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Comparisons

Backed Finance vs. Matrixdock: Tokenized Treasury Products

A technical comparison of Backed Finance and Matrixdock, two leading issuers of tokenized short-term government bonds and ETFs. We analyze infrastructure, asset backing, fees, and target use cases to inform strategic decisions for CTOs and protocol architects.
Chainscore © 2026
introduction
THE ANALYSIS

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.

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.

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.

tldr-summary
Backed Finance vs. Matrixdock

TL;DR: Key Differentiators at a Glance

A side-by-side breakdown of core strengths and trade-offs for tokenized treasury products.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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.

04

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.

TOKENIZED TREASURY PRODUCTS

Feature Comparison: Backed Finance vs. Matrixdock

Direct comparison of key metrics and features for tokenized real-world asset (RWA) platforms.

Metric / FeatureBacked FinanceMatrixdock

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

pros-cons-a
PROS AND CONS

Backed Finance vs. Matrixdock: Tokenized Treasury Products

Key strengths and trade-offs for institutional-grade tokenized treasury offerings. Data as of Q1 2024.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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.

04

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.

05

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.

06

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.

pros-cons-b
Tokenized Treasury Product Comparison

Matrixdock: Pros and Cons

Key strengths and trade-offs between Backed Finance and Matrixdock for on-chain treasury exposure.

01

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.

ERC-20
Token Standard
03

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.

T-Bills & Repo
Underlying Assets
CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITY

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
THE ANALYSIS

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.

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