Centrifuge, S&P DJI Launch First Tokenized S&P 500 Index Fund

Blockchain infrastructure platform Centrifuge has teamed up with S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) to bring the S&P 500 Index onchain for the first time, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph.

The collaboration introduces proof-of-index infrastructure for tokenized index products and will see the debut of the first tokenized S&P 500 Index fund, per the announcement.

Built on Centrifuge’s blockchain-native platform, the fund uses official S&P DJI index data to offer programmable index-tracking funds via smart contracts.

“Today is the start of an exciting chapter that extends The 500™ into new use cases and users across the globe,” said Cameron Drinkwater, chief product officer at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Related: Aptos sees surge in tokenization as asset managers go onchain

Licensed managers cleared to launch onchain funds

The initiative clears the way for S&P DJI-licensed asset managers to launch onchain funds that align with institutional standards while harnessing the flexibility and transparency of decentralized finance.

Web3 native asset manager Anemoy Capital has secured the first license to build the Janus Henderson Anemoy S&P 500 Index Fund Segregated Portfolio. S&P DJI index data and Centrifuge power the index exposure and smart contract infrastructure.

Nick Cherney, Janus Henderson’s head of innovation, said their earlier tokenized funds with Centrifuge have gained notable traction, with one strategy reaching $1 billion in assets under management faster than any previous tokenized fund.

The S&P 500 is central to global markets, with over $1 trillion traded daily in ETFs, derivatives and other products. Bringing the index onchain would allow investors to buy, hold, trade, use it as collateral or automate portfolio strategies.

“It’s about taking everything we learned in traditional markets and reimagining it with programmability, transparency, and global, 24/7 accessibility,” Centrifuge’s Anil Sood said.

The tokenized S&P 500 fund will officially launch on July 1 at the Centrifuge RWA Summit in Cannes, alongside Centrifuge’s proof-of-index infrastructure, which aims to standardize tokenized index products.

Related: ‘Everything is lining up’ — Tokenization is having its breakout moment

Utility remains key

Centrifuge’s move to bring the S&P 500 onchain comes as industry leaders warn that tokenization alone isn’t enough. Kevin de Patoul, CEO of Keyrock, told Cointelegraph that tokenization “needs actual utility” to thrive.

“If there isn’t something I can do with the asset in a tokenized form that I couldn’t do before, then it’s just friction and cost,” he said.

De Patoul added that liquidity is also crucial for tokenized markets, noting that consistent market-making turns tokenized assets into usable financial tools.

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