Fighting ‘Mining Caste Opacity’: A Blueprint for Commodities Tokenization with Pablo Rutigliano

Pablo Rutigliano, founder of Atómico 3, discusses mining tokenization, the Crypto Lithium Index, and his fight for transparency in a traditional sector. Key to democratizing investments and combating underbilling

The tokenization of mining assets using blockchain could democratize financing for small and medium-sized mining companies, combat opacity in the industry, and position Latin America as a leader in the energy transition. However, this model faces skepticism due to alleged irregularities in the backing of tokens and resistance from traditional players.

Pablo Rutigliano, Argentine economist and entrepreneur, pioneer in integrating blockchain with natural resources. As founder of Atómico 3, the first global platform for traceable mining tokenization, and president of the Latin American Lithium Chamber (CALBAMERICA), he is promoting a disruptive model for financing mining SMEs through tokens backed by rights to legal concessions.

His project, regulated under CNV Resolution 1060/2023, promises transparency and efficiency. In this interview, he talks about his project and the potential of the mining sector in Latin America, as well as the power of blockchain and tokenization in the current context.

What challenges does the traditional mining industry face today, and how can blockchain technology offer concrete solutions in terms of traceability and efficiency?

The traditional mining industry faces the challenge of connecting the tangibility of mining SMEs with digitization. Blockchain technology unifies this process by ensuring traceability through technical reports, resolutions, and economic evaluation of the project, which allows its impact to be calculated. It is crucial that the digitization of assets has connectivity and that sectors such as mining companies' financial statements migrate to digital records, facilitating the transfer of economic traceability and improving efficiency.

How does Atomico3.io work as a bridge between physical assets such as lithium and the crypto ecosystem?

Atomico3.io integrates the Crypto Lithium Index into mining project evaluations (management, production, and certification). The funds raised go directly to the mining company that tokenized the project, which is divided into stages with sequential openings and closings. This structure diversifies risks in the portfolio, improves the economic evaluation of the asset by stage, and drives transparent documentation, acting as a bridge by linking physical production (such as kilograms of lithium carbonate) with digital tokens.

What is the purpose of the Crypto Lithium Index and what role does it play within the Atomico platform?

The purpose of the index is to establish a homogeneous, stable, sustainable, and transparent price for lithium, considering its real demand, formal growth, and impact on future prices. At Atomico, the index provides concrete evaluation of mining assets, gives transparency to valuation calculations and technical revaluations under accounting standards, and serves as a basis for business and public sector decisions on future commodity scenarios.

What factors or variables determine the real-time price of the Crypto Lithium Index and how is its transparency guaranteed?

The price is determined by taking price structures from recognized international markets and entering them into a matrix to calculate the projected index. Transparency is guaranteed by this objective method, which evaluates mining assets against local accounting calculations. To strengthen it, a transformation in professional and economic councils is being promoted to generate synergy and sectoral growth.

How is the Crypto Lithium Index integrated into the tokenization of mining assets? Does it serve as a reference for contracts, prices, or governance on the platform?

The index is formally integrated into tokenized project evaluations, determining the value of the mining “exchange good” (such as the lithium carbonate produced). Dividing the project into stages (sequential opening/closing) allows for risk diversification and economic evaluation of assets according to their phase. It serves as a key reference for pricing and economic evaluation at each stage, as the funds raised go directly to the tokenizing mining company.

In terms of regulation and institutional trust, how are you addressing the validation and auditing of the assets underlying the index?

A regulatory change is being promoted that includes an annex for mining projects (sendrenarios) and SME development, avoiding limiting it to certified companies. Transparent regulation will allow projects to be leveraged through tokenization, where the mining company repays the financing with a redemption rate on the tokens. Validation and auditing depend on this framework, linking the future valuation of tokens to the Crypto Lithium Index, which includes demand from battery manufacturers for greater economic coordination.

What are Atomico's competitive advantages over other projects that attempt to connect the physical world of natural resources with the blockchain universe?

Its advantages are:

1. Its own index that offers a uniform, stable, and transparent price based on real demand and projections.

2. Deep integration in tokenization by stages, with direct funds to mining companies.

3. Complete traceability through technical, resolutive, and economic documentation.

4. Transparent methodology with international markets for evaluations.

5. Focus on the development of SMEs and emerging mining projects through regulatory changes.

What upcoming milestones or strategic partnerships do you have planned to consolidate the Crypto Lithium Index as a benchmark for the sector?

The key milestone is to promote regulatory change with an annex for mining projects and SMEs, establishing transparent regulations that allow them to be leveraged through tokenization. This will generate direct loans to mining companies, where the index will anchor the future valuation of tokens and payment plans, linked to demand from battery manufacturers to consolidate its role as a sector benchmark.