Vystar Corp. Bets on Blockchain to Tokenize Collectibles Market

WORCESTER, MA – January 08, 2026 – Vystar Corporation, a company known for its diverse portfolio of eco-friendly latex and air purification systems, has announced a significant strategic pivot into the burgeoning world of Web3 and digital assets. The company has submitted a binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire an equity stake in memorabilia specialist GoPaid.com LLC and forge a partnership with Web3 infrastructure firm Capital R3alm. The ambitious venture aims to build a new ecosystem for tokenizing real-world collectibles, potentially unlocking billions in value from illiquid assets.

The deal signals a bold move for the OTCQB-listed company, venturing far from its manufacturing roots in products like Vytex natural rubber and RxAir purifiers. This new initiative seeks to position Vystar at the intersection of the rapidly growing collectibles market—projected to swell from approximately $464 billion in 2025 to over $900 billion by 2035—and the disruptive power of blockchain technology.

From Physical Vaults to Digital Wallets

The core of the partnership is to transform high-value physical items into fractional, tradable digital tokens. GoPaid.com, led by President & CEO Gregory Rotman, brings over a decade of experience in sourcing, archiving, and monetizing premium collectibles across music, sports, and entertainment. The company's inventory includes iconic pieces such as a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card valued at $625,000 and a 1999 Pokémon 1st Edition Base Set Booster Box worth an estimated $350,000.

Under the proposed plan, these real-world assets (RWAs) will be vaulted and insured, while their ownership is represented by digital tokens on a blockchain. This process, known as tokenization, allows for fractional ownership, enabling a broader base of investors to own a piece of items previously accessible only to high-net-worth individuals. The collaboration will lead to the launch of R3alm Collectibles, a white-label marketplace targeted for a Q2 2026 debut, where these tokens can be bought and sold.

To ensure the integrity and accuracy of this new digital market, the partnership will also launch R3alm Oracle. This sector-specific decentralized oracle network is designed to deliver real-time, tamper-proof data—such as valuations, provenance, and market analytics—from the physical world onto the blockchain. By combining AI-driven analytics and zero-knowledge privacy frameworks, the oracle aims to solve one of the biggest challenges in the collectibles space: establishing trusted, verifiable data for determining an asset's worth and history.

A Three-Way Partnership Forging a 'Digital Kingdom'

The venture is a carefully structured collaboration, with each partner playing a distinct role. Vystar Corporation, led by President & CEO Jamie Rotman, provides public-company governance, capital markets experience, and strategic oversight. The transaction's terms involve Vystar issuing 1,000 shares of its Series C preferred common stock for a minority, non-controlling stake in GoPaid. The deal also includes a percentage of GoPaid's proprietary cryptocurrency, with the entire stake valued at the lesser of $10 million.

GoPaid.com serves as the physical asset engine, leveraging the Rotman family's extensive network to supply a steady stream of authenticated, high-value memorabilia. Their established infrastructure for sourcing and archiving is critical to underpinning the digital tokens with tangible, verifiable assets.

Capital R3alm, an Ohio-based C-Corporation operating as a regulated private investment company, provides the technological backbone. It is responsible for building the unified Web3 ecosystem, including the tokenization platform, the R3alm Collectibles marketplace, and the R3alm Oracle network. The firm's stated mission is to create a decentralized “digital kingdom” that empowers investors with greater control over their assets and data.

This intricate partnership aims to create a vertically integrated solution, from sourcing a physical Babe Ruth contract to its secure storage, digital tokenization, and subsequent trading on a dedicated, data-rich marketplace. Vystar has also committed to assisting in raising $250,000 to further fuel this convergence of physical collectibles and Web3 technology.

Financial Stakes and a Microcap's Web3 Gamble

For Vystar and its shareholders, this move represents both a significant opportunity and a considerable risk. By entering the Web3 space, the company diversifies its portfolio into a high-growth sector, creating potential new revenue streams from equity, token economics, and platform fees. Paying for the initial stake with preferred stock allows Vystar to preserve cash while pursuing this expansion.

However, the path is fraught with challenges. The digital asset market is known for its volatility, and the regulatory landscape remains uncertain and continues to evolve. The success of Vystar's past diversification efforts with its Vytex, RxAir, and Fluid Energy Conversion divisions provides a mixed but relevant history for investors to consider when evaluating the company's ability to execute such a complex technological and strategic pivot. The success of the venture hinges on the seamless integration of the three partners' expertise and the market's adoption of tokenized collectibles as a mainstream asset class.

The binding LOI includes provisions for exclusivity and mutual cooperation as the parties move toward a definitive agreement. The next steps involve completing due diligence, with a target closing date on or before January 30, 2026. As the partnership progresses, Vystar intends to provide ongoing updates on milestones, bringing shareholders along on its ambitious journey to redefine the future of collecting.