By Ross Shemeliak, Co-founder and COO of Stobox
Tokenization is one of the most misunderstood innovations in finance today. Dismissed by some as a passing trend or lumped into the broader “crypto” narrative, it is in fact laying the groundwork for the next evolution of global capital markets.
At Stobox, we’ve helped tokenized over $500 million in real-world assets (RWAs), from private equity and real estate to corporate debt and commodities. And with every project, we encounter the same set of persistent myths—misconceptions that are stalling adoption and clouding the true promise of tokenization.
Let’s clear the air.
Myth 1: Tokenization Is Just Another Crypto Fad
Wrong. Tokenization isn’t a narrative — it’s the infrastructure for tomorrow’s financial system.
The digitization of real-world assets is not about hype. It’s about efficiency, transparency, and access. Whether it’s real estate in Europe, equity in a U.S. startup, or commodities in MENA, tokenization enables fractional ownership, automated compliance, and global investor reach — all on a regulated foundation.
This is not a trend. This is the natural evolution of finance. All securities will eventually live onchain. We’re not “early” anymore — we’re in the build phase.
Myth 2: Anyone Can Issue RWAs Like Utility Tokens
This is a dangerous simplification. Tokenizing a real-world asset isn’t like launching a meme coin on a DEX. It’s a regulated process involving securities laws, investor onboarding, KYC/AML, and compliance frameworks tailored to each jurisdiction.
Issuing a tokenized security means dealing with cap tables, shareholder rights, dividend distribution, and secondary market rules. It’s not plug-and-play. It’s finance, not marketing.
Myth 3: MiCA Regulates Tokenized RWAs in Europe
This is a common misconception. MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) is designed to regulate crypto-assets and stablecoins, not securities or RWAs. That’s just 10% of the market.
The remaining 90%, including tokenized shares, bonds, and funds, falls under existing frameworks like the MiFID II directive, Prospectus Regulation, and national corporate laws. Confusing MiCA with a green light for tokenization is misleading — and potentially risky for issuers.
Myth 4: The U.S. Is Too Dangerous Because of the SEC
Here’s the truth: The U.S. is one of the best jurisdictions in the world for tokenization — if done correctly.
Delaware C-Corps, LLCs, and Series LLCs offer a flexible, legally sound structure for issuing digital securities. U.S. corporate law allows the board of directors to manage the shareholder registry, simplifying governance and making tokenization more efficient.
While the SEC has been aggressive on some fronts, many successful tokenization projects operate under Reg D or Reg S exemptions. The key is compliance, not avoidance. And when compliance is built into the code, the U.S. becomes a powerful launchpad.
Myth 5: Tokenized Assets Can Trade Freely Like Crypto
This is another area where people confuse tokenization with unregulated crypto.
Securities are not meant for free, anonymous trading — whether they’re onchain or off. Trading tokenized RWAs requires licensed platforms, investor verification, and transaction monitoring. Permissioned access, jurisdictional filters, and whitelisting are essential tools — and they’re built into Stobox’s infrastructure from day one.
That’s why tokenization enables regulated liquidity, not chaos. Done right, it’s safer and more transparent than legacy systems.
Myth 6: There’s No Real Market for Tokenization
That couldn’t be further from the truth. In a time of trade wars, banking crises, and tightening credit, tokenization is already unlocking liquidity in places traditional finance can’t reach.
- In Southeast Asia and LATAM, stablecoin-denominated invoicing is keeping trade alive amid FX volatility.
- In MENA and Africa, tokenized escrows and DeFi infrastructure are replacing trust in shaky banking systems.
- In Europe and the U.S., companies are raising capital directly from global investors, skipping the VC bottleneck.
This is not theory. This is reality on the ground.
The Big Picture: Tokenization Is Not Optional — It’s Inevitable
Every major financial innovation — from paper shares to electronic trading — was met with skepticism. Tokenization is no different. But history tells us that the more efficient system always wins.
What’s happening now is not just a technological upgrade. It’s a fundamental shift:
- From manual cap tables to smart contracts
- From centralized intermediaries to decentralized rails
- From regional fundraising to global capital access
This is how we democratize finance, increase transparency, and build resilient systems in an increasingly uncertain world.
Final Thought: Why Wait?
At Stobox, we believe that tokenization is not a side story in the crypto world — it’s the main story in the future of finance.
So let’s stop treating tokenization like a buzzword and start building with it. The technology is here. The legal frameworks exist. The market is ready.
The only thing standing in the way is misinformation.
About the Author
Ross Shemeliak is the co-founder and COO of Stobox, an award-winning tokenization firm with over $500 million in assets tokenized. A thought leader in Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, Ross is a frequent speaker and advisor on blockchain infrastructure and the future of capital markets.
