Dubai-based startup Tokinvest has announced a USD 3.2 million pre-seed funding round, along with the acquisition of Dubai’s first full multi-asset issuance licence from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).
Founded in 2024 by Scott Thiel and Matthew Blom, Tokinvest operates a regulated marketplace for real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, aiming to turn physical assets like property, commodities, and collectables into digital tokens that investors can trade.
With its licence from VARA, Tokinvest is legally authorised to issue and distribute tokenised RWAs under Dubai’s regulatory framework.
Also Read: Tokinvest Secures VARA License, Transforming Global Asset Investment
Its debut offering was a tokenised racehorse, launched in partnership with Evolution Stables, which sold out entirely, marking one of the first fractionalised sports-asset token launches in the region.
Growth Plans & Platform Strategy
The fresh capital injection will be used to scale Tokinvest’s platform infrastructure, deepen its regulatory operations, and expand into new asset classes that include property, commodities, funds, and bonds. The company has also teased its upcoming “Golden Hour” feature, which will grant early adopters priority access to new tokenised assets before they are made publicly available.
By positioning itself as a full-stack provider, Tokinvest intends to cover the complete lifecycle of RWA investments from ideation and issuance to trading and asset servicing, effectively lowering barriers to entry for a broader investor base.
Why It Matters in MENA
The UAE is rapidly emerging as a hub for RWA tokenisation, aided by pro-innovation regulation. Cumulative on-chain RWAs now exceed USD 17 billion, according to industry reports. Dubai’s ambitions are clear: transform tokenisation from speculative pilot projects into a regulated financial infrastructure for real assets.
The success of Tokinvest could expand investment access in the Gulf, enabling smaller investors to participate in high-value assets. This aligns with broader MENA trends pushing digital finance, asset fractionalisation, and investor inclusion.
