Boron-Backed Tokens For Turkey’s Market—Here’s Why

Tether Holdings Ltd., the issuer behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has proposed an ambitious plan to Turkey’s government. The plan aims to “modernize” the country’s boron market using blockchain technology.

The proposal involves creating digital tokens backed by borate minerals, a key resource where Turkey controls over 70% of the global supply.

Further Details On The Proposal

As Bloomberg reported earlier today, citing individuals familiar with the matter, Tether pitched the idea to Turkish officials to tokenize boron, used in various industries such as ceramics, fertilizers, and glass production.

In addition to the tokenization proposal, the company has also raised the possibility of establishing a digital asset exchange in Istanbul, Turkey’s financial hub.

Tokenization is a growing trend within the digital asset space, where real-world commodities or assets are represented by digital tokens on a blockchain.

Bloomberg revealed that proponents argue that tokenization can improve market efficiency, liquidity, and transparency.

With Turkey projected to generate $1.3 billion in boron sales by 2024, the government may view Tether’s proposal as an opportunity to tap into innovative technologies and boost economic growth.

Turkey’s Growing Crypto Market And Tether’s Interest in Boron

Although the specific benefits of Tether’s proposal remain unclear, the company’s interest in Turkey is not entirely unexpected.

So far, Turkey has emerged as an attractive market for digital assets, particularly due to “high inflation and the declining value of the Turkish lira,” which has led to increased crypto adoption. Boron, a naturally abundant resource in Turkey, presents an intriguing choice for Tether’s tokenization efforts.

Turkey’s state-owned mining company Eti Maden Isletmeleri Genel Mudurlugu manages the country’s boron reserves, and the government’s control over this valuable resource could make it an ideal candidate for blockchain-based solutions.

While the Turkish government has not yet committed to the proposal, discussions are ongoing, with key meetings between Tether officials and senior Turkish figures, including Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.

A Turkish government official has noted that the idea is still in its early stages and may not be implemented immediately. Additionally, a Turkey’s Energy Ministry representative confirmed that the discussions with Tether are ongoing, though no concrete plans have been confirmed yet.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting innovation in Turkey’s digital-asset ecosystem. Ardoino noted:

[Tether is] deeply committed to fostering innovation in Turkey’s digital-asset landscape and keen to continue exploring new opportunities for growth.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView