Making the Eiffel Tower investable via DLT? A converstion with Tom Rieder (ISP Group) [EN]
How tokenization can create real value for issuers, investors and the future of capital market infrastructure.
**Making the Eiffel Tower Investable via DLT? A Conversation with Tom Rieder (ISP Group)
**
What does it take for tokenization to create real value in capital markets?
In this episode of Inside Digital Assets, host Claudio Tognella speaks with Tom Rieder (Head of Digital Assets at ISP Group) about the practical implementation of tokenization and the role of digital assets in the future of capital market infrastructure.
Together, they explore why tokenization should not be an end in itself, how issuers can evaluate whether an asset is suitable for tokenization, and why secondary markets, custody, distribution and settlement are essential for the next phase of adoption.
What this episode is about
Tokenization is often described as one of the key innovations in capital markets. But when does it actually make sense?
Tom Rieder explains that tokenization means the digital representation of rights on a blockchain or distributed ledger technology. These rights can include value rights, ownership rights, usage rights or other financial claims. By representing them as tokens, they can become more easily transferable, accessible and transparent.
However, the episode makes clear that technology alone is not enough. Before an asset is tokenized, issuers need to understand the business case, the target investors, the rights being represented and the concrete benefits for all parties involved.
Key topics covered:
* What tokenization means in capital markets
* Why tokenization should not be done for its own sake
* The importance of business alignment before tokenizing an asset
* How tokenization can improve access to investment opportunities
* Real-world use cases such as real estate, pre-IPO shares, private equity and fund structures
* Why tokenized assets do not automatically become liquid
* The role of secondary markets, market makers and distribution channels
* Why custody and investor access are crucial for adoption
* How regulated infrastructure can support tokenized securities
* The role of BX Digital and Seturion in digital capital market infrastructure
* How banks, brokers and custodians can make digital assets easier to access
From experimentation to real use cases
The conversation highlights how tokenization has evolved over recent years. While many early projects were mainly pilots or technology showcases, Tom Rieder now sees growing demand for real use cases.
Examples discussed in the episode include tokenized real estate projects, pre-IPO shares, private equity participations and other asset classes that are traditionally difficult to access. Tokenization can potentially lower minimum investment amounts and open new distribution channels.
At the same time, Tom stresses that an asset does not become more attractive or more liquid simply because it is tokenized. The underlying business model must make sense.
Why secondary markets matter
A major focus of the episode is the importance of functioning secondary markets.
Tokenized securities need more than a smart contract. They require investors, distribution, custody solutions, market makers, regulated trading venues and reliable settlement infrastructure. Without these components, liquidity remains limited.
This is where regulated market infrastructure becomes essential. BX Digital is discussed as a trading venue for tokenized securities, while Seturion is positioned as infrastructure for the settlement of digital assets.
Together, such solutions address key requirements of digital capital markets: tradability, regulatory integration, settlement and institutional connectivity.
Banks, custody and the investor experience
The episode also looks at the role of established financial service providers.
For broader adoption, investors should be able to access tokenized securities as easily as traditional securities. They should not necessarily have to manage wallets, private keys or the technical details of blockchain infrastructure themselves.
Banks, brokers, custodians and other regulated market participants can therefore play an important role in making digital assets accessible to a broader investor base.
Featured guest
Tom Rieder, Head of Digital Assets, ISP Group
Host
Claudio Tognella, Host of Inside Digital Assets
About Inside Digital Assets
Inside Digital Assets is a podcast by BX Digital and Seturion about the future of capital markets, tokenization, digital assets and the technologies that power them.
The podcast brings together experts, market participants and infrastructure providers to discuss how digital assets are moving from experimentation into regulated financial markets.
Links
BX Digital: https://www.bxdigital.ch [https://www.bxdigital.ch]
Seturion: https://www.seturion.com [https://www.seturion.com]
ISP Group: https://www.isgroup.com [https://www.isgroup.com]
Listen and subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gHCvwyeuAP6yssca2E2Kj?si=89c6b88f126b4ef2 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0gHCvwyeuAP6yssca2E2Kj?si=89c6b88f126b4ef2]