Tokenized Treasury Bills: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Introduction to Treasury Bills (T-Bills)
Treasury Bills (T-Bills) are short-term debt securities issued by the U.S. government.
Short-term debt security is a financial instrument traditionally used by governments or corporations to borrow money from inventors for a short period.
They are typically sold to investors at a discount to their face value and redeemed at full face value upon maturity (maturity can range from a few days to one year).
The difference between the purchase price and the face value represents the investor's return.
T-Bills are considered to be among the safest and lowest-risk investments available, appealing to conservative investors seeking stable returns.
What Are Tokenized Treasury Bills?
Tokenized Treasury Bills are digital versions of traditional T-Bills minted on the blockchain (i.e., Ethereum).
They are created by a financial entity that purchases traditional T-Bills and holds them in reserve. The entity then creates a corresponding number of digital tokens (or “$TBILLs”), each representing a stake in the T-Bills it holds.
These digital tokens can be traded, transferred, and held like cryptocurrencies, combining the benefits of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) with the stability of Treasury Bills.
Benefits of Investing in Tokenized T-Bills
Increased Accessibility and Liquidity
Traditionally, investing in T-Bills required dealing with banks or brokers, but tokenized T-Bills can be accessed globally by anyone with an internet connection.
This democratizes access, allowing more investors, and in some instances, depending on the product structure, retail investors as well, to partake in these secure investments.
Tokenized assets are also more liquid and can be traded 24/7 on digital exchanges.
Enhanced Security and Efficiency
The blockchain technology behind tokenized T-Bills ensures a high level of security. Transactions are immutable and transparent, reducing fraud risks.
Additionally, blockchain transactions generally settle faster than traditional finance transactions, offering quicker access to funds.
Attractive Yields and Stability
With rising interest rates and increased costs of living, T-Bills have become an attractive investment choice due to their competitive and near-guaranteed yields.
Tokenized T-Bills provide similar yields but with the added flexibility of digital transactions.
For instance, OpenEden's $TBILL tokens offer a 5.0% APY, a competitive rate compared to many traditional and DeFi investments.
Moreover, the stability of T-Bills, backed by the U.S. government, provides a secure investment option amid the volatility of other asset classes.
How Tokenised T-Bills Work on Bake
Trading and Yield Distribution
You can access US T-Bill yields by depositing USDC with Bake, which holds tokenized treasury bills that generate yield through their appreciation over time, providing a secure way to grow your USDC.
Fee Structure
A 0.1% spread on tokens applies, but no additional swap fees are charged, making it a cost-effective investment vehicle compared to traditional brokerage fees.
The Future of Tokenized T-Bills
The tokenizing of real-world assets (RWA) like T-Bills has gained significant market traction. As of July 2024, the market value of blockchain-based U.S. Treasury, bonds, and money market fund-based tokens is reported to be over US$680 million.
US Treasury Bill tokenization platforms have been driving RWA tokenization, with platforms like OpenEden leading the change.
The adoption of blockchain technology in traditional finance sectors is expected to continue to increase, with major financial players like BlackRock already expressing interest in the RWA space.
How to access T-Bill Yield on Bake
Investing in tokenized T-Bills represents a fusion of traditional financial security and the innovative benefits of blockchain technology. You can enjoy similar yields generated from US Government Treasury Bills that is ordinarily only available to accredited and institutional investors, through the Bake app. USDC you deposit into the Bake app will be utilised by Bake to invest in the T-Bills. Yield from the $TBILLs invested by Bake is acquired via the value of the tokens appreciating over time, and you will receive returns based on your USDC deposits.
*Note: Withdrawals of $TBILLs are currently unavailable on Bake.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that the information on this blog and in any articles posted on this blog is for general information only and should not be relied upon as financial advice. Cake Pte. Ltd., Cake DeFi, UAB, and its affiliates (the “Cake Group”) are not licensed financial advisers. You may wish to approach your own independent financial advisor before making any decision to buy, sell or hold any product and/or digital assets mentioned in this blog.
Any views, opinions, references, assertions of fact and/or other statements are not necessarily the views held by the Cake Group. The Cake Group disclaims any liability whatsoever that may arise out of or in connection with such statements. Always do your own research before investing in any financial assets and consult a qualified financial advisor if necessary.