The Intersection of AI-RWA and DeFi: The Gap in Execution Shown by @Novastro_xyz and @MMTFinance
Novastro and Momentum are two projects developing in completely different directions within the same trend of merging AI, DeFi, and RWA. Novastro is an AI-based RWA tokenization infrastructure with a modular Layer 3 structure still in the pre-mainnet phase, aiming for the issuance of real assets through SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) and cross-chain compliance automation. In contrast, Momentum Finance is a high-speed liquidity engine already operational in the Sui ecosystem, achieving returns of 120-280% APR through a centralized liquidity pool optimized by AI. The contrast between these two projects is interpreted as a case that goes beyond simple technical differences, showing the systemic risks that the RWA-DeFi combination could bring and the potential future development paths of AI-based financial automation.
The structure of Novastro is based on a DTC (Digital Twin Container) model that combines SPV and smart contracts, designed to manage the legal ownership of real assets and on-chain liquidity simultaneously. When issuing assets, a legal registration process based on real assets is followed, and an SPV is created, with the associated DTC issued in the form of ERC-20 or 721 tokens. These tokens have compliance-related logic embedded, allowing for automatic verification of regional regulations or KYC/AML conditions. Additionally, Novastro is attempting to automate credit evaluation and regulatory compliance using AI. This AI analyzes oracle data to dynamically calculate risk scores by integrating real-time asset value, borrower credit history, and collateral ratios, verifying regulatory compliance in real-time through compliance oracles with each transaction. However, this system is currently in the testnet phase, with over 75,000 testnet participants and $3 billion in simulated assets recorded, but no actual on-chain data exists.
Momentum Finance stands at a completely different point. It is a real-use platform that has already recorded over $420 million in TVL and over $20 billion in cumulative trading volume. This project has increased capital efficiency by 5-10 times through a CLMM (Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker) structure similar to Uniswap V3, recording APR levels of 150-280% in major pools like SUI-USDC or DEEP-SUI. The ve(3,3) based tokenomics concentrates profits and governance rights for long-term participants, ensuring the sustainability of liquidity, and as of October 2025, it occupies 21% of the total DeFi TVL in Sui. Furthermore, through collaboration with NODO, it has introduced a vault system where AI automatically adjusts positions, showing a loss rate 5-20% lower than manual adjustments during price volatility periods. This profit structure is evaluated as a result of combining real-time AI analysis with a parallel execution structure, rather than a simple reward model.
The core differences between the two projects are starkly revealed in the substance of their profit structures and risk management approaches. Novastro's profits remain in a conceptual model where AI analyzes and optimizes the real profits of RWA, with no actual TVL existing. In contrast, Momentum creates real capital turnover through a verified on-chain profit structure. In Novastro's case, uncertainties regarding legal compliance and oracle reliability still exist, and the synchronization delays of the SPV structure could lead to unfair liquidations during market fluctuations. Momentum has less structural risk, but if the AI model encounters unexpected black swan events, automated position adjustments could potentially amplify losses.
The combination of AI-based credit evaluation and on-chain treasury management appears to be a common future direction for both projects. AI is expected to replace traditional credit evaluation while increasing predictive accuracy by combining on-chain activity data, and this data will also be utilized in treasury operations to adjust asset allocation and optimize returns in real-time. For example, Novastro will use AI-generated credit scores to automatically adjust the circulation and loan limits of RWA profit tokens, while Momentum will immediately execute the operational strategies proposed by AI in on-chain governance through a Move language-based multi-sig infrastructure. This is evaluated as a form of asset management model likely to be adopted by institutional investors in the future.
In terms of market adoption, Momentum is already building a realized ecosystem. There are over 2.1 million users, and AI vault and treasury solutions are managing real assets. In contrast, Novastro remains at a conceptual stage, with actual credit evaluation and profit optimization functions expected to operate only after the mainnet launch. Therefore, from an investment perspective, Momentum presents operational risks but offers a verified profit model, while Novastro is assessed as having high potential along with high execution risks.
In conclusion, Momentum is already a case of realized AI-financial automation, while Novastro is a long-term experiment aimed at overcoming the legal and technical limitations of real asset tokenization. The former symbolizes profitability and stability, while the latter represents innovation and scalability. The narrative of AI credit evaluation and on-chain treasury management serves as a technical intersection connecting both, likely to advance the automation and decentralization of financial markets simultaneously.
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