If you’ve attended any finance panels recently or glanced at the latest fund launches, you’ve probably heard about tokenisation, as it’s everywhere these days. And with good reason: more than $34 billion in real-world assets have already moved on-chain, from tokenised US Treasuries to “digital gold” and even real estate. All of which makes it easy to believe that finance has finally reached its programmable, borderless future. But look closer, and the reality proves more intricate. According to recent res ...

Group 1: Market Growth and Projections - Decentralised finance (DeFi) transaction volume is expected to exceed $3 trillion by next year, with total value locked across blockchain networks projected to reach $500 billion by 2026 [1][2] - Fundraising for DeFi-linked projects is anticipated to rise to $40 billion next year, doubling from approximately $20 billion in 2025, driven by capital injections from token sales and venture capital [2] Group 2: Hybrid Finance and Adoption - A hybrid finance model is expected to emerge, where traditional banks utilize DeFi smart contracts for settlement and yield, with the number of hybrid projects involving major banks projected to at least double by 2026 as regulatory clarity improves [3] - Real-world asset tokenisation is forecasted to grow from $1.1 trillion currently to $2 trillion next year, indicating a convergence of traditional markets with blockchain finance [4] Group 3: Leading Sectors and Market Structure - Key sectors leading the growth in tokenisation include tokenised funds, stocks, real estate, corporate debt, and money market funds, which will bridge traditional finance and DeFi, enhancing liquidity for both institutional and retail participants [5] - By mid-2026, DeFi wallets are expected to reach 12 million, although only 25-35% are projected to be unique active users, indicating a market stabilising in a more data-driven and utility-focused manner [6]