One out of the box asset class that I’ve added to my portfolio is tokenized real world assets — blockchain-based representations of assets such as private credit or commercial real estate. I wasn’t attracted to it for the hype; I was attracted to it for its efficiency. Tokenization lowers friction in traditionally illiquid markets. Settlements are faster, ownership is more transparent, and fractional ownership increases access to the assets.

From a diversification perspective, it’s been a strong complement to both digital and traditional assets. The assets themselves have a different risk-return profile than public market alternatives but still benefit from the structural advantages of the blockchain, such as instant verification, immutable records, and increased liquidity.

But the real change has been with portfolio agility. We can rebalance and gain access to alternative exposures without having to lock capital up for years and reshape how I think of risk — not just as something to be hedged, but as something that can be engineered with better technology-enabled structures.

For investors willing to do the due diligence, then, tokenized assets create a bridge between old world stability and new world efficiency — and this is where I see the next generation of diversification living.

A year ago, I added an unconventional asset to my portfolio, a private equity fund bond. Unlike a typical corporate bond, this instrument is backed by a diversified portfolio of private equity funds. Many of these underlying funds are reputable names such as KKR, Silver Lake Partners, Bain Capital, and Warburg Pincus, which means its fixed-income coupons are supported by high-quality private equity holdings.

As I continue to grow my wealth through capital gains and dividend compounding, this private equity fund bond plays an important role in reducing concentration risk from my dividend-focused portfolio. Different asset classes perform differently under varying market conditions. When one lags, another may lead. By holding this bond, I’m able to maintain a more stable portfolio value while still collecting consistent passive income.

One unconventional asset class I’ve added to my portfolio is fractional ownership in cash-flowing digital businesses. Most people think of diversification through stocks, bonds, real estate, and maybe some crypto on the side. But digital businesses — especially small SaaS tools, newsletter media assets, or niche e-commerce brands — offer asymmetric upside with controllable risk if you understand how to evaluate them.

What drew me to this asset class was its transparency. You’re not speculating on abstract value. You can see revenue trends, churn, customer acquisition costs, and profitability before buying. In other words, your risk isn’t a mystery — you can underwrite it. I got started by acquiring small revenue-producing assets through reputable marketplaces and later through private deal flow. Instead of betting on price appreciation alone, these assets generate monthly distributions, which behave more like high-yield cash flow plays than market-dependent assets.

The impact on my overall portfolio has been significant. Digital assets move independently of public markets, interest rate shifts, or macro narratives. While equities took a hit during volatile periods, cash flow from these assets remained steady and in some cases grew because demand for simple, useful software and niche community products remained consistent. That stabilized my portfolio and improved my liquidity without forcing me to sell during down markets.

This is not a passive investment. The key is to either operate within your circle of competence or partner with an operator who can manage the asset. The biggest risk isn’t market collapse — it’s mismanagement. But if you’re able to treat these assets like a real business, with disciplined metrics and smart operators, they can become one of the most resilient and undervalued diversifiers in a modern portfolio.

Real diversification isn’t about owning more things — it’s about owning income streams that survive different economic climates. Digital businesses do exactly that when chosen and managed well.