Pencil Finance completes $1 million on-chain student loan cycle, covering 6,600 students in Southeast Asia

Odaily News Student loan real-world asset (RWA) protocol Pencil Finance has completed its first fully on-chain student loan cycle, deploying $1 million in capital to provide financing for approximately 6,600 students across Southeast Asia. After borrowers repay their funds, capital providers receive both principal and returns.

The financing portfolio was funded in July 2025 by Animoca Brands, Open Campus, and New Campus, and is structured into senior tranches with fixed returns, as well as junior tranches that carry floating yields and bear first-loss risk. The loans cover 118 schools and universities across Southeast Asia, with approximately 1,050 students receiving direct funding. Among borrowers, women account for 50%, and 93% come from low-income families. (Cointelegraph)