For too long, the transformative benefits of decentralized finance (DeFi) have been confined to holders of crypto-native assets like ETH, ERC-20 tokens, or NFTs. But a seismic shift is underway. The tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is revolutionizing the financial landscape, bringing tangible assets onto blockchain networks. With over $13 billion in real-world assets already tokenized and projections soaring to $16 trillion by 2030, the stage is set for unprecedented growth and opportunity.
Traditional financial assets—bonds, equities, private credit, commodities—are migrating onchain. Personal assets like homes, cars, jewelry, art, and even livestock are being tokenized. Hundreds of companies, including global giants like BlackRock, are investing heavily in this future.
The implications are profound. DeFi, once inaccessible to the majority who didn't own digital assets, is now within reach for billions who own land, homes, vehicles, livestock, and small businesses. As tokenization accelerates, the power of DeFi can finally touch assets people already possess, democratizing financial opportunities on a global scale. This changes everything.
Enter Ripe Protocol. As assets are tokenized and brought on-chain, Ripe empowers users to unlock and tap into their full value. Ripe enables individuals to earn yield on or borrow against any asset, opening doors to wealth creation and credit access previously unimaginable.
Imagine a farmer in Guatemala borrowing against a tokenized small plot of land to buy a new goat. A young family in São Paulo earning yield on their tokenized home equity to fund their child's education. A small business owner in Bangkok instantly borrowing against a tokenized fleet of tuk-tuks to invest in a new electric tuk-tuk. These are not just possibilities—they are the realities Ripe Protocol supports and the stories we are bringing to life. This is our vision.
The world is ripe for transformation. The moment is now. The opportunity is immense. With Ripe Protocol, we are unlocking the full potential of assets worldwide, bridging the gap between traditional wealth and the future of decentralized finance.
A vision born
from experience
Mick Hagen
Founder of Ripe Protocol
This mission is deeply personal to me. This grand vision of economic opportunity for all isn't just a theoretical concept; it's deeply rooted in my own life journey and the experiences that have shaped who I am today. What drives me to pursue this with such relentless and maniacal dedication? Let's go deeper.
Opening Doors:
How My Mom Inspired My Purpose
My mom, originally from Guatemala, moved to the U.S. at 16 and fought tirelessly to build an American life. While raising four boys with my dad, she progressed from community college to earn a master's degree from a top university. I remember nights when she'd stay up late, textbooks spread across the kitchen table, determined to finish her schoolwork after putting us to bed. She's an amazing mom and a shining example of someone who made the most of every opportunity.
I believe brilliance is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not. There are so many out there, just like my mom, who, if the door to opportunity is opened just a crack, will aggressively and unapologetically barrel through it. They possess pure ambition and an unyielding pursuit of a better life—all they need is a chance.
My mom's underdog story is my story; it's my heritage. Her resilient spirit lives on in me. It's a big part of why I love creating products that unlock opportunities, empower people, and unleash potential in innovative ways.
Ripe Protocol is fundamentally about unlocking opportunity. It’s about giving people access to tools and services that previously belonged only to the elite, if anybody at all. It's about offering people a chance for growth, progress, and positive momentum in life. Given the opportunity, they will do the rest. They'll seize it and never look back. Just like my mom did, they will accomplish incredible things. All they need is an opportunity.
There are so many out there, just like my mom, who, if the door to opportunity is opened just a crack, will aggressively and unapologetically barrel through it. All they need is a chance.
From Missionary to Mission-Driven:
How Brazil Influenced My Commitment to DeFi
At 19, I spent two life-changing years in Brazil on a volunteer mission for my church. Despite their poverty, the people were among the happiest and kindest I've ever met. Yet, witnessing families trapped in a cycle of poverty was heartbreaking. Their struggle wasn't from a lack of effort or desire but from limited economic opportunities.
On my flight home, gazing out the window from 30,000 feet, I vowed to find a way to help them. Their faces and stories were etched into my memory. This experience ignited my lifelong mission to build products that create lasting, positive impact.
For years, I envisioned starting a company to open manufacturing facilities in Brazil to provide jobs and break the cycle of poverty. Over a decade later, as I began to understand the potential of DeFi, everything became clear. This was it! DeFi could unlock new opportunities, transform lives, and lift people up from their economic circumstances. With just an internet connection and access to DeFi, lives—including those of my friends in Brazil—could start to change.
There are plenty of DeFi protocols that focus solely on speculative use-cases in crypto. Ripe Protocol is not one of them. Ripe is built for the billions whose needs are more basic and fundamental. They seek access to credit so they can invest in their small business, or fund their children’s education. They desire savings tools and the ability to earn yield on their assets— even if all they own is land or livestock. They want economic opportunities that can help them rise up responsibly.
I no longer need to open factories for my friends in Brazil; we have something even better—Ripe Protocol.
On my way home, I vowed to find a way to help my friends in Brazil. Over a decade later, as I began to understand the potential of DeFi, everything became clear. This was it! DeFi could unlock new opportunities and transform their lives.
Zinch: Opening Doors for Students Worldwide
After returning from Brazil, I attended Princeton University. I left after my freshman year to start my first company, Zinch—an ed-tech platform designed to help high school students get discovered by universities. Students worldwide could showcase their talents, passions, skills, and leadership—everything beyond academics. Universities signed up to search for, recruit, and connect with these students.
Countless students were discovered by universities they hadn't known or believed they could attend. Zinch opened doors and created pathways to progress. These success stories reinforced my desire to help the underdog. Creating Zinch was immensely fulfilling—it was my first venture dedicated to empowering individuals and unlocking opportunities for those who might otherwise be overlooked.
Zinch grew into an international startup serving millions of students and over 800 colleges worldwide. At our peak, we reached 70% of all U.S. high school students and achieved an eight-figure revenue run rate. After six years, we were acquired by Chegg, now a publicly traded U.S. company.
Zinch's success broadened my perspective on what's possible, proving we could do good and do well simultaneously—a path I wanted to replicate. I realized I didn't have to enter non-profit work to make a positive impact; I could achieve it through tech startups. I became convinced that technology is the key to making an impact at scale.
Winning and getting acquired was gratifying, but winning while unlocking opportunities for others is absolutely priceless. It's all I crave now; it's all I want. It's an obsession that most observers would say is a mental illness.
I pursue this path because it brings me joy and gives me purpose. Now, all that energy is channeled into Ripe Protocol. We are going to win and change lives for the better in the process.
Winning and getting acquired was gratifying, but winning while unlocking opportunities for others is absolutely priceless. It's all I crave now.
From Slack Group to Global Mission: Empowering Lives with Crypto
In 2016, as I was experimenting with decentralized messaging protocols (not blockchain related), I kept hearing about Ethereum and smart contracts. Eventually, I found myself going down the crypto rabbit hole. In 2017, I started a Slack group to connect with internet friends equally fascinated by this frontier technology.
Our members included doctors, lawyers, teachers, a museum curator, a beekeeper—even a grandmother—a diverse group from all walks of life. Pooling our funds, we invested in promising early-stage blockchain projects. Despite some misses, we made incredible investments together. We explored all corners of web3—ICOs, DeFi, NFTs, DAO Governance, and more. We shared research, strategies, and ideas, making money together and learning from each other.
I still receive heartfelt messages from members thanking me. The opportunities unlocked through our group transformed their lives, allowing them to pursue dreams like starting businesses, traveling the world, or engaging in non-profit work. One member from Italy shared photos of a barn, land, and tractor he bought—his lifelong dream realized in just a few years.
I’m feeling thankful for all of you. Today I fulfilled one of my dreams: I bought an old farmhouse on top of a hill, with lands and a splendid view over the mountains all around. It wouldn’t have been possible without the great journey of PPC/Cluster, which I thank you for.
Paulo M, March 2021
Witnessing my friends achieve their dreams affirmed my belief in the transformative power of web3 and how access to the right tools can change lives. Playing a part in unlocking these opportunities was fulfilling and inspiring to me. It’s that drug I crave: winning, and helping others win.
Determined to amplify this effect, I asked myself: How can we scale the impact? How can we bring this technology to more people? I believe we can do that through Ripe Protocol.
Leveling the Playing Field: Transforming Lives with Ripe Protocol
Ripe is more than a DeFi protocol; it's a mission to democratize financial opportunities globally. We're breaking down long-standing barriers. We're giving that farmer in Guatemala, that family in São Paulo, and that entrepreneur in Bangkok the tools they need to thrive.
Every step of my journey—from witnessing my mother's determination, serving in Brazil, empowering students with Zinch, to seeing lives transformed through a simple Slack group—has led me to Ripe Protocol. This isn't just another project; it's the culmination of my life's passion and purpose. Together, we're not just building a protocol; we're forging a future where financial freedom and opportunity are accessible to all.
The world is ripe for change, the moment is now, and the opportunity is immense—let's seize it together.
Join us in making this vision a reality. Welcome to Ripe DAO.
Every step of my journey has led me to Ripe Protocol. It isn't just another project; it's the culmination of my life's passion and purpose.