Silicon Valley, CA – Plug and Play, a global innovation platform, is making waves in the blockchain sector with the launch of its XDC Network RWA Accelerator on March 18, 2025. This three-month program is set to become a significant catalyst in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, bringing together leading blockchain startups and industry pioneers to explore cutting-edge tokenization solutions.

A Major Push for On-Chain FinanceTokenization—converting real-world assets like real estate, commodities, and financial instruments into blockchain-based tokens—has been hailed as the next big revolution in finance. With regulators and major institutions beginning to take blockchain more seriously, Plug and Play's new initiative aims to accelerate innovation in this space by connecting startups with enterprise-level infrastructure through the XDC Network.

The program, backed by the XDC Network, will take place at Plug and Play's headquarters in Silicon Valley, a hub synonymous with technological disruption. Participating startups will integrate their solutions into the XDC Network, a blockchain platform renowned for its high transaction speed, low transaction cost, and robust security in trade finance and tokenization infrastructure.

XDC's Strategic Play in TokenizationExperts see this move as part of a broader trend of increasing institutional interest in blockchain. Matthew Weisenthal, Director of XDC Foundation, highlighted the significance of the accelerator, calling it a "tokenization renaissance" and a crucial step in cementing XDC's leadership in the RWA space.

"Silicon Valley has long been the cradle of tech innovation. Today, XDC and Plug and Play are at the forefront of another era—the tokenization renaissance," said Weisenthal.

Meet the Startups Driving the Future of RWAThe accelerator program saw over 100 blockchain startups apply, with only a select few cutting. The final cohort of eleven startups, chosen based on their innovative solutions and potential to disrupt the industry, is set to bring fresh innovations to decentralized finance (DeFi), institutional lending, and enterprise tokenization.

The selected startups include:

Blockticity - The leader in guaranteed certificates of authenticity for the most valuable of possessions. A Different Approach to Credibility with Error-Proof Certifications.

Clearpool - Launching Ozean — the Blockchain for RWA yield, powered by $CPOOL

Credefi - seamlessly connect crypto lenders with SME borrowers. Join us on the mission to empower 99% of EU SMEs.

InvestaX - Institutional-grade tokenization platform licensed by MAS. Unlocking real-world asset opportunities with $IXS.

Nomyx - Nomyx makes tokenization simple, secure, and effective for your financial institution.

Polytrade - The Home of RWAs. Find, buy, trade, and leverage across 10+ chains and 5,000+ RWAs on the largest RWA Marketplace partnered with Mastercard.

Plume - Transforming assets into globally accessible financial tools with true crypto-native utility

Tokeny - The Onchain Finance Infrastructure

TouchBrick - Pioneering on-chain data security tools. Leaders in DSPM, Data Synthetics, and Data Vaulting.

Zero Hash - The easiest way to unlock crypto and stablecoins for your customers.

Zoth - The community-powered restaking layer for RWAFi.

Several of these companies are already making significant strides in the blockchain space. Plume, for example, has been working on securing billions in RWAs, while Clearpool is pioneering institutional DeFi solutions aimed at transforming traditional finance through decentralized liquidity protocols.

The accelerator has already garnered strong endorsements from industry leaders, a testament to its credibility. Chris Yin, Co-Founder of Plume, sees Plug and Play's support as a pivotal opportunity for scaling the global adoption of RWA tokenization.

"This accelerator is a tremendous opportunity for Plume to showcase our advanced RWA on-chain tools. With billions already secured in RWAs, we see Plug and Play's support as a game-changer for RWA finance (RWAfi)," Yin stated.

Similarly, Jakob Kronbichler, CEO & Co-founder of Clearpool, believes this program will drive institutional adoption of DeFi solutions.

"By leveraging Plug and Play's network and the XDC Network's advanced blockchain infrastructure, we aim to expand institutional DeFi adoption and develop compliant financial products bridging traditional finance with blockchain," Kronbichler explained.

Why This Matters?

This accelerator marks a critical step in bridging the gap between blockchain and traditional finance, a goal that has long been challenging for crypto startups. With Plug and Play's extensive corporate network and the XDC Network's trade finance expertise, participants will gain access to key stakeholders, venture capitalists, and Fortune 500 companies.

The program will culminate in June 2025 at the Plug and Play Silicon Valley Summit, a prestigious event where startups will pitch their projects to an elite audience of investors, enterprises, and regulatory bodies. This summit provides a unique opportunity for startups to gain visibility and potential investment.

With real-world asset tokenization gaining momentum, this initiative positions Plug and Play and XDC Network as key players in shaping the future of blockchain adoption. Whether it's transforming institutional lending, supply chain finance, or real estate tokenization, the projects coming out of this accelerator could be instrumental in reshaping the financial ecosystem.