Backed Finance excels at composability and DeFi integration because its tokens are built on the ERC-20 standard across multiple chains like Ethereum, Base, and Polygon. For example, its bCSPX token (tracking the S&P 500) can be used as collateral in protocols like Aave or MakerDAO, unlocking novel yield strategies. This multi-chain issuance, supported by a robust attestation layer, provides developers with maximum flexibility for building on-chain financial products.
Backed Finance vs. Matrixdock: Tokenized Treasury Products
Introduction: The Battle for On-Chain Treasury Yields
A technical breakdown of Backed Finance and Matrixdock, two leading platforms for tokenized U.S. Treasury products.
Matrixdock takes a different approach by focusing on regulatory clarity and institutional-grade structuring. Its Short-Term Treasury Bill Token (STBT) is issued under a Singapore-regulated trust structure, providing a clear legal framework that appeals to traditional finance (TradFi) institutions. This results in a trade-off: while potentially more appealing for large, compliance-sensitive capital, its current primary issuance on Ethereum mainnet can lead to higher gas costs for minting and redeeming compared to Backed's Layer 2 options.
The key trade-off: If your priority is deep DeFi integration, multi-chain deployment, and maximizing capital efficiency within existing protocols, choose Backed Finance. If you prioritize regulatory certainty, a structure built for institutional onboarding, and are less sensitive to on-chain gas fees for primary operations, choose Matrixdock.
TL;DR: Key Differentiators at a Glance
A side-by-side breakdown of core strengths and trade-offs for tokenized treasury products.
Backed Finance: Superior Composability
Cross-chain native issuance: Assets like bIB01 are minted natively on Ethereum, Base, and Polygon. This matters for DeFi integration, enabling direct use in protocols like Aave, Uniswap, and Compound without bridging. Their focus on ERC-20 standards ensures broad ecosystem compatibility.
Backed Finance: Transparent, On-Chain Reserves
100% verifiable collateral: Each token is backed 1:1 by underlying securities held with a regulated custodian (Bank Frick), with real-time attestations published on-chain by PwC Switzerland. This matters for institutional due diligence and building trust through transparency, not just legal claims.
Matrixdock: Direct Short-Term Treasury Access
Pure T-Bill focus: The STBT token provides direct exposure to a portfolio of US Treasury Bills with maturities under 3 months. This matters for capital preservation and low-duration yield seekers, offering a digital alternative to money market funds with daily yield accrual.
Matrixdock: Optimized for Asian Markets & Scale
Built for institutional scale: Backed by Matrixport, it leverages deep liquidity and distribution channels in Asia. This matters for large-volume investors and regional platforms seeking a turnkey, high-liquidity solution for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) with established local compliance frameworks.
Feature Comparison: Backed Finance vs. Matrixdock
Direct comparison of key metrics and features for tokenized real-world asset (RWA) platforms.
| Metric / Feature | Backed Finance | Matrixdock |
|---|---|---|
Primary Asset Focus | Tokenized ETFs & Bonds (e.g., bCSPX, bIB01) | Short-Term U.S. Treasury Bills (T-Bills) |
Underlying Asset Custodian | Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) | Standard Chartered Bank |
Blockchain Deployments | Ethereum, Polygon, Base | Ethereum, Polygon |
Minimum Investment | 1 Token (~$500 for bCSPX) | $10,000 |
Target APY (as of analysis) | ~4.5% (varies by product) | ~5.2% (for 3-month T-Bill) |
Primary Token Standard | ERC-20 (Backed Tokens) | ERC-20 (Matrixdock Security Tokens) |
Secondary Market Liquidity | Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) | Proprietary OTC Portal & DEXs |
Backed Finance vs. Matrixdock: Tokenized Treasury Products
Key strengths and trade-offs for institutional-grade tokenized treasury offerings. Data as of Q1 2024.
Backed Finance: Superior On-Chain Liquidity
Deep secondary market integration: Backed's bTokens (e.g., bIB01) are live on major DEXs like Uniswap and Curve, with over $50M in on-chain liquidity pools. This enables 24/7 trading and direct composability with DeFi protocols like Aave for yield strategies. This matters for funds requiring instant rebalancing or arbitrage.
Backed Finance: Broader Asset & Chain Support
Diverse product suite: Offers tokenized versions of ETFs (like iShares $IBIT), treasuries, and equities across Ethereum, Polygon, and Base. Supports ERC-20, ERC-1400, and ERC-4626 standards for compliance and vault integration. This matters for portfolios needing exposure beyond US Treasuries or operating on specific L2s.
Matrixdock: Focused Institutional-Grade Structure
Direct issuer relationship: Matrixdock tokens (e.g., T-Bill Token) are issued by Matrixport, a regulated entity with over $10B in assets under management. This provides a clear legal and custodial framework appealing to large, regulated institutions. This matters for CTOs prioritizing regulatory certainty and counterparty risk over on-chain features.
Matrixdock: Lower Barrier for Large Entry
High-yield, single-asset focus: Specializes in short-term U.S. Treasury bills with real-world yields passed through (e.g., ~5.4% APY). Minimum entry via their platform is often lower than direct treasury purchases. This matters for treasury managers seeking a simple, yield-optimized vehicle without managing multiple ETF tokens.
Backed Finance: Cons & Considerations
Complexity overhead: Managing multiple asset standards (ERC-20 vs. 1400) and bridging across chains adds engineering complexity. Yield is not auto-compounded; holders must manually stake or lend bTokens in DeFi. This matters for teams wanting a "set-and-forget" treasury solution with minimal smart contract management.
Matrixdock: Cons & Considerations
Limited DeFi composability: Primarily designed for holding on their platform or whitelisted custodians (e.g., Fireblocks). No native DEX liquidity; secondary sales may require OTC. Single asset class focus (T-Bills) limits portfolio strategy. This matters for protocols that need their treasury assets to be active, programmable collateral.
Matrixdock: Pros and Cons
Key strengths and trade-offs between Backed Finance and Matrixdock for on-chain treasury exposure.
Backed Finance: Superior Composability
ERC-20 Native Tokens: All assets (e.g., bIB01, bCSPX) are standard ERC-20s. This enables seamless integration with DeFi protocols like Aave, Compound, and Uniswap V3 for lending, borrowing, and concentrated liquidity strategies. This matters for protocols building complex financial products or seeking maximum capital efficiency.
Matrixdock: Focused Real-World Yield
Direct Short-Term Treasury Exposure: The STBT token is backed 1:1 by U.S. Treasury Bills and repo agreements, offering a pure, high-liquidity yield product. Its structure is optimized for stablecoin-adjacent returns with daily NAV updates. This matters for stablecoin protocols, cash management strategies, and users seeking low-volatility USD yield.
When to Choose: User Scenarios and Personas
Backed Finance for DeFi
Verdict: The superior choice for composability and capital efficiency. Strengths: Backed's bIB01 and bIBTA tokens are native ERC-20s, making them first-class citizens in DeFi. They are widely integrated across major lending protocols like Aave and Compound, and can be used as collateral in yield-bearing strategies on MakerDAO. This deep liquidity and programmability are critical for protocols building leveraged yield products or novel collateralized debt positions. Key Metric: Over $40M TVL in DeFi integrations.
Matrixdock for DeFi
Verdict: A streamlined, secure vault model, but less composable. Strengths: Matrixdock's T-Bill Token (STBT) is a robust, yield-bearing ERC-20. Its primary strength for DeFi is its real-world asset (RWA) focus and the security of its underlying SPV structure. It's best suited for protocols that need a simple, secure yield-bearing asset to offer users, such as a money market fund or a stablecoin yield vault, without requiring complex on-chain rehypothecation. Trade-off: Less native DeFi integration depth than Backed, favoring security and regulatory clarity over maximal composability.
Verdict and Strategic Recommendation
A final, data-driven breakdown to guide your choice between tokenized treasury platforms.
Backed Finance excels at on-chain composability and DeFi-native integration because its tokens are issued as ERC-20s on multiple EVM chains like Ethereum, Base, and Gnosis. This results in deep liquidity across major DEXs and seamless use in lending protocols like Aave and MakerDAO. For example, its bCSPX token (tokenized iShares S&P 500 ETF) has demonstrated significant on-chain utility, enabling yield strategies unavailable in traditional finance.
Matrixdock takes a different approach by prioritizing regulatory clarity and institutional-grade custody. Its Short-Term Treasury Token (STBT) is issued on Polygon but is backed by a segregated bankruptcy-remote SPV and a licensed trustee, BNY Mellon. This structure provides a clearer path for institutional adoption but can result in a trade-off of slower cross-chain expansion and less immediate DeFi composability compared to multi-chain native assets.
The key trade-off is between native DeFi utility and institutional safeguards. If your priority is maximizing on-chain yield strategies, multi-chain deployment, and protocol integration, choose Backed Finance. Its ERC-20 standard and existing DEX liquidity (e.g., Uniswap, Curve) make it the plug-and-play choice for DeFi applications. If you prioritize regulatory compliance, capital preservation for large treasuries, and working within a clearer traditional legal framework, choose Matrixdock. Its focus on real-world asset (RWA) security and institutional custody (via BNY Mellon) mitigates counterparty risk for conservative allocators.
Get In Touch
today.
Our experts will offer a free quote and a 30min call to discuss your project.