RWA platform International Digital Exchange (INDEX) has announced the launch of LITRO, a coin backed by physical oil, with each token representing one litre of crude. This was reported by project co-founder Baron Lamarr to CoinDesk.
The asset’s value will be linked to global benchmarks Brent and WTI. The release is scheduled for early 2027, with a test network and product demo set to launch between March and May 2026.
Issuance Mechanism and Logistics
The issuance of LITRO involves several stages. Initially, oil producers provide INDEX with reserve data, which is verified by independent auditors. Experts confirm the volume, authenticity of the crude, and the legal clarity of ownership rights.
“Only after this do we issue tokens strictly 1:1 to the volume of physical oil,” Lamarr emphasized.
The crude itself remains stored with the producer, but legal rights are secured by the INDEX system.
The project is based on the Arbitrum network and is compatible with other EVM blockchains.
Holders of LITRO will be able to sell tokens for fiat or receive actual oil. The platform creates a “smart logistics routing system” using IoT sensors, AIS vessel tracking, and AI. It will select grades, organize tankers and terminals, issue electronic bills of lading, and coordinate delivery.
Tokenized Oil in Trend
In recent weeks, amid the Middle Eastern conflict, oil prices have surged by tens of percent. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for fuel exports from the Persian Gulf, was the cause.
The crisis has led to an influx of traders to the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, where oil perpetual contracts are popular.
At the time of writing, the trading volume of the CL-USDC derivative, which tracks the WTI price, stands at $1.1 billion with open interest exceeding $274 million.
Hyperliquid has become a round-the-clock “war terminal.” The platform is emerging as the main venue for 24/7 “macro risk trading,” which is driving up the price of the native DEX token — HYPE. In the last 24 hours alone, the coin’s rate has jumped 10% to $37.6.
Hyperliquid described the developments as “an important step towards unifying all finance,” noting that RWA trading on the platform continues to break records.
Over the past 2 weeks, RWA trading on Hyperliquid has repeatedly broken records, surpassing $1.3B in open interest and $1.4B in weekend volume.
When traditional markets are closed, Hyperliquid is the premier venue for 24/7 price discovery on oil, metals, indices, and other…
— Hyperliquid (@HyperliquidX) March 12, 2026
Earlier, on March 11, the exchange surpassed the $4 trillion mark in cumulative perpetual futures trading volume. It took the project three years to reach this milestone.
