Antique RWA! Galaxy Digital tokenizes the iconic Queen Catherine with tens of millions of tokens on the chain

The cryptocurrency venture capital firm Galaxy Digital has tokenized a Stradivarius violin made in 1708. This rare instrument, valued at over tens of millions of dollars, is owned by Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands.

Empress Caterina Stradivarius Violin

The tokenized protagonist of this story is the Empress Caterina Stradivarius violin, owned by Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands. It is a violin named Empress Caterina, crafted by the renowned violin maker Antonio Stradivari. Stradivari, born in 1644, had a career spanning 71 years, with his golden period from around 1700 to 1720.

This Stradivarius violin, crafted in 1708, possesses exquisite beauty and extraordinary history. It once belonged to Empress Caterina of Russia, hence its name, and is valued at over tens of millions of dollars.

Benefits of Tokenization

To preserve this rare history and unlock its value, Galaxy has tokenized this famous violin using the Ethereum blockchain. According to Galaxy's website, tokenization brings the following benefits:

• Liquidity: Converting real-world assets (RWA) into digital tokens significantly enhances liquidity and provides avenues for owners to utilize RWA in the financial realm.
• Transparency: High-value assets are often associated with trusted ledgers and provable ownership records. Blockchain technology can offer reliable solutions to this issue.
• New Possibilities: Blockchain technology can bridge the physical art world with the digital world, opening up new possibilities—from trading to lending, and from asset management to partial ownership of RWA.

Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands and owner of this famous violin, stated:

The 1708 Empress Caterina Stradivarius violin is the first musical instrument with such a legendary origin and tokenization. I am excited to help pioneer a new economic model for this unique asset while preserving a precious piece of history.

Galaxy aims to change the perception and utilization of priceless artworks, real estate, historical artifacts, and other real-world assets in the financial domain. By converting physical assets into digital tokens through the tokenization process, liquidity is significantly enhanced, providing owners with avenues to realize the economic value of their holdings.