Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu to Nandan Nilekani: I am afraid you are wrong, as ...

TOI Tech Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 3, 2025, 08:37 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Nandan Nilekani's suggestion of land tokenisation to unlock wealth has raised concerns from Sridhar Vembu. Vembu warns that treating land as a liquid asset could lead to financial risks, concentrating wealth, and potentially enabling harmful behaviors such as gambling or substance abuse.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu to Nandan Nilekani: I am afraid you are wrong, as ...

Zoho founder and ex-CEO Sridhar Vembu responded to Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani’s X post about tokenisation of land assets. Talking about how 50% of assets owned by Indians is in the form of land which is tradeable, Nilekani shared an X post highlighting the importance of tokenisation of land. Sharing a minute-long video, he wrote “The time is right for another massive unlock: Tokenisation of land assets”. Replying to Nilekani’s post, Vembu voiced his concerns about the risks of treating land as a liquid asset.

Poll

Do you think public disagreements among tech leaders influence public perception?

No, not really.Yes, significantly.

He wrote:

This idea "tokenization of land assets to unlock wealth" relies on the crucial assumption "making every asset liquid and tradeable is always a value creating activity". In other words "make every asset more money like".

I call that assumption the Fundamental Axiom of Financialization.
“It is very seductive - after all, what is wrong with every asset being liquid and tradeable, being more money like?,” Vembu stated adding “Yet when we financialize every asset and thereby increase their moneyness, it eventually would lead to extreme concentration. How so? As an example, a person with a gambling or drinking problem could now easily monetize a part of their home to fund their habit.”“Is that far fetched? Not at all.”
Finance is seduction: Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu
In the post, Vembu further stated, “Finance is seduction. Companies would arise to offer "instant cash out" of tokens on farm land, homes and so on. I am afraid where this path would lead.” He concluded saying “Ancient wisdom born of experience tells us that finance should be carefully controlled. Left unchecked, finance can lead to ruin.”An X user replied to Vembu saying “Every tool is neutral until you pick it up. A knife can serve a meal or take a life. It’s never the tool — it’s the human behind it,”. To this, the Zoho founder hit back stating “We do regulate tools like dynamite!”.

AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

About the Author

TOI Tech Desk

The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

End of Article

Latest Mobiles

View All

Infinix Note 50s 5G+
₹15,999
View Specs
OPPO K13 5G
₹18,999
View Specs
Lava Bold 5G
₹11,999
View Specs
CMF Phone (2) Pro 5G
₹18,999
View Specs
Samsung Galaxy M56 5G
₹24,999
View Specs

Follow Us On Social Media

Visual Stories

9 countries to visit this June to escape the Indian summer
travel
10 biggest dams in the world
travel
Genelia D'souza's impressive western looks
Entertainment
Ethnic outfits to steal from Kartik Aaryan’s rumoured girlfriend Sreeleela
Lifestyle

Photostories

Rising talents shaping Bollywood cinema
Visionary filmmakers who transformed Telugu cinema
6 ways salt and chia seed water can help balance electrolyte levels
7 summer-friendly ways to eat sprouted moong dal

Hot Picks

Boycott Turkey

Top Trending

Chris Brown

Tired of too many ads?go ad free now

Trending Stories

In Section

Entire Website

Tired of too many ads?go ad free now

Latest News

Donald: Don’t want to say I did, but helped settle India-Pak problem Make iPhones in US instead of India: Trump to Apple CEO Sam Gagner ends illustrious NHL career, begins new journey as Ottawa Senators director of player development Forces gun down 10 militants in op at Myanmar border Madhya Pradesh HC puts NEET-UG results on hold 2 kids among 5 killed in UP bus blaze Restore Hyderabad forest or be ready to go to jail, SC tells Telangana CS NBA Youngboy announces return to the stage with first arena tour after years of legal setbacks Atlanta Falcons mock Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson in one of the most savage schedule reveals ever Must scrap shoddy arbitration clauses, penalise drafters: SC One Piece fans are not ready for Kuma’s story: The saddest sacrifice in the series Barcelona crowned La Liga champions for 2024–25 season Virgo Daily Horoscope Today, May 16, 2025: A Small Sensation Can Spark Deep Memory Class 7 student held for sodomy bid, murder of 4-year-old boy Kalki Koechlin reveals people in Spain didn’t recognise Hrithik Roshan or Katrina Kaif: 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara didn't feel like a big film'SC nixes Maha’s 1998 allotment of Rs 200 crore forest land for Rs 2 crore Michael Strahan makes an unexpected and emotional decision about his career and fans are stunned by this Unemployment rate at 5.1% in April, shows 1st monthly survey