BlackRock has officially entered DeFi territory. Together with Uniswap Labs and Securitize, the financial giant launched trading for its BUIDL fund via the UniswapX protocol. Large holders can now swap tokenized assets for the USDC stablecoin almost instantly.
To support this move, BlackRock also invested in the ecosystem by purchasing UNI governance tokens.
How It Works
Trades execute via a request-for-quote mechanism. Only verified investors from the Securitize whitelist gain access. The system aggregates the best prices from market makers (such as Wintermute and Flowdesk) and executes the exchange via smart contracts.
“This is what we have been striving for: combining the trust and regulatory standards of traditional finance with the speed and openness that DeFi is known for,” noted Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo.
24/7 Liquidity
The main advantage is independence from banking hours. Previously, treasury operations halted during weekends and holidays. Now, BUIDL holders cash out to USDC around the clock, 365 days a year.
“Our mission at Labs is simple: to make the exchange of value cheaper, faster, and more accessible,” said Hayden Adams, founder and CEO of Uniswap Labs. “Bringing BUIDL to UniswapX with BlackRock and Securitize significantly accelerates our mission by creating efficient markets, boosting liquidity, and speeding up settlements. I am excited to see what we build together.”
Collaboration Prospects
Robert Mitchnick from BlackRock sees this as a convergence of yield-bearing instruments and stablecoins. The manager did not disclose the UNI token purchase amount, but the deal itself confirms the seriousness of their intent. Currently, the $1.8 B BUIDL fund is available only to players with capital starting at $5 M, yet the technical infrastructure is ready to scale to the retail market.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advertising or investment advice. Please do your own research before making any decisions.