What is Backed Finance?
Backed Finance is a Swiss-regulated platform that brings traditional financial instruments on-chain through fully-backed, tokenized securities. The company's flagship products include bIB01 (iShares $ Treasury Bond 0-1yr ETF) and bIBTA (iShares Treasury Bond ETF), providing blockchain-native access to some of the world's most liquid fixed income products.
What distinguishes Backed is its regulatory approach: tokens are issued as Swiss structured products under FINMA oversight, backed 1:1 by the underlying securities held in segregated custody.
How Backed Finance Works
Swiss Structured Product Framework
Legal StructureBacked tokens are issued as Swiss structured products:
- Issued by Backed Assets GmbH (Swiss-regulated)
- Backed 1:1 by underlying securities
- Segregated custody at Swiss banks
- Regular third-party audits
Each Backed token represents ownership of underlying assets:
- bIB01: Tracks iShares $ Treasury Bond 0-1yr ETF
- bIBTA: Tracks iShares Treasury Bond ETF
- bCSPX: Tracks S&P 500 (for equity exposure)
Token prices track the NAV of underlying ETFs:
- Daily NAV calculations
- On-chain price feeds via Chainlink
- Minimal tracking error
Minting and Redemption
Primary Market (Authorized Participants)- Institutional minting/redemption at NAV
- Requires onboarding and verification
- Settlement via traditional banking rails
- Trade on DEXs (Uniswap, Curve)
- No minimum amounts
- Subject to market liquidity
Key Statistics
- Total Value Locked: $50M+ across products
- Primary Products: bIB01, bIBTA, bCSPX
- Current APY: 4.5-5.0% (Treasury products)
- Regulation: Swiss FINMA oversight
- Chains: Ethereum, Polygon, Gnosis Chain
Yield Opportunities
bIB01 - Short-Term Treasury Exposure (4.5-5.0% APY)
Access the most liquid short-term Treasury ETF on-chain:
- Tracks iShares $ Treasury Bond 0-1yr (SHV)
- Ultra-low duration (minimal interest rate risk)
- Highest credit quality (US government backing)
- Daily NAV appreciation
DeFi Integration Strategies
Collateralization: Use Backed tokens as collateral where supported. Liquidity Provision: Provide liquidity in Backed token pairs.Getting Started with Backed Finance
Step 1: Understand Access Options
Secondary Market (Easier)- Trade on DEXs without direct Backed relationship
- Check jurisdiction restrictions
- No minimum amounts
- Apply through Backed Finance
- Complete institutional onboarding
- Access NAV minting/redemption
Step 2: Acquire Tokens
Via DEX- Connect wallet to supported DEX
- Trade for desired Backed token
- Hold in any ERC-20 compatible wallet
Step 3: Monitor and Manage
- Track NAV through Backed dashboard
- Compare with alternatives using Fensory
Risk Considerations
Regulatory Risk: Swiss regulatory framework may change. Cross-border restrictions vary. Tracking Error: bIB01/bIBTA may not perfectly track underlying ETFs. Liquidity Risk: Secondary market liquidity is limited compared to underlying ETFs. Jurisdictional Restrictions: Not all jurisdictions permit access. US persons may face restrictions.. -
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