The conversation around Real World Assets (RWAs) in Web3 has rapidly evolved. What was once a promising idea is now becoming the backbone of decentralized finance and digital infrastructure. In Episode 1 of Shifting Gears by @ShiftRWA, leading voices from Brickken, KiiChain, and MANTRA Chain came together to explore how tokenization is transitioning from theory to practice and how ShiftRWA is enabling that transformation.
Why RWAs Matter in Web3
RWAs serve as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain innovation. By tokenizing assets such as real estate, commodities, or financial instruments, Web3 protocols unlock liquidity, transparency, and accessibility for markets that have historically been siloed. This is all about democratization.
What’s Changed in the Last 12 Months
The past year has marked a turning point:
- Institutional interest has grown, with major players exploring tokenized assets.
- Regulatory clarity is emerging, giving protocols confidence to scale.
- Protocol innovation has accelerated, creating infrastructure that supports compliance, interoperability, and liquidity.
RWAs are no longer pilot projects; they are becoming scalable solutions with real-world impact.
Protocols Leading the Charge
Each panel guest highlighted how their protocol is solving critical challenges:
- Brickken: Empowering businesses to tokenize assets and open new investment opportunities. Their platform makes tokenization accessible for enterprises and investors alike.
- KiiChain: Building secure, interoperable rails for RWA liquidity. By focusing on infrastructure, KiiChain enables tokenized assets to move seamlessly across ecosystems.
- MANTRA Chain: Delivering compliance-ready DeFi infrastructure tailored for institutions. MANTRA approach balances innovation with regulatory requirements, making RWAs viable for mainstream finance.
Lotus: MANTRA’s Flagship DEX Goes Live
A major milestone for MANTRA Chain is the launch of Lotus, its flagship decentralized exchange (DEX). Built natively on MANTRA Chain, Lotus is designed as the default liquidity hub for the ecosystem, bringing DeFi’s most essential primitives directly onchain, including swaps, liquidity pools, and yield opportunities.
At launch, Lotus supports two AMM models:
- V2 (full-range liquidity) for broad, accessible pools.
- V3 (concentrated liquidity) for efficient, low-slippage trading.
The first liquidity pool, mantraUSD/USDC, is already live, with additional pools and permissionless contributions rolling out in the coming weeks.
Lotus delivers ecosystem-wide benefits:
- Native Liquidity: Deep, sustainable pools supporting MANTRA tokens and RWA assets.
- High-Speed, Low-Cost Trading: Optimized architecture ensures rapid confirmations and minimal fees.
- Compliance-Ready Infrastructure: Permissioned modules give institutions safe, regulated access to tokenized assets.
Beyond trading, Lotus introduces a Proof-of-Contribution (PoC) system that rewards meaningful participation. Instead of incentivizing volume alone, PoC measures both long-term credibility (Impact Share) and short-term activity (Lotus Points), ensuring that builders, liquidity providers, and engaged community members are recognized for their contributions.
Over the coming months, Lotus will expand with new pool types, deeper incentives, integrations, and support for major MANTRA milestones, including the launch of mantraUSD and increased institutional RWA flows. Lotus is now live, marking a new era of scalable, transparent liquidity for RWAs.
The Role of ShiftRWA
At the center of this momentum is ShiftRWA. More than just a content platform, ShiftRWA is curating, connecting, and amplifying the builders who are shaping the future of tokenization. Shifting Gears is not simply a panel series; it’s a statement of leadership. By convening innovators and fostering collaboration, ShiftRWA is driving the next wave of adoption and infrastructure development.
Looking Ahead
RWAs are evolving into the cornerstone of Web3 finance. With Brickken, KiiChain, MANTRA Chain, Lotus, and ShiftRWA leading the charge, the road ahead promises breakthroughs in accessibility, compliance, and liquidity. The question now is: Which real-world use case will define the next major leap in tokenization?