When blockchain entered mainstream finance around 2016–2018, tokenization was positioned as a revolutionary upgrade for the real estate industry. These early projects promoted several attractive value propositions: A. Fractional Ownership Investors could buy small, digital shares of a property — allowing broad access to real estate previously limited to large
Real estate tokenization is one of the most promising innovations in alternative investing. It merges the stability and cash flow potential of real estate with the efficiency, liquidity, and accessibility of blockchain technology. Instead of requiring large down payments, bank financing, and lengthy closing processes, tokenized real estate allows investors
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) exploded into mainstream attention in 2021 with eye-catching sales, celebrity hype, and rapid price appreciation. But after the boom came the bust — and with it, real questions about what NFTs actually are and what long-term value they may hold. Beyond the speculative mania, NFTs represent a powerful
Cryptocurrencies have evolved from a fringe experiment into a multi-trillion-dollar alternative asset class. Today, crypto sits alongside private credit, venture capital, real estate, and commodities as a legitimate portfolio diversifier for investors willing to tolerate volatility. While the space is still young and rapidly changing, it offers exposure to technological
Impact investing has rapidly evolved from a niche concept into a mainstream strategy among institutional investors, family offices, and retail investors seeking both financial returns and measurable social or environmental outcomes. Rather than viewing profit and purpose as competing goals, impact investing blends the two — aiming to deploy capital in
Life settlements are a unique and increasingly popular alternative investment that allow investors to purchase life insurance policies from individuals and collect the death benefit when the insured passes away. This creates an asset class that is uncorrelated to stock markets, driven by actuarial science, and capable of producing attractive,
Catastrophe bonds — commonly known as cat bonds — are one of the most unique alternative assets available to investors. Instead of earning yield from a company, a loan, or real estate, investors earn returns by taking on insurance risk tied to natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and typhoons. Because cat bond
Litigation finance — also known as legal financing or third-party litigation funding — is one of the most distinctive and uncorrelated alternative investments available today. Instead of backing companies or real estate, investors provide capital to plaintiffs pursuing lawsuits in exchange for a share of the settlement or judgment. Returns depend on
Aviation finance is one of the most capital-intensive and strategically important sectors in the world — yet few investors understand how it works or how they can participate. Airlines rely heavily on financing to acquire aircraft, manage fleets, and stay competitive in a constantly shifting global environment. This dependence creates a
Trade finance is one of the oldest and most essential financial systems in the world — and one of the most overlooked alternative investments. Every time goods move across borders, someone needs to pay for them, insure them, and guarantee that both sides follow through. This constant global activity creates a
Venture debt has become one of the fastest-growing forms of private credit, offering investors a way to gain exposure to high-growth startups while earning attractive, contractual interest payments. Unlike equity investing — where returns depend entirely on a company’s success — venture debt provides fixed-income style returns backed by venture capital-funded
Equity crowdfunding has transformed startup investing from a world reserved for venture capitalists and wealthy insiders into an asset class accessible to everyday investors. Thanks to regulatory changes and the growth of online investment platforms, anyone can now buy a small ownership stake in early-stage companies with relatively low minimums