By CryptonautX_
August 23, 2025
What’s up, crypto crew? It’s your boy CryptonautX_ (@CryptonautX_ on X), and I’m beyond stoked to drop some massive news that’s lighting up my feed. Valereum PLC (AQSE: VLRM), a UK-based fintech leader, just announced a killer partnership with ZIGChain and DigiShares, sealed with a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 20, 2025. This collab is about to shake up real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and I’m here to break it all down for you. Let’s dive in—this is next-level! 🚀
Why This Partnership Is a Game-Changer
As someone who lives and breathes crypto and DeFi, I’ve been shouting about how tokenizing assets like real estate, equity, and debt is the future of finance. Valereum PLC, ZIGChain, and DigiShares are teaming up to build an institutional-grade platform called VLRM Markets that tackles the biggest hurdles in RWA tokenization: access, liquidity, and compliance. Their mission? To bring regulated, secure, and scalable tokenized assets to institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and verified retail investors like us—kicking off in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with plans to go global.
Here’s the dream team:
Valereum PLC: A publicly listed fintech (AQSE: VLRM) based in the UK, focused on bridging traditional finance and DeFi. Their subsidiary, VLRM Markets, is licensed in El Salvador to issue and distribute digital assets, making them a powerhouse in this space.
DigiShares: A global tokenization leader operating in over 40 countries with 170+ deployments. They’re experts in real estate tokenization and run a white-label platform called RealEstate.Exchange (REX), already live in the U.S. with a licensed Alternative Trading System (ATS).
ZIGChain: A Layer 1 blockchain built for wealth generation, with over one million customers and a 200 million AUM fund. It’s the tech backbone for secure, compliant asset issuance and trading.
Together, they’re leveraging ZIGChain’s blockchain rails to bring tokenized real estate, equity, debt, royalties, and more to the masses.
What’s the Plan?
As CryptonautX_, I’m always on the hunt for projects that solve real problems, and this partnership is checking all the boxes. Here’s what the MoU lays out, based on the details I’ve dug into:
ZIGChain as the Core Blockchain: DigiShares is exploring using ZIGChain as a primary blockchain for tokenization. This means compliant issuance, KYC/AML onboarding, smart contract-based ownership, and peer-to-peer trading of RWAs—all on ZIGChain’s secure infrastructure.
White-Label Tokenization Platform: DigiShares might provide a white-label platform for VLRM Markets, making it super easy for issuers to tokenize assets and for investors like us to get in on the action.
VLRM Markets Leading Issuance: With its regulatory permissions, VLRM Markets plans to tokenize select assets on ZIGChain, targeting big players like institutions and high-net-worth folks, but also opening doors for verified retail investors.
Building a Decentralized Exchange (DEX): Here’s where it gets spicy—they’re planning the first whitelisted, institutional-grade DEX for RWAs. Think of a secure version of Uniswap or AIV, but for tokenized assets, building on ZIGChain’s existing DEX, Oroswap.
MENA Region First, Then Global: They’re starting in the MENA region, with real estate developers already in talks to tokenize new and existing properties, thanks to Zamanat’s regional presence. Next up? Expansion into Central and South America.
Why I’m Stoked (and You Should Be Too!)
I’ve been geeking out over RWAs for a minute, and this partnership nails the three big roadblocks: access, liquidity, and compliance. Mark Mariampillai from Valereum said it best in an interview with Proactive: “The one key problem with RWA tokenization is liquidity.” Their solution? Issue assets transparently, trade them peer-to-peer on-chain, and distribute them globally to institutions and qualified investors. ZIGChain’s ecosystem, with its massive customer base and liquidity pools, connects issuers to investors instantly, which is a total game-changer.
Abdul Rafay, CEO of ZIGChain, summed it up perfectly: “We’re proud to be working with Valereum PLC and DigiShares, aiming to unlock the next chapter in blockchain-enabled finance.” As CryptonautX_, I’m hyped to see a project that’s not just hype but is building real, regulated solutions for the future of finance.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t Valereum’s first move in the RWA space. Back in May 2025, they invested USD 1.35 million in DigiShares, grabbing a minority stake to align their goals. That deal’s being paid in four tranches, with the first done and the rest due by July 2025. They also launched commercial RWA services through VLRM Markets in May, and now, with ZIGChain’s tech, they’re prepping their first regulated tokenized offerings for Q4 2025. That’s right—real tokenized assets are coming soon!
The RWA market is exploding, with analysts saying it’s one of the fastest-growing sectors in digital finance. But regulatory hurdles and blockchain interoperability have been holding things back. This partnership tackles those with Valereum’s regulatory expertise, DigiShares’ tokenization tech, and ZIGChain’s blockchain muscle.
A Quick Look at Valereum’s Journey
For my number-crunching followers, Valereum’s got a market cap of about £6.53 million, with 229.11 million shares in issue. Their share price has been a wild ride, ranging from 2.75p to 31.00p over the past year. They recently announced a £500,000 fundraising at 3.1p per share, but I’ve seen some chatter on platforms like the London Stock Exchange forums where investors are skeptical about their funding plans.
Still, Valereum’s making bold moves, like their €1.7 million investment in Fideum Group and bringing on Gary Cottle as CEO. They’ve had setbacks—like a scrapped £19 million deal—but this partnership with DigiShares and ZIGChain has me thinking they’re on the right track.
Why This Has Me Pumped
As CryptonautX_, I’m all about projects that bridge traditional finance and DeFi, and this collab is doing it right. By focusing on regulated RWAs, they’re opening up opportunities for us to invest in real estate, equities, and more without the usual barriers. A whitelisted DEX for RWAs? That’s the kind of innovation I live for.
The MENA region is a smart starting point—real estate there is booming, and tokenization could unlock billions. With global expansion on the horizon, I’m keeping my eyes glued to this one. The first tokenized offerings are set for Q4 2025, and I’m counting down the days to see what hits the market.
Stay in the Loop with Me
If you’re as fired up as I am, follow me on X at @CryptonautX_ for real-time updates on this and other crypto news. You can also check out Valereum PLC’s updates on their X handle @ValereumPLC or their website at www.vlrm.com. I’ll be diving deeper into this on my website, so stick with me for the latest. What do you think about this partnership? Hit me up in the comments or on X—let’s talk about the future of RWAs! 🔥
