Bitfinex: Tokenization Could Bring $30-$50M to Venezuelan Firms

Bitfinex Securities says tokenizing Venezuelan assets could help local companies raise $30-$50 million, attract international investors and strengthen a market that lists roughly 40 domestic firms.

The firm’s Securities Latin America Market Inclusion Report, published after the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro in January, argues tokenization can allow issuers to reach international investors while avoiding low trading volumes and structural limits on the Caracas Stock Exchange.

Bitfinex officials and local advisers contend tokenized instruments could let Venezuelan firms access global pools of capital more quickly than conventional listings or private placements.

Fundraising consultant Jose Miguel Farias warned that planned raises of $30-$50 million would represent a large share of local market activity, exceeding normal monthly turnover for many domestic stocks and creating a need for overseas buyers.

Economist Aaron Olmos predicted tokenization could speed capital inflows as sanctions ease, and he expects international interest to increase around 2026.

The report identifies the oil sector as an early candidate for tokenization because of its scale and existing investor familiarity. Potential buyers listed include family offices, specialized funds, commodity traders and Venezuelans living abroad.

Market leaders and regulators emphasize that tokenized instruments must be backed by verifiable assets and strong compliance. Jose Grasso Vecchio, president of the Caracas Stock Exchange, argued any tokenized instrument “must follow the inverse logic: verifiable asset, first; robust compliance structure, second; and technology as an efficiency tool, third.”

The report calls for clear rules on asset verification, investor protections and cross-border compliance. It also highlights practical requirements such as custody arrangements, settlement standards and transparent disclosure to win institutional trust.

Many Venezuelans have used cryptocurrencies and blockchain tools for savings, payments and cross-border transfers for years. Farias described that pattern as necessity-driven adoption that could support wider use of tokenized securities.

The report states regulatory clarity and enforcement will determine whether tokenized offerings attract international capital or create new market risks.