Shipfinex IFSCA sandbox authorisation maritime tokenisation GIFT City
Shipfinex, the maritime asset tokenisation and capital-markets platform, has been granted a Limited Use Authorisation by the International Financial Services Centres Authority to test its platform in the IFSCA FinTech Innovation Sandbox at GIFT City. The authorisation, dated July 21, 2026 and valid until July 20, 2027, follows an In-Principle Approval from June 18, 2026.
Shipfinex builds infrastructure to originate, structure, distribute and service maritime real-world assets. Its platform represents ownership and participation interests in maritime assets through ship-owning special-purpose vehicle structures. The Dubai-headquartered group also holds an In-Principle Approval from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority for VA Broker-Dealer services.
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GIFT IFSC has grown to some 27 registered ship-leasing entities and 30 vessels since ship leasing was notified as a financial product in 2022. A ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund and infrastructure status for large vessels were established in the Union Budget 2025.
“GIFT IFSC has already proven itself in ship leasing; tokenisation is the natural next layer. A real-economy asset class tested on a permissioned ledger, with the regulator holding full visibility, is exactly how real-world assets should enter a market — through the regulator's front door.” said Prasanna Lohar, Founder & President, India Blockchain Forum.
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