Savea is a fintech firm at the intersection of alternative asset investing and blockchain technology, aiming to transform how investors access high-value, tangible assets. Based in Singapore and London, the company was founded by CEO Sam Mudie. Mudie brings extensive sector expertise, having spent close to nine years at Cult Wines Ltd, first as a Senior Portfolio Manager and later (mostly) as a Director, giving him deep experience in investment-grade wine markets. He is also affiliated with Circle, the stablecoin company, and Innovate Finance, highlighting his engagement with both traditional and digital finance sectors.
The firm focuses on tokenising high-value, physical real-world assets (RWAs) and creating regulated, scalable investment products on the Ethereum network. Its flagship offering, Savea Wine (SAVW), is an ERC-20 token that mirrors the performance of the Liv-ex 1000 index, the globally recognised benchmark for fine wine investment. Each SAVW token is “100% backed” by insured, professionally stored physical wine reserves, giving investors direct economic exposure to the underlying assets without having to manage or store bottles themselves.
The Liv-ex 1000 index on the left, as seen at LIV EX, on the 9th of February. Whilst the index has not had the best of runs over the past few years, the low stock correlation is precisely what attracts investors to alternative assets.
Savea states that discreet yet dependable, fine wine has earned its place in private portfolios by delivering stable, scarcity-driven growth consistently over time. According to the firm, fine wine has achieved a rolling average growth rate of around 8 percent per annum over the past 20 years, with average annual volatility near 5 percent and a correlation of just 0.1 to global equities. This combination of steady returns, low volatility, and diversification potential has made fine wine appealing to both traditional and digital-native investors.
Why Tokenisation Matters
Historically, fine wine investment was exclusive, requiring substantial capital, specialised knowledge, and engagement with brokers or auction houses. Savea’s SAVW addresses these limitations by offering fractional ownership, lower entry points, and 24/7 tradability, while blockchain recording ensures verifiable provenance and transaction transparency.
Mudie has described SAVW as combining “the user experience of a neobroker with the compliance layer of an ETF,” highlighting its regulatory-first approach. The product is authorised under the Jersey Financial Services Commission, providing investor protection and differentiating it from earlier, less formal tokenisation attempts.
Market Context and Investment Opportunity
Fine wine has historically offered reliable long-term returns, but timing remains important. As Mudie noted to CityAM:
“Separate head from heart. Invest based on data, not what you like to drink. Invest long-term. Like any market, wine has its downturns, but in the long term it has a reliable ROI of six to 10 per cent per annum. And timing is important. Trend investing can work, but fortune favours the bold. Currently the market is down, so it’s a huge opportunity to buy now – if you’re prepared to go against the crowd.”
This guidance underscores why tokenisation may be particularly timely, as digital access allows investors to respond quickly to market downturns, capture long-term value, and benefit from fractional ownership in an asset class traditionally dominated by high-net-worth individuals.
The broader appeal of Savea’s approach is also highlighted by Lee Smith – an angel investor into Savea – as reported by UK Tech Investment News:
“Particularly in the context of today’s volatile global equities markets, I immediately saw the value of Savea’s investment infrastructure to tokenize real-world, high-value assets that are not correlated to stocks or other digital assets. Savea is a game-changer for family offices, hedge funds, and crypto investors who want to diversify their portfolios with regulated investment product offerings.”
Funding and Strategic Growth
The firm successfully closed a £1.9 million pre-seed funding round on 8 May 2025, backed by angel investors and the venture studio EmergentX. The company is developing compliance-focused investment structures that leverage blockchain tokenisation to unlock markets for high-value physical assets, including fine wines, collector automobiles, and premium timepieces.
The new capital will accelerate Savea’s mission to create accessible pathways for retail investors into asset classes that have traditionally demanded significant capital and specialised expertise. By harnessing distributed ledger technology, Savea aims to overcome longstanding barriers to market entry, improve transaction efficiency, and enhance portfolio diversification within tangible luxury markets.
Leading the investment round is Lee Smith, founder and CEO of EmergentX, who brings extensive experience in orchestrating major corporate transactions, including PayPal’s multi-billion-pound acquisition of Paidy in 2021 and 8×8’s purchase of Wavecell in 2019. EmergentX focuses on supporting early-stage ventures that deploy blockchain and AI technologies. Savea’s operations are also supported through collaboration with the Decentralised Storage and Tokenisation Network (DESAT), another venture within EmergentX’s portfolio, which provides infrastructure for securely storing physical assets and facilitating compliant digital asset conversion and withdrawals.
How to Invest in SAVW
Investors can purchase SAVW tokens directly on the Savea platform after completing the required KYC and AML checks, according to the company’s FAQs. Purchases can be made via fiat bank transfer or utilising on-chain USDC.
While fine wine has traditionally been illiquid, SAVW tokens are tradable 24/7 on-chain. Investors can trade tokens peer-to-peer, settle in USDC, or redeem them directly with Savea, subject to predefined limits designed to maintain market stability. As adoption grows, token liquidity is expected to increase, making it easier for participants to enter and exit positions.
Savea has also simplified fees compared to traditional wine funds:
- A 1.5% annual management fee (roughly half the 3–5% charged by legacy wine funds)
- When redeeming with the company, there is a 2% redemption fee
- All automated with smart contracts, claiming No hidden broker or auction fees
Tokenisation Trend and Market Growth
The tokenisation of real-world assets (RWAs) has accelerated rapidly, with blockchain enabling liquidity, transparency, and faster settlement for previously illiquid investments. Blockchains like the Canton Network, designed for regulated institutional tokenised assets including bonds and Treasuries, illustrate that RWA tokenisation is no longer limited to niche collectibles. Savea’s entry into tokenised fine wine reflects both a market-specific opportunity and the broader adoption of blockchain-enabled financial products.
Price Discoveries Disclosure: Not financial advice. No guidance is provided for any particular investor, asset prices can fall as well as rise. Price Discoveries is not a licensed securities dealer, broker, investment bank or advisor.