Sailing Protocol: Bringing real-world stocks to DeFi with Rootstock

Trade tokenised equities 24/7 with Bitcoin-secured settlement.

 

Sailing Protocol is revolutionizing access to financial marketing by bringing real-world stock trading to the blockchain. Built on Rootstock, Sailing issues tokenized versions of fully backed equities as ERC-20 tokens, giving users the power to trade the 24/7 with near instance settlement and plug them into protocols.

 

This innovation bridges traditional finance with the decentralized economy, creating a seamless way for users to access the equity market anytime, anywhere. With Rootstock’s Bitcoin-level security, Ethereum compatibility and low fees, Sailing Protocol provides an ideal foundation for tokenized assets that are ready for mainstream use. 

 

Meet the builder: Nico Szerman

Founder and Protocol Lead 

 

Nico is a math-and-engineering-driven builder, passionate about bringing traditional assets into the decentralized world. As the Founder and Protocol Lead of Sailing, he’s on a mission to give global users ownership and utility of real-world assets through DeFi.

 

What is Sailing Protocol building?

 

At its core, Sailing Protocol is a platform and protocol that:

 

• Mints stock tokens that are fully backed and issued as ERC-20s
• Enables 24/7 equity trading without centralized intermediaries
• Bridges traditional stocks to DeFi, allowing tokenized stocks to be used in:
  • DEX trading
  • Lending markets
  • Yield-generating strategies
  • Cross-chain DeFi applications
    
    

Sailing is already live on Rootstock mainnet with multiple tickers available and real users actively trading.

 

Why build on Rootstock? 

 

Rootstock offered Sailing the ideal rails for tokenizing real-world assets:

• Bitcoin-level security: the most trusted chain in the world
• EVM-compatible: developers can use familiar Ethereum tooling
• Low fees: perfect for frequent transactions
• Composability: seamless integration into DeFi apps
• Bitcoin-native ethos: aligns with Sailing’s mission to open markets

This combination makes Rootstock the perfect Layer 2 for applications that merge real-world finance and DeFi.

 

Sailing’s journey to RootstockCollective 

 

Sailing’s relationship with Rootstock began at the Stanford Blockchain Conference in 2023, where Nico met Rootstock Labs team members. Through that connection, Sailing was introduced to RootstockCollective, the DAO supporting builders on Rootstock.

 

Joining the Collective meant more than funding. Sailing received:

• Over $25,000 in grants, including Wave I support and Builder Activation rewards
• Direct feedback and mentorship from active Rootstock users
• Participation in DAO community channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and forums
• Activation through the Collective Rewards programme

 

“Builders here get more than capital, we get constant feedback and signals from Rootstock power-users. RootstockCollective helped me go from idea to traction with real people backing my vision.”
– Nico Szerman

 

Collaborating With the Ecosystem

 

Sailing’s involvement in the DAO extends far beyond grant support. They actively:

• Engage in forum discussions and governance proposals
• Share product updates and get real-time feedback
• Drive DeFi usage by listing tokenized equities on:
  • DEXes
  • Lending markets
  • Token bridges

These contributions bring new liquidity, TVL, and user growth to Rootstock.

 

What’s Next for Sailing Protocol?

 

Sailing’s roadmap is focused on driving utility and adoption of stock tokens. Upcoming features include:

• More DeFi integrations across the Rootstock ecosystem
• Deployment of more stoke tokens giving users even great choice 
• Expansion to other asset classes such as commodities and private equity

 

This future vision turns traditional equities into tools for everyday use, all powered by Rootstock.

 

Sailing Protocol is a live example of how RootstockCollective supports real-world asset innovation. It proves that builders on Rootstock can go from concept to deployment; with real users, real liquidity, and real impact.

 

Support Sailing Protocol 

 

As an activated builder, Sailing Protocol is live on the RootstockCollective dApp and needs your support. The Collective Rewards program provides additional financial support to Rootstock builders, helping their product roadmaps come to life. 

 

To support Sailing: 

• Stake RIF on the Collective dApp
• Head to Collective Rewards on the left hand menu 
• Scroll down and select Sailing Protocol 
• Then manage your allocations to show them support 
• You and Sailing Protocol will receive Collective Rewards bi-weekly. 

 

Even better, Sailing Protocol’s backer rewards is set at 51% – so they’re actively thanking you for your support.