Is a crypto or NFT project that promises returns backed by real-world assets legitimate?

Real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation is a real concept in financial technology, but scammers exploit the terminology to make fraud sound sophisticated. Promoters claim that buying their token or NFT gives you ownership or yield from physical assets such as property, gold, or invoices. The underlying assets may not exist, may be heavily encumbered, or may have been pledged to multiple investors. Regulatory frameworks for tokenised assets are still developing in most countries, meaning investor protections are limited. Before investing, check whether the issuer is licensed by a financial regulator, whether the claimed assets are independently audited, and whether a legal structure actually connects your token to the asset. Promises of stable, high yield with minimal risk in a new token are a strong warning sign.