Layer-1 blockchain MANTRA and United Arab Emirates-based tokenization platform Libre Capital aim to drive further adoption of tokenized real-world assets

On Nov. 4, MANTRA (OM) and Libre Capital announced a partnership leveraging their combined strengths to offer on-chain funds to MANTRA’s institutional or accredited users.

MANTRA stated that the collaboration would use its purpose-built RWA blockchain along with Libre’s tokenization and issuance capabilities. Together, they aim to provide on-chain access to investment opportunities in hedge funds, money market funds, and private credit funds.

According to details in the announcement, a new integration is what will help eligible institutional investors access the on-chain funds on MANTRA. This will be via Libre’s decentralized applications deployment dubbed “Libre Gateway DeFi dApps”.

Libre deploys this feature on integrated chains, allowing access to top-tier tokenized money market funds and others in a compliant way.

John Patrick Mullin, co-founder and chief executive officer of MANTRA said:

“With the addition of protocols like the Libre Gateway, MANTRA can better equip users with a best-in-class collection of tools to continue to grow the real-world asset economy.”

MANTRA Chain’s integration of Libre Gateway allows various benefits for the L1 platform’s users, including access to treasury management tools. Libre on the other hand will explore the RWA-specific infrastructure that the layer-1 blockchain network offers, Dr. Avtar Sehra, founder and chief executive officer of Libre, noted.

MANTRA Chain launched its mainnet in October and recently partnered with Google Cloud, which is a validator and infrastructure provider. One of the goals of the partnership is to bolster MANTRA’s real-world assets market via an accelerator program.

The RWA accelerator program will go live in the first quarter of next year.

Crypto leaders and Silicon Valley giants have boosted Fairshake’s funds for the U.S. 2026 mid-term election cycle, even as America prepares to decide its next president.

The crypto super PAC Fairshake has raised $78 million from blockchain supporters and businesses for mid-term lobbying in 2026, according to CNBC.

U.S. mid-term elections, held two years into a president’s term, determine many congressional seats, potentially favoring digital asset regulations. Coinbase and Andreessen Horowitz are among the backers funding pro-crypto candidates in Congress.

America’s largest centralized crypto exchange, Coinbase, pledged to donate $25 million. Earlier, crypto.news reported that a16z crypto committed $23 million to Fairshake, as announced by managing partner Chris Dixon.

Crypto industry firms and blockchain-friendly companies have contributed a total of $170 million to Fairshake, a super PAC founded by over a dozen entities. Fairshake’s numbers, along with other crypto-aligned PACs, made up nearly 50% of corporate donations for the 2024 general elections.

A16z, Coinbase, Jump Crypto, and Ripple donated most of Fairshake’s $170 million crypto lobbying war chest this cycle. Fairshake has spent around $135 million, targeting legislators and state policymakers.

Long-term crypto lobbying commitments floated on hours before the final voting between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris for president. On prediction platforms like Polymarket, Trump had a higher winning probability at 57.9% against Kamala’s 42.3%. But national polls implied a tight race between the rivals.

Presidential election results may be announced on Nov. 5. However, protracted vote counting could cause delays. Polymarket’s presidential contract crossed $3.1 billion volume as traders placed stoppage time wagers.

The largest presidential prediction market will resolve when the Associated Press, Fox, and CNBC all declare a single winner. If not, Polymarket’s betting pool would remain open until the inauguration in January.

Ethereum ETFs recorded their first State Pension Fund purchase, as Michigan acquired shares from two funds offered by Grayscale.

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the State of Michigan became a top five holder of Grayscale’s spot Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded funds. Michigan’s Form 13F disclosed that the state owns a cumulative $10 million of Grayscale’s ETH and ETHE products.

Bloomberg ETF expert Eric Balchunas noted that Michigan held more shares in ETH ETFs than in its spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETF holdings.

Not only did Michigan’s pension buy Ether ETFs but they bought more then they did of Bitcoin ETFs, $10m vs $7m. This despite BTC being up a ton and Ether in the gutter. Pretty big win for ether which could use one.

Eric Balchunas, senior Bloomberg ETF analyst

The crypto community expressed mixed reactions to this first state fund investment in ETH products. Some praised the move as bullish for Ethereum, while others criticized Michigan’s government investors for allocating less to Bitcoin ETFs.

Rug Radio creator Daito Yoshi likened the move to a strategic business decision. Yoshi suggested on X that other government-backed investors may also deploy capital to ETH products.

I wonder where other institutions will choose to allocate in order to catch up with BTC gains once we hit $100K and they realize they’ve missed the BTC boat.

Daito Yoshi, Rug Radio creator

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have been trading for months, with BTC funds as clear leaders in the crypto investment space. Over $70 billion is held in Bitcoin ETFs compared to less than $10 billion in Ethereum funds.

However, institutional interest in crypto ETFs has generally grown. Traditional finance firms have invested about $13 billion on Bitcoin ETF shares alone this year.