Ascend RWA Accelerator Launches with Major Industry Backing to Accelerate Real-World Asset Tokenization

Leading Financial Technology Companies Unite to Support RWA Innovation

A powerful coalition of leading fintech and cryptocurrency companies has announced the launch of Ascend, a specialized accelerator program designed to fast-track institutional-grade Real-World Asset startups. The initiative represents a significant milestone in the growing RWA ecosystem, bringing together industry giants to support the next generation of asset tokenization platforms.

Major Industry Players Back New RWA Accelerator Program

The Ascend accelerator program is operated by Odisea and backed by an impressive consortium of ecosystem leaders including Plume, Galaxy Ventures, Morpho, OKX Ventures, Anchorage Digital, Centrifuge, Keyrock, Tokenized Asset Coalition, CBI, and RWA.xyz. These organizations will provide direct mentorship and strategic guidance to selected startups throughout the intensive program.

Chris Yin, CEO and Co-Founder of Plume, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative: "Real World Assets are gaining momentum, driven by support and interest from institutional investors, governments, and infrastructure providers looking for transparent, efficient capital solutions. RWAs are no longer speculative; the sector's growth is strategic."

Comprehensive Support Structure for RWA Startups

The Ascend program will select six to eight early-stage teams with live products, demonstrable traction, and a clear focus on tokenizing real-world assets for institutional adoption. Selected participants will receive comprehensive support across multiple critical growth areas:

Product Development and Architecture

Teams will receive expert guidance on product architecture and technical development strategies tailored to institutional requirements and regulatory compliance standards.

Tokenomics and Incentive Design

Participants gain access to specialized expertise in designing sustainable tokenomics models and incentive structures that align with institutional investment criteria.

Fundraising and Investor Readiness

The program provides strategic fundraising guidance and investor readiness preparation, connecting startups with institutional capital sources.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Teams receive crucial support in navigating the complex legal and regulatory landscape surrounding asset tokenization and institutional compliance.

Market Strategy and Growth Planning

Participants develop comprehensive go-to-market strategies and growth playbooks specifically designed for institutional RWA adoption.

Community Building and Ecosystem Integration

The program includes guidance on community development and ecosystem activation strategies essential for long-term success in the RWA space.

Industry Leaders Emphasize Infrastructure and Institutional Adoption

Nathan McCauley, CEO and Co-Founder of Anchorage Digital, highlighted the importance of building durable infrastructure: "Real world assets aren't a future trend—they're a present need. At Anchorage Digital, we've seen firsthand that institutional adoption hinges on more than just innovation. It requires infrastructure that's regulated, resilient, and ready to scale."

Will Nuelle, General Partner at Galaxy Ventures, reinforced the strategic importance of supporting early-stage RWA development: "Real-world assets are becoming core infrastructure for digital markets. At Galaxy, we believe supporting early founders with institutional-level guidance and connectivity is essential to unlocking this next phase of growth."

Program Structure and Timeline

The Ascend accelerator follows a structured 9-week intensive format designed to maximize participant outcomes and institutional readiness. The program timeline includes:

Application and Selection Process

Applications opened on August 4, 2025, with a deadline of August 18, 2025. The selection process includes online application review, screening rounds, and final partner interviews, with selections announced on August 22, 2025.

Program Execution

The core program runs from September 1 through October 30, 2025, providing intensive mentorship and development support during this critical period.

Demo Day and Funding Opportunities

The program culminates in a showcase Demo Day, where participating teams present their progress to a curated audience of industry leaders and institutional investors. Successfully completing teams become eligible for funding from a 500,000 dollar discretionary fund organized by Ascend's sponsors.

Expert Mentorship from Billion-Dollar Platform Veterans

Participants gain direct access to mentors who have successfully built and scaled billion-dollar asset platforms, offering practical, battle-tested expertise rather than theoretical guidance. The mentor network includes representatives from YZi Labs, Bankless Ventures, Sentora, and other leading organizations.

Nicola Wang, Investment Director at YZi Labs, explained the practical focus: "RWAs are moving from narrative to infrastructure. Ascend helps founders build the unglamorous but critical pieces, compliance, governance, distribution, and real liquidity—so institutions and retail can actually use onchain markets."

Growing Institutional Interest in RWA Tokenization

The launch of Ascend reflects the increasing institutional interest in real-world asset tokenization. Dora Yue, Founder of OKX Ventures, noted: "Real-world assets represent one of the most promising frontiers for blockchain adoption, and we believe that strong infrastructure and institutional alignment are critical to its success."

Supporting Organizations and Their RWA Expertise

Plume Network

Plume operates as the first full-stack blockchain and ecosystem dedicated to real-world asset finance, with over 200 projects building on its EVM-compatible infrastructure.

Tokenized Asset Coalition

The Coalition unites traditional and crypto financial systems with founding members including Aave Companies, Centrifuge, Circle, Coinbase, Base, Credix, Goldfinch, and RWA.xyz.

Galaxy Digital

As a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, Galaxy Digital provides institutional access to trading, advisory, asset management, and tokenization technology.

Anchorage Digital

Home to the only federally chartered crypto bank in the United States, Anchorage Digital serves institutions through regulated custody, trading, and settlement services.

Morpho Protocol

Morpho operates as a trusted onchain lending network with over 9 billion dollars in deposits, supporting businesses with open infrastructure for lending and borrowing use cases.

Centrifuge

Founded in 2017, Centrifuge empowers asset managers to tokenize, manage, and distribute their funds onchain while providing investors access to diversified tokenized asset portfolios.

The Future of Institutional RWA Adoption

The Ascend accelerator program represents a significant step forward in the maturation of the RWA ecosystem. By bringing together leading industry players to support early-stage innovation, the initiative addresses the critical need for institutional-grade infrastructure and compliance frameworks.

The program's focus on practical implementation rather than theoretical development reflects the industry's evolution from experimental phase to institutional adoption. As real-world asset tokenization continues to gain momentum among institutional investors and traditional financial institutions, initiatives like Ascend play a crucial role in developing the next generation of RWA platforms.

The success of the Ascend program could significantly impact the broader adoption of tokenized real-world assets, providing a proven pathway for startups to develop institutional-ready solutions while connecting them with the capital and expertise necessary for sustainable growth.

Application and Contact Information

Early-stage RWA teams interested in participating in the Ascend accelerator program can apply through the program's official channels. The application process remains open until August 18, 2025, with selections announced on August 22, 2025.

For media inquiries and additional information about the Ascend accelerator program, interested parties can contact the program organizers through official channels.

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