Libeara raises USD $14 million for tokenisation push

Libeara has raised USD $14 million in a strategic funding round led by GSR, adding a group of regional investors and distribution partners to the digital asset infrastructure company.

Participants included Openspace Capital, Kyobo Life Insurance Group, AlloyX, Kaia Investment Partners, Simsan Ventures and Monk's Hill Ventures. The Singapore-based company will use the funding to expand its tokenisation infrastructure for regulated digital assets into more markets.

The round brings in backers from venture capital, insurance and digital asset investing as Libeara looks to broaden its reach among financial institutions and asset managers. It focuses on infrastructure that enables regulated real-world assets to be issued and distributed in tokenised form.

SC Ventures, the innovation arm of Standard Chartered, backs Libeara. Its systems have already supported the tokenisation of more than USD $1 billion in regulated assets, including a tokenised US Treasury fund and what it described as Asia's first tokenised retail money market fund.

The fundraising reflects continued investor interest in businesses operating at the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain-based markets, particularly those focused on regulated products rather than retail crypto trading. Tokenisation has drawn attention from banks, insurers and asset managers exploring ways to represent funds, bonds and other assets on distributed ledger systems while maintaining compliance controls.

Aaron Gwak, Founder and CEO of Libeara, said the investor group would help the company adapt its infrastructure across jurisdictions.

"Bringing in these partners provides us a distinct edge in localising and scaling our infrastructure across diverse markets, making tokenised regulated assets available to more investors globally," Gwak said.

He said the mix of investors spans both financial markets and technology networks.

"This round assembles exactly the right combination of traditional financial markets, technology, and ecosystem reach to build institutional-grade tokenised markets at scale," he said.

Investor backing

Among the new investors, Openspace Capital described tokenised assets as an emerging part of the financial market structure. The firm invests across Southeast Asia and has backed technology companies in sectors including financial technology and software.

"Libeara has built the institutional-grade rails that serious capital markets demand," said Shane Chesson, Founding Partner at Openspace Capital.

"We believe Libeara is the platform that will set the standard for how tokenised assets scale across Asia and globally," he added.

Kyobo Life Insurance Group, one of South Korea's largest financial groups, also used the round to signal its interest in digital asset infrastructure tied to regulated finance. The group said it has increased its focus on tokenising real-world assets and related applications across its affiliate businesses in South Korea.

"Libeara brings exactly the kind of regulated, institutional-grade tokenisation infrastructure that ecosystems need to mature," said Chris Shin, Director and Head of Global Strategic Partnerships at Kyobo Life Insurance.

"We are exploring the potential for greater convergence between traditional finance and on-chain infrastructure, particularly in markets where such innovation can create meaningful value," he added.

Asian focus

Kaia Investment Partners, a Singapore-based investment firm under the Kaia DLT Foundation, also framed the investment around the growth of on-chain financial products in Asia. The firm invests across real-world assets, venture opportunities and yield products.

"Libeara is building the institutional-grade tokenisation infrastructure needed to bring regulated real-world assets into on-chain finance," said Uno Lee, CEO of Kaia Investment Partners.

"We believe the global increase in the adoption of stablecoins will drive demand for savings, yield, and RWA products, and that Libeara is well positioned to support this next phase of digital finance in Asia," he added.

The composition of the round suggests Libeara is seeking not only capital but also access to local market relationships as tokenisation projects move from pilot structures to regulated investment products. Regional investors can offer distribution ties, balance-sheet relationships, and market knowledge in jurisdictions where rules for digital securities and tokenised funds vary widely.

That matters because many tokenisation businesses have found that technical systems alone do not guarantee adoption. Firms also need links with licensed institutions, fund managers and regulated intermediaries if tokenised products are to move beyond small-scale trials.

Libeara's transaction history provides a basis for making that case. More than USD $1 billion of regulated assets have already been tokenised on its infrastructure.