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Ni28 whitepaper

Ni28: A Nickel-Backed Physical Asset Tokenization Platform

The Ni28 whitepaper was released by the OZNI core team at the end of 2025, aiming to address current blockchain challenges in scalability and interoperability by proposing innovative cross-chain solutions.

The theme of the Ni28 whitepaper is "Ni28: Building the Next Generation Decentralized Interoperability Network." Its uniqueness lies in proposing a privacy-preserving cross-chain protocol based on zero-knowledge proofs, combined with sharding technology to achieve high-performance data transmission, laying the foundation for seamless connection in a multi-chain ecosystem.

The original intention of Ni28 is to solve the problem of asset and information silos in the current blockchain ecosystem. The core viewpoint of the whitepaper is: by combining zero-knowledge proofs and sharding architecture, Ni28 can ensure privacy while enabling secure, efficient, and scalable value and information flow between different blockchain networks.

Interested researchers can access the original Ni28 whitepaper. Ni28 whitepaper link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19sk-MLyJhLRUiok2NXurqLZ_Buxy4lxK?usp=drive_link

Ni28 whitepaper summary

Author: Theo Marchand
Last updated: 2025-12-25 12:26
The following is a summary of the Ni28 whitepaper, expressed in simple terms to help you quickly understand the Ni28 whitepaper and gain a clearer understanding of Ni28.

What is Ni28

Friends, imagine if there were a digital currency that was not just a string of code, but was backed by real "hard assets"—for example, a metal as important to our daily lives as nickel. Doesn’t that sound much more solid? Ni28 (project code OZNI) is just such a project. Its aim is to bring real-world assets (like nickel reserves and production capacity) onto the blockchain, making them easier to trade and more transparent.

Simply put, Ni28 is a blockchain-based project whose core goal is to combine Real-World Assets (RWA) with decentralized finance (DeFi). You can think of it as a "digital bridge," with one end connected to Indonesia’s nickel mines and the other to the global digital financial market.

The project’s target users are mainly institutions and individuals who want to invest in commodities (like nickel) but find traditional methods too high-barrier and opaque. Through Ni28, they can participate in nickel asset investment more conveniently. The typical process is to use the OZNi token to digitize real-world nickel assets, enabling trading, collateralization, and other operations on the blockchain—just like buying and selling stocks with digital currency, except here you’re trading "digital nickel."

Project Vision and Value Proposition

Ni28 has an ambitious vision: it hopes to redefine the way global commodity assets are verified, issued, and accessed, setting a new benchmark for natural resource assets in the digital economy.

The core problem it aims to solve is that traditionally, investing in commodities like nickel has high barriers, low transparency, and poor liquidity, making it hard for ordinary investors to participate. Ni28 leverages blockchain technology to provide a compliant, transparent, and future-oriented platform, allowing physical nickel assets to be represented through a standardized, verifiable on-chain framework.

Compared to similar projects, Ni28’s uniqueness lies in not just simple asset "tokenization," but in emphasizing asset verification, data standardization, and lifecycle transparency. It aims to connect traditional industries with emerging digital infrastructure through long-term, governance-driven solutions. It is not a speculative project, but a digital access layer that combines on-chain participation with a real-world asset infrastructure that is verified, auditable, and meets institutional standards.

Technical Features

The technical core of the Ni28 project lies in its blockchain infrastructure and a unique set of verification mechanisms:

  • Blockchain Infrastructure: The entire project is built on blockchain, utilizing its decentralization and immutability to ensure the security and transparency of asset information.
  • Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) Framework: This is a very critical technology. Ni28 has developed a proprietary proof-of-reserves framework to verify nickel mine reserves, production capacity, and sales data. You can think of it as a "digital auditor" that continuously checks the status of real-world nickel assets and records this key information on the blockchain, ensuring that every OZNi token is backed by real nickel assets and preventing over-issuance. This makes OZNi not just a simple price-tracking tool, but a token system supported by real industrial assets.
  • Decentralized Application (dApp) and Genesis Nodes: In the early stages, the project will launch its own dApp and genesis nodes to lay the foundation for the entire network and economic system.
  • Supply Chain Transparency: Ni28 also plans to introduce supply chain transparency modules and on-chain verification systems, gradually achieving automated real-time auditing to further enhance transparency.
  • Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) Governance: Project governance will be implemented through a DAO structure, meaning community members can participate in project decision-making, ensuring decentralization and sustainable development.

Tokenomics

The token of the Ni28 project is OZNI, which is the core of the entire ecosystem:

  • Token Symbol: OZNI.
  • Issuing Chain: OZNI tokens mainly circulate on the BNB Smart Chain (BSC), for example, trading on PancakeSwap v2 (BSC).
  • Total Supply and Issuance Mechanism: Both the total and maximum supply of OZNI are set at 1 billion tokens.
  • Circulation: According to self-reported data from the project team, the circulating supply is 1 billion tokens. However, platforms like CoinMarketCap have also pointed out that the self-reported circulating supply is 0 and remains unverified. Investors need to verify and monitor this discrepancy themselves.
  • Token Utility: The main function of the OZNI token is to connect real-world nickel assets with on-chain liquidity. It represents a value base backed by commodities, providing on-chain transparency through auditable data streams, allowing both institutions and retail investors to easily access nickel-related financial products. Ni28 emphasizes that OZNI is designed as an infrastructure layer protocol, not a speculative trading product.
  • Distribution and Unlocking: There is currently no detailed public information on token distribution and unlocking plans. However, the roadmap mentions that in 2027, the token will enter the "equity channel" and "securitization stage," which may mean there will be equity-related unlocking and circulation mechanisms in the future.

Team, Governance, and Funding

Regarding the Ni28 team and governance structure, we know the following:

  • Core Team: The project is initiated and developed by Ni28 Lab. They work closely with resource operators and ecosystem partners to build the platform together.
  • Governance Mechanism: Ni28 plans to implement project governance through a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). This means major project decisions will be made and voted on by community members, rather than being controlled by a few centralized entities. The DAO structure aims to clarify roles, responsibilities, and coordination frameworks, achieving decentralized participation while maintaining operational integrity.
  • Treasury and Funding: A key funding milestone for Ni28 is the signing of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with five nickel mines in Indonesia. These mines cover a total area of about 1,942 hectares, with an initial estimated nickel resource of 38,800 tons. At current market reference prices, this represents over $600 million in real-world asset scale. These partnerships are an important foundation for the project’s infrastructure.

Roadmap

The Ni28 project has a clear phased development roadmap, showing its long-term plan from infrastructure building to eventual capital market exit:

  • Q4 2025: Phase One. The main task is to build the basic economic system, including launching the decentralized application (dApp), internal drivers, and genesis nodes.
  • Q1 2026: Phase Two. Focuses on improving liquidity and transparency, with the launch of a decentralized exchange (DEX) and RWA collateral (lending) functions.
  • Q2 2026: Phase Three. The project will expand globally and activate DAO governance mechanisms to broaden the consensus network.
  • Q3–Q4 2026: Phase Four. This phase will focus on compliance, conduct compliance audits, and strive for listing on centralized exchanges (CEX) to gain the trust of traditional financial institutions.
  • 2027: Phase Five. The token will enter the "equity channel" and the securitization stage, meaning the OZNi token will be linked to equity structures, further connecting DeFi with traditional equity markets.
  • 2028: Phase Six. The project plans to complete capital market exit through an initial public offering (IPO) or merger and acquisition (M&A).

It is worth noting that the OZNi token was officially soft-launched globally in December 2025, and several memoranda of understanding were signed during the 2025 Digital Transformation Forum.

Common Risk Reminders

All blockchain projects come with risks, and Ni28 is no exception. Before considering participation, be sure to understand the following common risks:

  • Technical and Security Risks: Although the project emphasizes blockchain security, technical risks such as smart contract vulnerabilities, network attacks, and system failures still exist. In addition, the effectiveness of its proof-of-reserves (PoR) mechanism and the independence of audits require ongoing attention.
  • Economic Risks: The value of the OZNi token is linked to real-world nickel assets, so fluctuations in nickel market prices, global economic conditions, and supply chain disruptions may all affect its value. Furthermore, token liquidity, market acceptance, and potential over-issuance risks (despite the PoR mechanism, execution still needs attention) are also factors to consider.
  • Compliance and Operational Risks: Tokenizing real-world assets is an emerging field facing a complex regulatory environment. Laws and regulations may differ across countries and regions, and compliance issues may impact project operations and development. The project’s relationships with nickel mine operators, contract execution, and geopolitical risks may also bring operational uncertainties.
  • Information Transparency Risks: Although the project emphasizes transparency, information such as team members and detailed token distribution and unlocking plans still need further disclosure in public materials. For example, CoinMarketCap has pointed out that OZNI’s circulating supply is self-reported as 0 and unverified, indicating there is still room for improvement in information transparency.

Please note: The above information is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and investment carries risks. Please conduct thorough due diligence and consult a professional financial advisor.

Verification Checklist

To gain a deeper understanding of the Ni28 project, you can verify and research through the following channels:

  • Block Explorer Contract Address: The contract address for the OZNI token is
    0xa934...b9CAEB
    . You can check this address on BSCScan and other block explorers to view token transaction records, number of holders, and other on-chain data.
  • GitHub Activity: No direct link to the Ni28 project’s GitHub repository is provided in current search results. It is recommended to look for it through official project channels to assess code development activity and transparency.
  • Official Website and Whitepaper: Although the search results mention an official website and whitepaper, no direct URLs are given. It is recommended to find official links through official announcements or trusted crypto information platforms (such as CoinMarketCap, Crypto.com) to obtain the most authoritative project information.

Project Summary

Ni28 (OZNI) is an ambitious blockchain project aiming to bridge the gap between traditional commodity markets and decentralized finance by tokenizing real-world nickel assets. Through its proprietary proof-of-reserves (PoR) framework, it strives to ensure that OZNi tokens are backed by real nickel reserves and production capacity, providing greater transparency and credibility. The project’s roadmap shows a clear plan from infrastructure building to global expansion and eventual integration with traditional capital markets.

Ni28’s value proposition lies in solving the high barriers, low transparency, and poor liquidity of traditional nickel asset investment, providing institutions and individuals with a more convenient and transparent investment channel. Its adoption of DAO governance also reflects the concepts of decentralization and community participation. However, as an emerging RWA project, it also faces risks in technology, market volatility, regulatory compliance, and information transparency.

Overall, Ni28 represents an interesting exploration of blockchain technology applied to real-world assets. It attempts to bring the value of tangible assets into the digital world, offering new possibilities for commodity investment. But remember, cryptocurrency investment carries inherent risks. This introduction is for educational purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice. Please be sure to conduct your own in-depth research and risk assessment before making any investment decisions.

Disclaimer: The above interpretations are the author's personal opinions. Please verify the accuracy of all information independently. These interpretations do not represent the platform's views and are not intended as investment advice. For more details about the project, please refer to its whitepaper.

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