The president of Norilsk Nickel, Vladimir Potanin, called bitcoin “a useful souvenir” and said that his company was in discussion with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on the tokenization of various assets.

According to CoinDesk , Potanin enthusiastically looks at the future of asset-backed tokens, similar to the one that Norilsk Nickel is preparing. In his opinion, their usefulness goes beyond speculative value.

Potanin is not too interested in cryptocurrencies. He shares the position of American regulators who equate bitcoin with exchange commodities. Potanin himself does not invest in cryptocurrencies and believes that central banks should deal with the issue of electronic money.

The head of Norilsk Nickel is conducting an “in-depth discussion” with the Bank of Russia on pilot projects for the tokenization of various goods and services, from air tickets to sea containers.

He also participated in the development of an alternative bill on digital financial assets from the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

In the summer, Norilsk Nickel joined the Hyperledger consortium and also entered into an agreement with IBM to create a digital training center for the mining industry.

According to Potanin, the company's tokens will be backed up either by a guarantee for the shipment of metal, or by special bank accounts.

To work with the digital asset, Norilsk Nickel will open companies in the USA and Switzerland:

“We decided not to risk our reputation and be 100% regulated. To launch, we will need both the decision of the US regulatory authorities and the approval of FINMA in Switzerland, ” said Potanin.

Recall that last year Potanin announced plans to release a metal-stableablecoin .

In the summer, Potanin said that a platform for trading palladium using tokens should work by the end of the year.

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