Centrifuge, a platform specializing in bringing real-world assets onchain, has taken a major step forward by deploying its decentralized real-world asset (deRWA) infrastructure on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer-2 network. This rollout seamlessly merges institutional-grade tokenization with decentralized finance (DeFi) capabilities, enabling tokenized assets to function as fully composable primitives within DeFi protocols for the first time at scale.
The initiative introduces a new framework designed specifically for issuing high-quality tokenized products that maintain regulatory compliance while gaining native liquidity and interoperability across DeFi applications.
Unlike traditional tokenized assets that often remain isolated in permissioned environments, deRWAs are built to integrate directly with lending markets, automated market makers, yield strategies, and other onchain tools.
This allows holders to borrow against them, trade them 24/7, use them in collateralized positions, or incorporate them into broader portfolio strategies—all without leaving the blockchain ecosystem.
The launch is anchored by a collaboration with Coinbase. The exchange has named Centrifuge its preferred tokenization infrastructure provider and provided a multimillion-dollar investment to support expansion.
This partnership leverages Centrifuge’s proven expertise in handling complex institutional assets for clients such as Apollo, Janus Henderson, and S&P Dow Jones Indices, combined with Base’s high-throughput environment and Coinbase’s extensive developer and institutional networks.
The goal is to accelerate the next phase of tokenized asset adoption by prioritizing not just issuance, but genuine utility, broad distribution, and institutional trust.
A flagship product already live under the deRWA banner is deSPXA, which delivers tokenized exposure to the Anemoy S&P 500 Index Fund (SPXA).
Developed in partnership with S&P Dow Jones Indices and actively managed by Janus Henderson, deSPXA represents a significant innovation: it is the first product offering 24/7 tradable, liquid access to an equity index fund onchain.
Authorized non-U.S. participants can mint or redeem shares at net asset value, similar to traditional ETFs, while the token itself integrates seamlessly with protocols like Morpho for borrowing, Euler for shorting, Aerodrome and Definitive for trading, and Multipli for yield opportunities within RWA-focused stablecoins.
Additional curated strategies from partners such as Steakhouse and Clearstar further enhance its usability.
This development addresses a key limitation in the $25 billion-plus tokenized asset market. Most existing RWAs remain locked in siloed wallets or single-chain setups with limited DeFi functionality.
By contrast, Centrifuge’s approach on Base emphasizes open distribution layers while preserving rigorous compliance controls at issuance.
The infrastructure abstracts away technical complexities for asset managers, credit originators, fintechs, and DeFi protocols, allowing them to launch products rapidly without custom builds.
Industry professionals see this as a pivotal shift. Centrifuge executives highlight how the combination of compliant architecture and DeFi composability unlocks new primitives that compress the gap between traditional assets and global investors.
Coinbase’s Chief Business Officer noted that expanding access to differentiated assets on Base for eligible non-US users aligns with broader efforts to enhance economic opportunities onchain.
Centrifuge plans multi-chain expansion powered by technologies like LayerZero, ensuring tokenized assets are not confined to one network.
The integration also builds on the platform’s earlier RWA Launchpad efforts, creating a scalable pipeline for diverse asset classes. As tokenized markets mature, initiatives like deRWAs on Base signal a move beyond simple digitization toward truly functional, DeFi-native financial products.