structures, and decentralised lending patterns, with the aim of identifying structural linkages between blockchain-based and traditional financial systems. The research will also focus on developing intelligent monitoring systems and improving market dynamics tracking models, enabling institutional investors to better understand the operations of the digital asset market and enhance their risk management strategies [1].

John Ge, CEO of Matrixport, stated that RWA tokenisation serves as a bridge between traditional finance and Web3, addressing issues of asset transparency and liquidity. He noted that the partnership with HKUST reflects a convergence of academic and industry expertise, supporting Hong Kong’s ongoing efforts to build a compliant fintech ecosystem and shaping the future of tokenised finance [1]. Bo Tang, Head of HKUST Institute for Finance Research, added that the collaboration aims to combine academic rigor with industry insights, producing research that offers both theoretical and practical value for the RWA market [1].

Matrixport has been an early mover in the RWA tokenisation space. Through its platform Matrixdock, it launched the first tokenised short-term treasury bill product (STBT) in Asia and, in late 2024, introduced XAUm, a tokenised gold asset backed by 99.99% purity gold. XAUm has since become one of the top three gold tokens by on-chain adoption globally [1]. The joint research with HKUST is expected to further establish XAUm as a benchmark for tokenised gold products and contribute to the broader tokenisation of precious metals [1].

Founded in 2019, Matrixport operates as a global all-in-one hub for crypto financial services, offering a range of solutions including trading, investment, lending, custody, and RWA. With $6 billion in AUM, the company has secured multiple regulatory licenses across key markets, including Hong Kong, the UK, Switzerland, and Singapore. It was recognized as one of the “50 Most Promising Blockchain Companies” by CB Insights and listed as a fintech unicorn in Singapore in 2025 [1].

Matrixdock, a subsidiary platform of Matrixport, is focused on providing access to high-quality real-world assets through tokenisation. In 2023, it won the Ecosystem Excellence TADS Award for Trading & Liquidity Solutions for its STBT product. XAUm, launched in 2024, is backed by LBMA-accredited gold and provides investors with a transparent and trusted digital representation of physical gold [1].

The HKUST Institute for Finance Research aims to address critical economic and financial challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. The institute focuses on four core research areas: Technological Innovations, Environmental and Social Responsibility, Wealth Management, and Macro-finance and Geo-economics. Through partnerships with industry practitioners and academic institutions globally, the institute seeks to produce research that informs policy and industry decision-making [1].

The partnership between Matrixport and HKUST Institute for Finance Research underscores the growing importance of RWA tokenisation in the global financial landscape. By combining academic expertise with industry innovation, the collaboration aims to drive forward the development of tokenised assets and contribute to the evolution of the fintech ecosystem [1].

Source:

[1] Matrixport and the HKUST Institute for Finance Research Forge Strategic Partnership to Drive RWA Tokenisation,

https://www.newsbtc.com/press-releases/matrixport-and-the-hkust-institute-for-finance-research-forge-strategic-partnership-to-drive-rwa-tokenisation/