Polytrade Raises Growth Capital through On-Chain Bond Issuance
Singapore-based fintech startup Polytrade has secured growth capital by issuing an on-chain bond facilitated by Obligate, an on-chain capital markets platform. This bond represents Polytrade’s expansion into Asia as it transforms its business from tokenizing single assets to becoming a multi-asset marketplace for real-world assets (RWAs).
Issuing the On-Chain Bond
Polytrade issued the blockchain-based bond as an electronic note (eNote) on Polygon’s layer-2 network. The proceeds were disbursed to Polytrade in the USDC stablecoin. The bond is backed by Polytrade’s trade receivables and was structured by Obligate, allowing the company to access new on-chain sources of debt financing alongside traditional bank lending.
Accessing New Forms of Capital
Non-bank lenders like Polytrade often face challenges in accessing capital due to banks’ conservative lending approach in Asia. Obligate’s platform addresses this gap by providing alternative forms of capital. Tobias Wohlfarth of Obligate emphasized the importance of platforms like Obligate in filling this lending gap.
Strategic Significance for Polytrade
This on-chain bond issuance holds strategic importance for Polytrade, showcasing its commitment to driving RWA adoption and growth in Asia. It follows closely after the recent soft launch of its marketplace. Piyush Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Polytrade, sees this partnership with Obligate as a long-lasting relationship that demonstrates their dedication to expanding their tokenization business.
Obligate’s Role in Facilitating Tokenized Bonds
Obligate’s end-to-end digital securities issuance and lifecycle management platform played a critical role in enabling Polytrade’s entry into tokenized bonds. With its compliant architecture, enforceable debt securities, and dispute resolution mechanisms, Obligate facilitates institutional adoption of on-chain capital solutions.
Easing Liquidity Bottlenecks in the RWA Sector
This partnership with Obligate addresses a significant challenge in the RWA ecosystem – lack of liquidity. By leveraging Obligate’s platform, Polytrade aims to ease liquidity bottlenecks for the sector. Milind Bansia, Head of Strategy at Polytrade, highlighted liquidity as a key obstacle for RWAs.
Future Plans and Institutional Adoption
Polytrade intends to continue using Obligate’s platform for future digital bond issuances as it scales its operations. Polygon will also remain a key collaborator by providing secure layer-2 infrastructure for on-chain financing rounds. With its expansion plans and ability to raise growth capital through innovative structures, Polytrade is poised to advance the institutional adoption of RWAs globally.
Hot Take: Polytrade Expands into Asia with On-Chain Bond Issuance
Singapore-based fintech startup Polytrade has made significant progress in its expansion into Asia through an on-chain bond issuance facilitated by Obligate. By utilizing blockchain technology and accessing new forms of debt financing, Polytrade aims to drive the adoption and growth of real-world assets (RWAs) in the region. This strategic move not only showcases Polytrade’s commitment but also addresses liquidity challenges in the RWA sector. With partnerships like Obligate and support from platforms like Polygon, Polytrade is well-positioned to advance the institutional adoption of RWAs globally.