FAQ
Who runs Savea?
Savea was founded by Sam Mudie in 2022. Sam has worked in the wine investment industry since 2012, including 9 years with the world’s largest specialist advisor, Cult Wines, with USD 360m assets under management. Here he founded the Singapore office, managed the business across Southeast Asia and was on the Investment Committee. Savea’s co-founder is Lee Smith who was previously Co-Founder, CTO and Head of Product at Paidy, a card-less, real-time payment network in Japan. Paidy’s shareholders include Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Visa and Fidelity, and was acquired by PayPal in 2021 for USD 2.7bn. More information about the wider-team can be found here.
Where is Savea based?
Savea Technology (UK) ltd has a registered office address in London, UK. Savea Technology (Jersey) Limited is based in Jersey.
Who oversees Savea’s activities?
Savea has consent from the Jersey Financial Services Commission to issue tokens under registration number 159055. Savea operates in accordance with JFSC requirements and applicable UK and EU promotion rules. SAVW is not a regulated fund or collective investment scheme.
What is SAVW legally?
SAVW is an asset-backed debt security. This means holders have a legal claim against Savea for the value of the underlying wine reserves backing the token. It is not equity, not a fund unit, and not a cryptocurrency in the traditional sense.
What wines back the SAVW token?
SAVW is backed by investment-grade wines selected in accordance with the Liv-ex 1000 index methodology. These wines: • Are actively traded • Come from established producers • Are professionally stored in-bond • Meet liquidity and quality benchmarks Each underlying wine is tokenized as an ERC-721 asset and linked to the SAVW structure.
Is SAVW pegged to the Liv-ex 1000 price?
SAVW is designed to mirror the performance of the Liv-ex 1000 index. It is pegged 1/100th of the price of the Liv-ex 1000. Capital is allocated to wines reflecting the index composition, and the token value tracks the performance of the liv-ex 1000 index.
Where is the wine stored?
The wines are stored in bonded, temperature-controlled warehouses in the United Kingdom at London City Bond. Assets are insured to market value via Lloyd’s of London insurers. Storage is segregated and ringfenced for token holders.
Can I redeem SAVW for physical wine?
No. SAVW provides exposure to the value of the underlying wine reserves. It does not entitle holders to take delivery of specific bottles.
Who can buy SAVW?
SAVW is available only to eligible investors, including: • High-net-worth individuals • Sophisticated investors • Professional and institutional investors • International equivalents All investors must complete full KYC and AML verification before purchasing.
How do I buy SAVW?
Investors can purchase directly through the Savea platform after completing onboarding. Payment methods include: • Bank transfer • USDC
Who can I sell SAVW to?
SAVW can be: • Transferred peer-to-peer on-chain • Redeemed directly with Savea, subject to redemption limits Because SAVW represents index-wide exposure, liquidity is broader than for individual wine cases.
How liquid is SAVW?
SAVW can be transferred 24/7 on-chain. Redemptions with Savea are subject to monthly limits designed to protect all investors: Year 1: 5% per month Year 2: 7.5% per month Year 3: 10% per month Year 4+: 25% per month Savea may apply a redemption gate if necessary to preserve portfolio stability.
Can I sell anytime?
You may transfer your tokens at any time. Redemption through Savea is available in line with the monthly redemption framework.
Are SAVW tokens tradable on exchanges?
SAVW is not currently listed on public exchanges. Savea intends to pursue regulated exchange listings subject to internal readiness and market conditions.
What are the fees?
We’ve cut traditional fees in half. With SAVW, you pay: • 1.5% annual operations fee covering storage, management and insurance (vs. 3–5% in legacy wine funds) • 2% redemption fee, only if you redeem directly with Savea. • No hidden broker or auction fees. Everything is automated via smart contracts.
Is SAVW capital gains tax exempt?
No. Unlike holding physical wine directly in certain jurisdictions (under limited use cases), SAVW is not treated as a wasting asset and is therefore not exempt from capital gains tax. Investors should seek independent tax advice based on their personal circumstances.
What are the risks?
Risks include: • Market risk • Liquidity risk • Regulatory risk • Blockchain operational risk • Counterparty risk Capital is at risk.
Is SAVW a cryptocurrency?
No. SAVW is a financial instrument issued as an asset-backed debt security. Blockchain is used as infrastructure to improve transparency and transferability.
Why invest in fine wine? Isn’t it just for collectors?
Fine wine has quietly outperformed equities in multiple financial crises, offering low volatility and long-term stability. Investment-grade wine is a real asset with a global market and a shrinking supply curve. As bottles are consumed, scarcity drives value. Which can create a powerful hedge with built-in demand.
Why now? Why tokenise wine in 2025?
Markets are changing. Crypto is maturing. Institutions are pivoting to real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation. Fine wine - a $100B asset class - remains largely untapped due to old-world infrastructure. Savea changes that. With SAVW, investors can trade fine wine exposure with the speed, transparency, and liquidity of crypto, while enjoying the stability of a tangible asset.
Who is SAVW for - crypto traders or traditional investors?
Both. SAVW was built for crypto investors seeking asset-backed stability and for traditional investors tired of legacy wine funds with high fees and low liquidity. Whether you’re token-curious or crypto-native, Savea bridges the gap with a transparent, and globally accessible solution.