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Tether backs UAE tokenization firm KAIO in $8M funding round to bring Emirati funds onchain
The Abu Dhabi regulated firm build infrastruture to distribute insitutional funds on blockchain rails, lowering entry barrier for investors.
Apr 20, 2026, 2:19 p.m.
What to know:
- Abu Dhabi-regulated tokenization firm KAIO raised $8 million in a strategic round led by Tether and other crypto and institutional investors, bringing its total funding to $19 million.
- KAIO builds infrastructure that lets asset managers tokenize and distribute institutional funds on blockchains, packaging products from firms such as BlackRock, Brevan Howard and Hamilton Lane with minimum investments starting at $100.
- The company plans to expand into credit, structured products and ETFs, launch an onchain fund with Mubadala Capital, and channel USDT stablecoin liquidity into regulated investment products, while managing about $100 million in assets and having processed more than $500 million in transactions.
KAIO said it develops infrastructure that allows asset managers to distribute funds onchain. It packages products from firms like BlackRock, Brevan Howard and Hamilton Lane, then makes them accessible through blockchain-based systems.
With the investment, KAIO plans to expand into other products such as credit, structured investments and exchange-traded funds. The firm said it plans to launch onchain fund with Mubadala Capital, the Emirati private equity firm with $385 billion in assets under management.
By creating tokens of institutional funds, the firm said its goal is to lower investor barriers to entry. KAIO targets minimum investments starting at $100 for eligible users, far below the typical thresholds for institutional funds.
