Summary
- ADI Chain and Shipfinex plan to tokenize maritime assets, targeting a commercial shipping market valued at approximately $2.17T.
- Shipfinex brings 35 vessels worth $500M, while separate legal structures connect each token directly with vessel economics and rights independently.
- ADI Chain will support stablecoin settlement, while Shipfinex advances regulatory preparations under its existing VARA in-principle approval for broker-dealer services.
ADI Chain and Shipfinex have partnered to bring tokenized vessel investments into the $2.17 trillion global commercial shipping market. In a statement shared with 36crypto, both companies outlined an exclusive partnership covering maritime assets, blockchain infrastructure, and stablecoin settlement.
Why Shipfinex’s $500 Million Vessel Pipeline Matters
Shipfinex brings an initial pipeline of around 35 vessels valued at approximately $500 million for potential tokenization. Meanwhile, ADI Chain will provide blockchain, distribution, and settlement infrastructure for Maritime Asset Tokens issued through a regulated route.
The partnership targets a financing gap within an industry responsible for carrying over 80% of global trade by volume. Global ship finance stands around $680 billion, while vessel investment remains concentrated among shipowners, banks, and specialist financial institutions.
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Shipfinex will originate and structure eligible maritime assets while both companies finalize their regulated issuance framework. Each qualifying vessel will sit within a separate special-purpose vehicle covering its valuation, liabilities, income, and investor rights.
Consequently, tokens could represent vessel-backed credit, charter-linked income, or economic interests connected directly to individual ships. Moreover, every instrument will remain linked to an identifiable vessel with its own financial profile, operating history, and legal structure.
BREAKING: ADI Chain and Shipfinex have partnered to tokenize maritime assets, with a potential $500M vessel pipeline and stablecoin-powered settlement targeting the $2.17T global shipping market.https://t.co/sjihRbHsh2
— 36Crypto (@36Crypto1) August 11, 2026
ADI Chain Plans Dirham Stablecoin Settlement for Maritime Assets
ADI Chain will provide infrastructure for moving eligible maritime assets and associated financial flows onto its blockchain. Primary allocations and distributions could settle using stablecoins denominated in UAE dirhams, US dollars, and other currencies.
“Maritime finance has the scale, real assets, and commercial activity to become a major new real-world asset category,” Ramana Kumar, President of Stablecoin Ecosystem, ADI Foundation, said in the statement.
Kumar also highlighted regulated issuance and onshore digital settlement within the planned structure. Additionally, on-chain records could provide verifiable histories covering issuance, ownership, and distributions while preserving applicable compliance requirements.
Shipfinex Advances Regulatory Route for Maritime Token Launch
Shipfinex founder and CEO Capt. Vikas Pandey highlighted restricted investment access despite shipping’s major role in global commerce. “Ships keep global trade moving, but access to maritime investment remains narrow and fragmented,” Pandey stated.
Shipfinex holds In-Principle Approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority for broker-dealer services. However, no Maritime Asset Tokens have been publicly issued because the companies must finalize their regulated issuance route.
The opening phase will determine product structures and prepare qualifying vessels from Shipfinex’s $500 million pipeline for tokenization. Ultimately, ADI Chain will exclusively provide blockchain and settlement infrastructure for maritime digital instruments developed under the partnership.
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