SoFi becomes first consumer bank to launch tokenized deposits, offers 4.4% interest
Source: Fortune ·
The offering comes amid a growing debate over the merits of stablecoins vs tokenized deposits.
From the source
The convergence between traditional and blockchain-based worlds of finance continues to accelerate. The latest example came on Thursday when the personal finance company SoFi announced it is offering tokenized deposits, which are functionally equivalent to cash but are stored on a blockchain. The new product is called SoFi Earn, or SOFIE, and those who hold the tokenized deposits will earn a 4.4% rate of interest and benefit from FDIC protection. The launch comes amid an ongoing, and often confusing, debate over the merits of tokenized deposits versus stablecoins, which are another form of dollar equivalents long embraced by the crypto industry. The two types of digital dollar are worth the same, but are subject to different regulatory regimes and use cases. Stablecoins like USDC, which is owned by Circle and Coinbase, are backed by a 1-to-1 reserve of dollars or U.S. Treasuries and can be transferred to anyone in the world who holds a crypto wallet. But they are a form of currency…