Asset Tokenisation Could Broaden Access to Investment
JAKARTA — Asset tokenisation is seen as opening up new alternatives in digital investment by enabling certain assets or rights to be represented as tokens. This could broaden investor access, but requires clear product structures, transparent information and safeguards against risks inherent in the underlying assets.
The Financial Services Authority’s (OJK) plans to regulate asset tokenisation are an important development in Indonesia’s digital finance ecosystem. OJK is preparing a regulatory framework for tokenised asset offerings covering governance, offering mechanisms and consumer protection.
Asset tokenisation, or real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, is the process of representing an asset or a specific right to an asset in digital token form using technologies such as blockchain. Assets that may be tokenised include securities, commodities and property, depending on the product structure and applicable rules.
One potential benefit of tokenisation is that assets can be divided into smaller units through fractional ownership. This mechanism could give investors access to certain instruments without requiring them to buy the entire asset.
Bittime Operations Director Ryan Lymn said the planned regulation could help strike a balance between innovation and risk management. He said easier access must be accompanied by transparency and investor understanding.
“Asset tokenisation has the potential to open up access to a range of investment instruments through digital technology. However, this development needs to be supported by a clear regulatory framework, transparent information and investor protection so that innovation can develop responsibly,” Ryan said on Wednesday (21 October 2026).
Although it offers opportunities, tokenisation does not automatically increase liquidity or eliminate risks associated with the underlying asset. Accessibility and efficiency will still depend on the asset’s characteristics, legal structure, trading infrastructure and market participation.
Investors also need to understand the legal relationship between a token and its underlying asset, how assets are held and verified, the issuer’s transparency, and the terms for resale or redemption. Liquidity and price volatility, technology security and smart-contract vulnerabilities must also be taken into account.
“Developments in digital investment are not determined solely by the growing number of available asset types, but also by the quality of access offered to the public. Investors need adequate information to understand the products they choose and make decisions in line with their individual risk profiles,” Ryan said.
He said a digital format does not make an asset risk-free. Investors still need to assess the quality of the underlying asset, the product structure, the rights they receive, and potential market and technology risks.
“Tokenisation does not mean an asset becomes risk-free simply because it is available in digital form. Investors need to understand the quality of the underlying asset, the product structure, the rights they receive, as well as liquidity and technology risks. Trust in the industry must be built through disclosure and sound understanding, not merely through ease of access,” Ryan said.
As tokenisation develops, products offering exposure to global financial instruments are also becoming available in digital form. One example is tokenised stocks, products based on tokens and designed to provide exposure to particular shares.
Bittime offers a Tokenized US Stocks category that includes AAPLX, NVDAX and TSLAX, each linked to shares in Apple, Nvidia and Tesla. However, the legal structure of each token may differ and does not necessarily confer direct share ownership.
Voting rights, dividend rights, redemption mechanisms and legal protections depend on the structure of each product. Investors should therefore understand how a product works, its fees, associated rights and risks before trading.
OJK’s planned regulation indicates that tokenisation is receiving more serious attention as Indonesia develops digital investment. Regulatory clarity, transparent information and the quality of underlying assets will be important to ensuring broader investment access is accompanied by adequate investor protection.