ZIGChain: Revolutionizing Asset Tokenization in the Crypto Space
The tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is gaining substantial traction in the crypto ecosystem, marking a pivotal shift toward integrating traditional economic structures with innovative blockchain technologies. Recently, a significant player entered the arena: ZIGChain, a purpose-built Layer-1 blockchain that officially launched its mainnet on June 25. Co-founded by Rafay Gadig, a former executive at Standard Chartered, and Bart Bordallo, ZIGChain aims to enable decentralized finance (DeFi) applications centered around RWAs and automated investment protocols, thus setting the stage for scalable wealth generation for everyone involved.
ZIGChain was developed with the primary goal of providing builders with the tools they need to create advanced wealth-generation protocols. With a modular tech stack known as the Warlth Management Engine, developers can utilize the Cosmos SDK and create smart contracts in Rust. These capabilities allow ZIGChain to accommodate a variety of decentralized financial tools, which is crucial as the market for RWAs continues to expand. Notably, the community holds 56% of its native ZIG token, which will be used for gas fees. This community-centric approach signifies ZIGChain’s commitment to building a platform oriented toward collective success.
The initial projects deploying on ZIGChain highlight its potential impact on the DeFi landscape. Oroswap, an AI-powered conversational decentralized exchange (DEX), is among the first applications, alongside Valdora Finance, a liquid staking protocol, and Permapod, which allows RWAs to be used as collateral for loans. Moreover, Nawa Finance is a Sharia-compliant DeFi aggregator, showcasing ZIGChain’s versatility in addressing diverse financial needs. These applications represent an early wave of innovation leveraging ZIGChain’s infrastructure, aiming to make wealth generation accessible to a broader audience.
The launch of the ZIGChain mainnet coincides with a remarkable surge in the total on-chain value of RWAs, which has skyrocketed to approximately $23-24 billion—a staggering 260% increase from approximately $8.6 billion at the beginning of the year. According to Coingape’s Q2 Crypto Report, nearly $2.4 billion worth of RWAs were issued on the blockchain in Q2 2025 alone, which accounted for 50% of all issuance in the first half of the year. This data indicates a rapidly growing market that ZIGChain is well-positioned to tap into.
Among existing blockchains, Ethereum continues to dominate the RWA space, hosting roughly $7.5 billion across 335 products. It holds a commanding market share of 59%, particularly in tokenized Treasuries and institutional funds. Other contenders, like Ethereum Layer-2 solutions such as ZKsync Era, have also experienced notable growth, registering around $2.2 billion in RWAs by Q2 2025. This competitive landscape shows the urgency and potential for ZIGChain as it seeks to attract projects and users.
The overall blockchain ecosystem’s focus on RWAs showcases a valuable convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology. Layer-1 chains like ZIGChain are vying for market share in this emerging arena, where innovative financial instruments can be built on decentralized platforms. With existing partnerships forming between traditional financial institutions and growing interest in tokenization across different use cases— including real estate, carbon credits, and more—ZIGChain’s timing could not be better.
In summary, ZIGChain isn’t just entering a future driven by decentralization; it’s laying the groundwork for a more equitable financial landscape that focuses on RWAs. By empowering users through the creation of innovative financial protocols and community engagement, ZIGChain represents a transformative step forward for wealth generation in the crypto space. As the platform continues to mature, it will undoubtedly attract more builders and investors eager to capitalize on the ongoing evolution of the financial landscape.
