QFC report outlines roadmap for real-world asset tokenisation

Qatar Tribune

a day ago

Tribune News Network
Doha
The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), one of the region's premier financial and business hubs, has released a landmark report on the future of digital assets, emphasising the urgent need for coordinated, forward-looking regulatory frameworks and collective stakeholder action to unlock the transformative potential of real-world asset tokenisation.
The report, produced in collaboration with Global Stratalogues and the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), captures the insights and consensus reached during the inaugural Digital Assets Policy Roundtable hosted in Doha. With participation from international thought leaders, financial experts, regulators, and innovators, the discussions revealed that tokenisation—when embedded in a coherent policy ecosystem—can significantly expand market access, strengthen financial inclusion, and create measurable value across economies.
One of the central themes of the report is that while global regulatory alignment on digital assets is emerging, it remains inconsistent and fragmented across jurisdictions. Legal definitions, compliance requirements, and supervisory approaches differ substantially, creating hurdles for market participants aiming to operate across borders. This lack of harmonisation risks slowing the growth of tokenisation, particularly for institutions that rely on clear regulatory certainty to build trust and scale innovation.
The findings urge policymakers to focus on pragmatism rather than perfection. Tokenisation, as a rapidly developing field, is still in its formative stage. Experts stressed that regulatory and industry priorities should be directed toward building resilient infrastructure and ensuring interoperability among systems, rather than attempting to craft ideal but impractical frameworks. By adopting a phased and pragmatic approach, stakeholders can create conditions for gradual yet steady progress.
Another critical dimension highlighted in the report is the role of tokenisation in enhancing financial inclusion. Tokenised structures are already unlocking capital for underserved regions and micro-enterprises that have traditionally faced barriers to finance. By digitising real-world assets, financial institutions can create new instruments that allow smaller investors and enterprises to access markets once dominated by large institutions.
The discussions further pointed to examples of best practices. Liechtenstein, for instance, was praised for its pioneering civil law definition of tokens, which provides a level of legal certainty unmatched in many other jurisdictions. Similarly, Qatar's regulatory sandbox was singled out as a global model for enabling experimentation and innovation within a secure and supervised environment. Such institutional sandboxes, combined with global standards, are seen as vital stepping stones toward the creation of inclusive and interoperable token ecosystems.
QFC Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida emphasised the importance of building strong foundations for the tokenisation journey. 'Tokenisation can unlock real value by making assets more accessible and easier to transfer. To realise this potential, we need a clear system that combines robust regulation, secure custody, and practical application. This will create a trusted environment that enables institutional adoption and drives sustainable market growth,' he said.
Echoing this vision, QFC Chief Financial Sector Officer Henk J Hoogendoorn highlighted that tokenisation must be anchored in tangible outcomes. 'Tokenisation must serve a purpose. It should democratise access and create real-world value. Qatar is committed to making tokenisation of real-world assets a success,' he noted.
The report goes beyond theoretical frameworks, offering regulators, financial institutions, and innovators a practical roadmap for building future-ready digital asset ecosystems. It calls for legal clarity, interoperability, and cross-border relevance as guiding principles. By embedding tokenisation into inclusive regulatory frameworks and strengthening collaboration between governments, regulators, and the private sector, the groundwork can be laid for sustainable growth in this emerging field.
Qatar's proactive stance positions it as a thought leader in the Middle East's digital asset ecosystem. By aligning its regulatory and institutional capabilities with global best practices, the country is setting itself up as a hub for innovation in financial technology and tokenised asset markets. The QFC's role in steering these conversations through international partnerships reinforces Qatar's ambition to become a global player in shaping the digital financial future.
As tokenisation gains traction worldwide, its promise lies not only in reshaping capital markets but also in redefining access to economic opportunity. By lowering barriers and creating transparent, efficient systems, tokenisation can extend the reach of financial services to millions who remain outside formal systems today. For advanced markets, it offers new instruments for liquidity and efficiency, while for developing regions it represents a chance to leapfrog traditional limitations.
Freely accessible, the report offers valuable guidance to stakeholders across the financial spectrum, signalling Qatar's determination to play a central role in advancing the digital asset revolution.