- Perth-based startup, ProspEx Group, was the only WA company chosen for Project Acacia, led by the Reserve Bank of Australia and Digital Finance CRC.
- ProspEx Group's platform offers a new way for mining companies to raise capital through its innovative Digital Syndicated Royalty (DSR™) instrument.
- Company backed by early investment from key mining and resources industry identities.
Perth-based fintech start-up ProspEx Group has been conditionally selected to take part in Project Acacia, a national initiative led by the Reserve Bank of Australia and Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) exploring how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenised asset markets in Australia.
ProspEx Group is the only participant from Western Australia among those conditionally selected.
Through its purpose-built digital platform, which serves as an accessible investment 'shopfront', primary issuance and registry solution, ProspEx Group is pioneering a new way for mining companies to raise capital, through the sale of digital fractionalised royalties.
An alternative fund-raising mechanism to issuing new equity or debt, the ProspEx platform will enable resource companies to create royalties over mine revenue and offer these to multiple investors.
This approach gives companies access to funding without diluting shareholders, while inviting participants – including their existing sophisticated shareholder base – to gain direct exposure to production-linked income through royalties; an asset class traditionally reserved for large institutions or private owners.
ProspEx Group Co-Founder and CEO Kassia Kazmer said the company was created to address a major gap in mining finance, particularly for pre-production projects.
"Mining companies are often forced to raise money during periods of both commodity price strength and decline, which can dilute loyal shareholders and delay development," she said.
"Our model allows them to raise non-dilutive funding and at the same time gives sophisticated investors (and eventually, everyday Australians) access to quality, passive income-producing investments that have been off-limits up until now."
Project Acacia is a research project being led by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre to explore how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenised asset markets in Australia.
ProspEx Group's platform will operate on Ethereum, the world's largest blockchain network. Their flagship Instrument, the Digital Syndicated Royalty (DSR™)is a tokenised real-world asset, backed by a legally enforceable royalty agreement, developed in-house.
The ProspEx platform enables the purchase of tokenised royalties using digital currency pegged to the Australian dollar, with fiat conversion facilitated through integrated third-party infrastructure. These royalties are tied to individual mining projects and offer direct exposure, with holders receiving a share of revenue once production begins. Royalties can typically yield 15% - 35% annually, which exceeds traditional asset classes.
The company will open its pilot DSR capital raise this week for an Australian mining developer in partnership with a boutique Australian brokerage firm. Following on from the transaction, ProspEx will extend its technology infrastructure to traditional brokerage firms to conduct DSR capital raises for their own resources clients.
While royalty finance is common in global mining markets, access for smaller investors has been almost non-existent. The ProspEx Group model brings transparency, liquidity and accessibility to this traditionally opaque and institutional space.
"We're excited to be contributing to Project Acacia and to demonstrate how WA-led innovation can help modernise capital markets for the mining sector" said Kassia.
"There are outstanding Australian mining projects, particularly in critical and battery minerals, that struggle to secure funding through traditional channels. Our platform was built to address that gap."
What we're building aligns closely with the Government's critical minerals strategy, and we believe it has the potential to unlock new capital pathways for an industry that's fundamental to Australia's economic future."
Joining CEO and Co-Founder Kassia Kazmer, ProspEx Group's leadership team consists of industry renowned specialists with deep sectoral experience, including mining investment banker and former executive at Deterra Royalties (Australia's largest listed royalty company) Adrian Stone as COO, and Josh Hunt, bringing rare domain expertise across both blockchain and resources law, as Legal Counsel and Executive Director.
Early backers in the company include high-profile WA names such as mining and resources lawyer Michael Hunt, Bellevue Gold MD and CEO Darren Stralow, Diggers & Dealers Co-Owner and Capricorn Metals Non-Executive Director Myles Ertzen and energy sector veteran Jon Stewart. Boutique advisory firm RiseQ has also backed ProspEx from early on, and firm Partner Ben Berthon-Jones will additionally be joining the ProspEx Group Board.
The ProspEx Group platform is being developed in partnership with Blockhead Technologies, led by CEO Greg Leach, another Perth-based innovator with experience in mining software systems.
About ProspEx Group
ProspEx Group is an Australian fintech developing alternative capital raising solutions for the resources sector, with a focus on providing miners with non-dilutionary and liquid alternatives during pre-revenue years. The ProspEx platform will be built to support the issuance and management of smart digital products, facilitation of a secondary market with integrated investor communication functionality, trading and clearing house and settlement solutions.
About Project Acacia
Project Acacia is a research project being led by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre to explore how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenised asset markets in Australia.
