Forget the old rules – is this the future of investing?

You might think that when you buy a stock, you own it outright. But in many cases, you don’t – the broker does. The same goes for many real estate and financial assets. Digital asset ownership is set to change that, promising real ownership, greater transparency, and fewer barriers.

Edwin Mata, CEO of Brickken, told The Crypto Radio how blockchain is making investing truly borderless. He believes tokenization is the next step in financial innovation, offering a more efficient way to own and trade traditional assets.

"We have all of these financial products from different countries or different companies, the access point is limited, and it gets unlocked through the use of blockchain technology," Mata said.

By digitizing financial instruments, this new model eliminates many of the barriers that prevent individuals from participating in global markets. But while the potential is vast, Mata stresses the importance of understanding what digital ownership really means.

Who really owns your investments?

Traditional financial instruments have long been accessible only to those with the right connections or institutional backing. Tokenization changes this by allowing anyone to own a fraction of an asset through digital representation.

"If you can own the financial instrument that owns the real-world asset, that means that truly you can own anything," Mata said. "Everything can be broken down as long as the legislation allows it."

This could mean purchasing a fraction of a commercial property, shares in a mining operation, or an interest in a startup – all without relying on traditional financial intermediaries. Unlike conventional methods that require brokers, this model provides direct ownership, cutting out the middleman.

"Right now, for example, when you invest through a different country, you don’t buy the stock. Literally, what you do is you go to a broker who has a position. So you are not the true owner of the stock," Mata explained.

The truth about digital real estate ownership

Real estate has been one of the most talked-about applications of digital asset ownership. But Mata warns that some companies market tokenized property in a misleading way, creating misconceptions about actual ownership.

"Tokenization of property, I think some players have to be careful as to how they do their marketing out there because it is true. There’s a lot of misconception as to you becoming the owner when you truly do not," he said.

Rather than owning a physical property outright, investors in tokenized real estate often own a financial instrument tied to it, such as shares in a company that holds the asset or debt issued to finance the purchase. This structure allows for easier transferability and fractional ownership but differs from direct property ownership.

"They’re not providing full ownership of the asset itself," Mata clarified. "The underlying financial instrument is the share of the company owning the building, or it is the debt of the company being issued."

This distinction is critical, as it shapes how investors participate in real estate markets. Clear education and responsible marketing will be essential for building trust and credibility in the industry.

Stablecoins are reshaping cross-border payments

Beyond asset ownership, Mata sees stablecoins as another driving force behind financial transformation. Digital currencies pegged to real-world assets like the U.S. dollar are making cross-border transactions faster and cheaper.

Stablecoins help individuals move money across borders without the high fees and slow processing times of traditional banking systems.

"I’m Mexican, and I live in Spain, and I have to send money to Mexico, and just being able to use it... I’m spending 0.01 cent," he said. "It’s amazing, right? Because I’m used to spending a lot of money when I have to send money back."

Stablecoins eliminate many inefficiencies in the financial system. As banks explore blockchain-based payment solutions, Mata predicts stablecoins will become a key enabler of mainstream digital transactions.

"If you transfer money through the bank, it gets digitized and appears in the blockchain layer," he said. "I think there’s going to be a lot of innovation in payments."

Will traditional finance survive?

Despite the potential of digital asset ownership, Mata does not believe traditional finance will disappear overnight. Instead, he envisions a gradual transition, where old and new systems coexist before digital solutions eventually take the lead.

"It’s not one or the other," he said. "It’s just that one is the upgrade of the other… The legacy systems start fading away just because the new system is more efficient and optimized."

Large financial institutions have taken notice, with firms like BlackRock and Fidelity exploring digital financial instruments. As traditional finance integrates with these innovations, digital ownership is likely to play a central role in reshaping how assets are owned, traded, and transferred.

"In the end, everything can be broken down as long as the legislation allows it, which in 99% of the cases it does," Mata said. "And with blockchain, the possibilities for investors seem limitless."

As regulations evolve and adoption grows, digital asset ownership could become the standard rather than the exception. Investors and businesses alike will need to stay informed and adaptable to make the most of this evolving landscape.

 

Listen to the whole interview on The Crypto Radio's live player or in The Pulse podcast.