Kula, a decentralized investment firm focused on real-world assets (RWAs), brought $50 million in impact investing fully onchain, with a model that gives local communities direct governance over natural resources, energy and land projects in emerging markets.

Rather than tokenize yield or financial claims, Kula issues governance tokens tied to projects such as a limestone concession in Zambia, a hydropower initiative in Nepal and electric mobility infrastructure across East Africa. Through its Regional Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) Framework, each project is governed transparently onchain while remaining compliant across jurisdictions.

“As RWA tokenisation continues to evolve, I think the most meaningful progress will come from expanding who gets to participate in decision-making, not just who gets access to financial exposure,” Paul Jackson, CEO of Kula, told CoinDesk in an interview..

To date, Kula has raised $25 million from partners aligned with its governance-first mission. Impact investing assets currently exceed $1.6 trillion globally, but more than 70% remain concentrated in high-income countries. Kula positions itself as a mechanism to redirect capital and decision-making governance fast-growing economies often excluded from global finance.

“Kula was designed to make previously inaccessible assets investible while empowering communities to participate in the governance of the resources that shape their futures,” Jackson added.

Kula’s DAO architecture allows local stakeholders to vote on capital allocation, asset management and planning. This shifts influence from centralized institutions to communities generating the value.

With RWA tokenization expected to top $2 trillion by 2028, Kula’s approach suggests a future where onchain assets come with embedded accountability, and the power to shape outcomes rests closer to the source, Jackson concluded.