How to invest like you're uber rich (even if you're not!): By Paul Quickenden

Finextra

31-07-2025

Let's be honest - 'Invest like the uber rich' sounds like classic headliner clickbait. But here's the thing… in a tokenised world, that headline is actually starting to hold up because the old barriers to high-value, long-horizon investing are crumbling fast and blockchain is the earthquake shaking the establishment's foundations.
There's always been a bit of mystery around how the global elite build and then keep their wealth. According to recent research reported on by Newsroom, the pattern is actually quite simple, i.e. 'a distinctive focus on long-term thinking and alternative assets…'
We're not talking about chasing IPOs or crypto hype cycles here. This is intergenerational capital thinking around assets that hold value over decades and ignoring short-term volatility in favour of upside over time. Traditionally, that's meant real estate, private equity and infrastructure - assets that are expensive to access and tough to liquidate. But all that's changing…
Fig 1: Multiple sources are now saying that high net worth individuals are getting into alternative investments in a proportional, long term manner (source):
Crypto fits the long-term, alternative mould
Crypto might not seem like a traditional 'family office' asset, but it ticks both boxes rich families are drawn to. It's alternative and when viewed through a long-term lens - its reward profile gets interesting. Volatility is still a part of the crypto story, but we're seeing it flatten as the asset class matures - the highs aren't quite as high and the crashes are not quite as deep. What's more, as more infrastructure is built and more institutional capital enters, the swings are becoming less violent.
That doesn't mean crypto is risk-free - nothing is - but it is becoming something far more compelling: an alternative investment class with global reach, deepening liquidity and strong long-term upside for those with patience and a defined strategy. In that sense, it's already mirroring the kind of thinking that the uber wealthy have leaned on for decades.
Not just for rich listers
Traditionally, the kinds of assets favoured by ultra-wealthy investors have been large, expensive and illiquid. Think commercial real estate, infrastructure projects, private equity and even fine art. These aren't investments you can casually buy into with a few thousand dollars and even when you could, they usually come with long lock-up periods and little flexibility to exit.
Enter tokenisation and it's a genuine game changer…
Tokenisation changes that by using blockchain technology to break these big-ticket assets into smaller, digital units - or fractionalising into 'tokens' - that can be bought and sold individually. It's a bit like owning shares in a company, but instead, you own a fractional slice of a building, a venture fund or any other real-world asset. The key difference is that these tokens exist on a blockchain ledger, meaning ownership is secure, transparent and (potentially) tradeable 24/7. This is a big deal, because traditionally these types of assets have been the exclusive domain of the rich and powerful.
A case in point is a tokenised villa in Dubai which sold in under 5 minutes (see here). Tokenisation enables everyday investors to own a slice of a premium commercial property without needing millions upfront, waiting decades to cash out or going through the typical real estate grind. This is the future of investing, and it looks a lot more inclusive than the past.
And it's not just real estate. BlackRock and Franklin Templeton have both tokenised Money Market Funds, Goldman Sachs has issued a 2 year digital bond, while it is common to tokenise gold and carbon credits.
Fig 2: A deep dive into the benefits of tokenisation.
Benefits
Description
Example
Faster Transaction Settlement
Tokenisation enables near-instant, 24/7 settlement instead of traditional 2 or more days
Goldman Sachs issued a €100M digital bond with same-day settlement (T+0) using blockchain
Increased Liquidity
By fractionalising traditionally illiquid assets, tokenisation opens markets to more investors and enables easier trading.
Tokenising private equity or bonds lets investors buy small shares, bringing in more liquidity and opening up market access
Operational Efficiency & Cost Savings
Embedded smart contracts enable automatic execution of payments, compliance, and other conditions, enabling new business models.
Automating interest calculations in tokenised corporate bonds streamlines servicing and compliance.Smart contracts for carbon credit tokens automate trading with transparent, enforceable rules
Enhanced Security & Transparency
Immutable blockchain ledgers provide auditable, tamper-proof ownership records; tokenisation also replaces sensitive data with secure tokens.
JPMorgan's JPM Coin improves payment security and settlement transparency on a permissioned blockchain
Democratisation of Access
Lower minimum investments and seamless global participation bring asset classes traditionally reserved for elites to wider audiences.
Fractional tokens allow smaller investors to access high-value assets like art, real estate, and private funds
Global Reach & 24/7 Markets
Tokenised assets can be traded cross-border, anytime, breaking time zones and geographic barriers inherent in traditional finance.
Swiss Digital Exchange supports tokenised securities trading round-the-clock with global investor participation
So - what now?
Tokenisation is more than just a trend; it's a fundamental shift in financial infrastructure. By enabling fractional ownership and recording it on-chain, tokenised assets bring transparency and auditability to markets that were once closed off to all but the wealthiest. They also inject liquidity into asset classes that have traditionally been locked up for years.
Together with blockchain rails and crypto-based value transfer, this technology is building a new model of wealth creation - one that doesn't care how big your starting balance is, only that you're ready to play the long game.
Disclaimer: Investing in crypto carries risk. Always do your own research or seek professional advice. Terms and Conditions apply