ShipFinex
ShipFinex is a Dubai-based blockchain platform that tokenizes commercial ships into Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs), enabling fractional ship ownership from USD 1,000 for retail, HNWI, and institutional investors, with VARA and Polish VASP regulatory coverage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What ShipFinex does
ShipFinex is a Dubai-headquartered digital exchange platform that enables fractional ownership of commercial ships through blockchain-based tokenization. Founded in 2022 and operating under ShipFinex Holding Limited in ADGM with its regulated operating entity ShipFinex FZCO in IFZA Dubai, the company issues Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs) that represent legal fractional shares of specific commercial vessels held within Special Purpose Vehicle structures. Each offering undergoes independent vetting, third-party audit, and a dual-source valuation methodology that averages VesselsValue API data with opinions from Baltic Exchange member shipbrokers; revenue distributions are executed automatically via smart contracts deployed on the Polygon network.
The platform is built on a self-serve architecture that integrates FireBlocks MPC self-custody wallets, Sumsub KYC/AML onboarding, VesselsValue valuation feeds, and Hubpay fiat on/off-ramps, with regulatory coverage through VARA In-Principle Approval (IPA/26/01/002) as a Virtual Asset Broker-Dealer in Dubai and VASP registration under Polish KNF. Minimum investment starts at USD 1,000 per offering. The core customer base consists of retail and high-net-worth individual investors purchasing MATs, family offices and institutional allocators seeking RWA exposure, and ship owners seeking alternative financing by tokenizing vessel equity. The go-to-market combines content marketing (a 32-page maritime industry blog), event participation (Shiptek, Captain's Table, Startup World Cup), expert endorsements from maritime industry veterans, and self-serve onboarding.
The revenue model is transaction-fee based, encompassing fees on MAT issuance and primary/secondary trading, asset tokenization service fees charged to ship owners for SPV structuring and listing, and platform/membership-related fee schedules. As of the available data, no revenue figures are publicly disclosed, only $1.5M in total funding has been raised, the VARA full operational license remains pending, and the company operates with 11-50 employees across five jurisdictions (UAE/ADGM, Poland, USA/Wyoming, and SVG).
ShipFinex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ShipFinex
- Legal name
- ShipFinex FZCO
- Website
- https://shipfinex.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ShipFinex is a Dubai-based blockchain platform that tokenizes commercial ships into Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs), enabling fractional ship ownership from USD 1,000 for retail, HNWI, and institutional investors, with VARA and Polish VASP regulatory coverage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ShipFinex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Asset Tokenization Platform
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Centralized Crypto Exchanges (CEX) (FSAPADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Permissioned / KYC DEXs (Institutional On-Chain Venues) (FSADABAN)
Keywords
Where ShipFinex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dubai
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices5 records
Markets served
ShipFinex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Token Transaction Fees: Platform charges fees on the purchase and secondary trading of Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs) on the platform, likely taking a take rate on each transaction.
- Asset Tokenization Services: ShipFinex charges fees to ship owners for structuring SPVs, conducting vessel vetting, and tokenizing ownership for listing on the platform. The process involves signing an LOI, third-party audit, SPV structuring, tokenization, and listing.
- Platform / Membership Fees: Account registration on ShipFinex is free, but the platform likely generates revenue through fee schedules applied to platform usage, MAT transactions, and distributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard platform access with fractional ship ownership from USD 1,000 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
ShipFinex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ShipFinex operates a blockchain-based digital exchange platform that enables fractional ownership of commercial ships through Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs). Each MAT represents a legal fractional share of a vetted, audited, SPV-structured income-generating vessel, with minimum investments starting at USD 1,000. The platform uses Polygon smart contracts to automate governance and revenue distributions, self-custody FireBlocks MPC wallets for asset security, and dual-source vessel valuation (VesselsValue API + independent Baltic Exchange brokers) under VARA regulatory oversight.
Product overview
ShipFinex operates as a single unified digital exchange platform built around Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs). The core product is the MAT Platform, which enables fractional ship ownership via blockchain tokenization — users purchase MATs representing fractional ownership in income-generating commercial vessels, with each offering vetted, audited, and SPV-structured. All operations run through the platform interface with self-custodial wallet infrastructure (FireBlocks), KYC/AML onboarding (Sumsub), vessel valuation data (VesselsValue), and Polygon blockchain settlement. The platform also provides a dashboard for real-time vessel tracking, revenue distribution, and portfolio management. ShipFinex holds In-Principle Approval from VARA as a Virtual Asset Broker-Dealer (IPA/26/01/002) and is registered as a VASP in Poland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Maritime Asset Token (MAT): Digital token representing a legal, fractional share of a specific commercial vessel. MATs are issued through the Shipfinex platform for ship ownership.
Products and services
- Maritime Asset Token (MAT) Platform A digital exchange platform enabling users to browse vetted ship offerings, purchase fractional ownership in commercial vessels through MATs starting at USD 1,000, and receive automated charter revenue distributions via smart contracts on the Polygon blockchain. Target users are individual investors and ship owners.
- Maritime Asset Token (MAT) A digital token that represents a legal fractional share of a specific income-generating commercial vessel, enabling investors to earn a share of charter revenues and benefit from vessel ownership without full-ship capital outlay.
- Asset Tokenization Services A service for ship owners covering SPV structuring, independent vessel vetting and audit, tokenization of vessel equity, and listing of MATs on the ShipFinex platform to access a global pool of investors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Minimum investment of USD 1,000 enables ship ownership access vs. traditional multi-million dollar full-ship purchase
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ShipFinex
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ShipFinex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature6 records
ShipFinex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- FireBlocks Inc.coreFireBlocks provides MPC (Multi-Party Computation) wallet infrastructure for ShipFinex's platform. Client MATs are held in individually assigned, non-custodial FireBlocks MPC vaults under client control. ShipFinex FZCO does not hold or access client wallet credentials. FireBlocks is SOC 2 Type II certified and holds a New York DFS BitLicense. It is a material dependency for core platform infrastructure.
- Polygon Labs (Polygon PoS Network)corePolygon PoS serves as the public blockchain settlement layer for MAT token issuance, transfer, and on-chain transaction records. ShipFinex deploys and operates smart contracts on the Polygon network. Settlement is irreversible once confirmed on-chain. Polygon PoS is a decentralized public protocol and EVM-compatible Layer 2 network with significant institutional adoption.
- HubpaycoreHubpay provides UAE fiat on/off-ramp transit services, facilitating client fiat deposits and withdrawals in connection with MAT settlement. It is a Licensed Electronic Money Institution regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Transit amounts do not attract client asset protection rules.
- VesselsValue LtdcoreVesselsValue provides automated maritime vessel valuation data via API, using real-time market data, comparable sale evidence, and vessel-specific parameters. It is one of two primary inputs to the ShipFinex MAT valuation methodology, averaged with independent broker valuation to determine base vessel value. Used by major ship finance banks, P&I clubs, and institutional investors.
- Independent Panel Shipbroker(s)coreOne or more internationally recognised, Baltic Exchange member S&P shipbroker firms provide written independent valuation opinions for each MAT-underlying vessel. Panel broker is rotated periodically to maintain independence. Where variance between VesselsValue and broker opinion exceeds internal threshold, a second independent broker is engaged.
- SumsubcoreSumsub provides the client onboarding KYC/AML verification platform, including automated identity verification, document authentication, liveness checks, sanctions screening, and PEP/adverse media monitoring for all ShipFinex clients and counterparties. It is a UK-registered compliance technology provider, ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II compliant.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ShipFinex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Tangible: Tangible is a UK-based RWA tokenization platform for real estate, fine wines, and other assets. Comparable in democratizing access to high-value physical assets via tokens, with similar regulatory challenges.
- RealT: RealT pioneered fractional ownership of tokenized real estate, directly comparable in product mechanic (fractional tokens representing income-generating real-world assets) though in real estate rather than shipping. Useful proxy for retail RWA adoption patterns.
- ShipFund.io: ShipFund offers fractional investment in individual vessels via crowdfunding, addressing the same retail-investor-into-shipping demand that ShipFinex targets, but via traditional securities rather than blockchain tokens.
Broad incumbents
- Polymath: Polymath is a security token issuance and management platform with similar smart-contract-based compliance tools. Comparable technology for tokenized securities issuance, though broader and more mature.
- tZERO: tZERO operates a regulated alternative trading system for security tokens, comparable as an institutional-grade venue for tokenized securities. Broader scope than ShipFinex but analogous broker-dealer model.
- Securitize: Securitize is a leading regulated RWA tokenization platform serving private credit, funds, and equities. Comparable technology stack and regulatory posture, but operates across all asset classes rather than specializing in maritime.
Direct peers
- Poseidon Maritime: Poseidon is a maritime-focused digital investment platform that has explored tokenization of shipping assets. Closely comparable in targeting the same retail-investor-meets-shipping niche that ShipFinex serves.
- Vessel Token: Vessel Token offers fractional ownership and tokenization of maritime vessels, overlapping directly with ShipFinex's MAT product in offering, customer base (retail/HNWI investors), and underlying asset class (commercial ships). Most directly comparable competitor.
Others
- Maritime Capital Partners: Maritime Capital Partners is a traditional ship finance and investment firm. Comparable in targeting institutional and HNWI capital for ship ownership, but offers a private-fund structure rather than tokenized fractional ownership.
- VesselsValue: VesselsValue provides automated vessel valuations used as a data input by ShipFinex. Adjacent rather than competitive: ShipFinex is a customer of VesselsValue but the companies overlap in serving maritime investment customers with valuation-driven insights.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ShipFinex social profiles
Digital presenceShipFinex compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
ShipFinex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ShipFinex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
ShipFinex subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
ShipFinex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ShipFinex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ShipFinex
What does ShipFinex do?
ShipFinex operates a blockchain-based digital exchange platform that enables fractional ownership of commercial ships through Maritime Asset Tokens (MATs). Each MAT represents a legal fractional share of a vetted, audited, SPV-structured income-generating vessel, with minimum investments starting at USD 1,000. The platform uses Polygon smart contracts to automate governance and revenue distributions, self-custody FireBlocks MPC wallets for asset security, and dual-source vessel valuation (VesselsValue API + independent Baltic Exchange brokers) under VARA regulatory oversight.
Is ShipFinex a public or private company?
ShipFinex is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ShipFinex founded?
ShipFinex was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ShipFinex based?
ShipFinex is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does ShipFinex make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Token Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are asset Tokenization Services and platform / Membership Fees.
Who are ShipFinex's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Tangible, RealT and ShipFund.io. Broad incumbents are Polymath, tZERO and Securitize. Direct peers are Poseidon Maritime and Vessel Token. Others are Maritime Capital Partners and VesselsValue.
Does ShipFinex have an API?
No public API is recorded for ShipFinex.
What industry is ShipFinex in?
ShipFinex's product category is Maritime Asset Tokenization Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPADAA, Centralized Crypto Exchanges (CEX), with a secondary code of FSADABAN, Permissioned / KYC DEXs (Institutional On-Chain Venues). Its NAICS code is 523210 and its SIC code is 6200.