Tokenization comes to Mining Finance | Jesse Knutson

Jesse Knutson, Head of Operations at Bitfinex Securities, joins Kitco Mining’s Paul Harris to discuss how tokenization could open a new capital route for mining and commodity companies after Bitfinex Securities facilitated a US$50 million raise for Alkemya Metacore. The raise, the largest to date on the Bitfinex Securities platform, will help Alkemya commercialize ultra-high-purity nickel wire for semiconductors, aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing. Knutson says tokenization applies the technology behind Bitcoin and digital assets to capital markets, creating a system designed to be cheaper, faster and more transparent. He explains what investors receive, how tokenized securities can trade, and why whitelisted ecosystems are used to meet qualified-investor and jurisdictional rules. Knutson also discusses how tokenization could bring new sources of capital into mining and commodities, which he frames as part of the broader real-world-assets shift. He says investor interest is coming from crypto high-net-worth investors, family offices, and institutions that move between traditional finance and digital assets. Knutson also explains why El Salvador’s framework was used, what products could come next, and why 24/7 trading, real-time settlement, and peer-to-peer transfers could shape the future of global markets. Recorded September 8, 2026. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews. 01:28 - Tokenization Basics Explained 02:19 - Cheaper, Faster Capital Markets 03:40 - What Tokenized Investors Receive 05:25 - Trading Tokens vs. Traditional Exchanges 06:46 - Why Alkemya Raised US$50M 08:09 - New Capital Sources for Mining 09:11 - Regulation and Global Jurisdictions 10:56 - Qualified Investors and Whitelists 12:55 - Why El Salvador’s Framework Was Used 14:58 - Tokenized Assets Growth Outlook 16:01 - Deal Origination and Future Products 17:44 - Partnerships and Commodity Pipeline 18:47 - Future of 24/7 Markets __________________________________________________________________ Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices. Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.com Stay connected with us X - https://x.com/KitcoMining Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcomining LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-mining Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMining Connect with the Kitco Mining anchors Paul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/mining Disclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.