DeFi Set to Challenge TradFi With $2T in Tokenized Assets by 2028: Standard Chartered

Core Insights - Standard Chartered identifies decentralized finance (DeFi) as a significant alternative to traditional finance, projecting that non-stablecoin tokenized assets will grow to a market capitalization of $2 trillion by 2028, up from $35 billion today [1][2]. Market Projections - Tokenized money-market funds and listed equities are expected to each represent approximately $750 billion, with the remaining market share coming from funds, private equity, commodities, corporate debt, and real estate [2]. - The anticipated growth in stablecoins is expected to drive DeFi's transition from a niche sector to a mainstream financial entity, allowing non-banks to manage payments and savings traditionally held by banks [3]. Role of Stablecoins - Stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies pegged to assets like the U.S. dollar or gold, are crucial in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, facilitating payment infrastructure and international money transfers [4]. - The liquidity provided by stablecoins is fostering growth in DeFi banking and is expected to lead to a surge in tokenized real-world assets (RWA) [4]. Self-Reinforcing Cycle - Standard Chartered posits that the current liquidity in the market is initiating a self-reinforcing cycle where increased liquidity leads to the creation of new products, which in turn attracts more liquidity [5].