The Token World: Why Assetbase.io Expects Digital Assets To Dominate Finance

The Benzinga Global Fintech Awards are a yearly showcase of the best and brightest in fintech. In preparation for its biggest installment yet in May 2018, we're profiling the companies competing for the BZ Awards.

Our next feature is on Assetbase.io.

What does your company do? What unique problem does it solve?

Anthony Conrad, head of external relations: Assetbase is an exchange, developed by an independent foundation, to allow users to tokenize real assets and then trade them or even redeem later at their request in a timely manner. This solves a number of issues: First, this allows lower barriers to entry by investors who wish to have the financial security of assets (precious metals, real estate, timber rights, etc.), but with the liquidity and physical security that comes with cryptocurrencies and intelligent contracts. This allows technology to bring the law of regulation and trade up to speed with blockchain and ensure that anyone around the world can have financial security and stability.

Who are your customers?

Conrad: Our customers are grouped into three categories: 1) Young adults who are not saving, but are concerned with their financial future and not seeking traditional services (Credit cards, Mortgages, CDs, Stocks, Mutual Funds) or to diversify into asset based investments, but have no clue how to start. 2) Cryptocurrency fans, especially those in countries where normal financial services are limited or security is an issue, but are spooked by recent price fluctuations. 3) Traditional asset based investors who are looking for greater liquidity combined with the same security they know from being able to have the asset physically, as opposed to ETFs or other "backed" investments.

How long have you been in business?

Conrad: We have been in business since 2017.

Where are you located?

Conrad: The team is spread around the world, working remotely to make this happen, but the base of operations for the Assetbase Foundation is in Saint Kitts & Nevis.

Who is your company's leadership? What kind of experience do they have?

Conrad: The leadership team is a group of all-stars in their respective fields:

Corey Paul, Director Lead
A serial entrepreneur, Corey believes in the motto, “Talk doesn’t cook rice”. Corey joined AssetBase with the condition that you don’t raise money on an idea alone, but rather, a working model. AssetBase, under his leadership, built the working model, and has asset coins vaulted, verified, and ready to release. Moving forward, he believes AssetBase will continue to overachieve expectations — under sell and over deliver!

Amber Bright, Foundation / Advisor
Amber holds a BBA in Trust & Wealth Management from Campbell University. Following graduation, she spent five years climbing the corporate ladder in the Wealth Management division at one of the nation’s largest banks. Today, she leverages her financial background to bring awareness and enthusiasm to the cryptocurrency space.

Anthony Conrad, AssetBase Advisor
Born and raised in the US, Anthony has migrated to South America and has lead the way into the crypto world. Utilizing a basis in economics and business philosophy from his time at Campbell University, Anthony has founded and exited numerous ventures and currently is developing solutions in Regtech, Fintech, and Insurtech with his work as CEO of Hola Luka and partner at Minka Inc. Speaking regularly in both new and old media, Anthony also lectures on the topics of cryto-currencies, blockchain applications, and digital identity.

Jefferson Davis, Engineer / Block-chain Developer
project manager / smart contracts development / block-chain development / automation specialist / field technician / commissioning specialist / development and maintenance of critical operations technology / electrical design / Instrumentation Technology

Tomislav Bišćan, Block-chain Developer / Advisor
Tomislav is an entrepreneur and experienced chief officer with a demonstrated history in software industry. Strong information technology professional skilled in Software Development, Business Planning, Innovation Management, Blockchain and E-learning. Co-founder of knowledge solutions provider company Cognita since 2004. Since 2016. heavily involved in blockchain technology, smart contracts and a fintech movemet. Proficient in Bitcoin, Ethereum and blockchain architecture and software development. Currently positioned as a lead technology officer for LatAm fintech company Minka working on a Banking-as-a-Service platform built as an Open API.

Anna Velvet, Compliance / Advisor
Investment Banking, Risk and Compliance, Wealth Management >and Trading and Securities. She developed a passion for emerging technology such as block-chain, crypto, cyber security, AI, and Machine learning. Along with her legal studies, Anna had the opportunity of understanding the challenges of regulation in the banking and Fintech space and is now using her wealth of knowledge to help bring awareness of solutions that can solve these issues. As a legal advisor and an asset to our company, she will be giving our firm transparency by providing legal feedback and suggestions to our team.

Who are your investors, if any?

Conrad: With the exception of the current ICO fundraiser, Assetbase has been bootstrapped from the beginning. We pride ourselves in building a great product and want to use investment for growth, not for getting started.

Is there anything else Benzinga should know about your company?

Conrad: We currently are offering 5 precious metal redeemable tokens at Assetbase.store as well as our PDT tokens which are used for governance of the foundation, allowing anyone to have a say in the organization if they own 10000 PDTs or enjoy the profit sharing that PDT holders gain from transactions of the tokens themselves.

To check out companies like Assetbase.io for yourself, grab a ticket to the Benzinga Global Fintech Awards May 15-16 in New York.