Hong Kong — Tokenization is gaining traction, but its success depends less on market hype and more on real-world utility, say executives from Ondo Finance and Securitize. “There’s no shortage of firms, of issuers, of companies that are interested in tokenizing,” said Graham Ferguson, head of ecosystem at Securitize, during a panel discussion at Consensus Hong Kong. “But it’s on us to figure out how to distribute these assets on-chain via exchanges in a way that is compliant, regulatory-friendly globally.” ...

Across the discussion, panelists returned to a consistent theme: crypto-native tooling has advanced quickly, but institutional finance evaluates risk through a very different lens.The panel featured Alex Zinder (CPO of Blockdaemon) , Graham Nelson ( DeFi Product Lead at Centrifuge) , Aravindh Kumar (Business Lead at Avail) , Aishwary Gupta (Global Head of Payments and RWAs at Polygon Labs) , and Ivan Marchena (Chief Communications Officer at 8lends) , bringing together perspectives from infrastructure provi ...

Core Viewpoint - The debate over whether stablecoins should be allowed to pay yield is a significant issue that reflects broader changes in the U.S. financial system, focusing on consumer deposits and who benefits from them [1][2][6]. Group 1: Stablecoins and Consumer Deposits - The discussion surrounding yield-bearing stablecoins is fundamentally about deposits and the distribution of economic benefits derived from them [2][6]. - Historically, consumer deposits in the U.S. have earned little to no interest, with banks utilizing these deposits for lending and investment, thus capturing the majority of the economic upside [3][4]. - The traditional banking model has remained stable due to a lack of realistic alternatives for consumers, but advancements in technology are beginning to change this dynamic [4][5]. Group 2: Shifts in Consumer Expectations - There is a notable shift in consumer expectations regarding money, with a growing belief that balances should earn returns by default rather than as an exclusive feature for sophisticated investors [5][6]. - As this expectation becomes more widespread, it is likely to extend beyond stablecoins to all forms of digital value representation, challenging the notion that consumer balances should inherently yield low returns [6]. Group 3: Banking System Concerns - Banks argue that allowing consumers to earn yield directly on their balances could lead to a reduction in deposits within the banking system, potentially harming credit availability and financial stability [7]. - This concern is rooted in the historical role of banks as the primary conduit for transforming household savings into credit for the economy [7].

Core Insights - The demand for on-chain assets with auditability, risk grading, and accountability is expected to rise by 2026, with sensitive information disclosed only to authorized parties [1] - Real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is transforming physical assets into digital tokens, enhancing accessibility and liquidity, with a current market of $19.4 billion in RWAs on-chain, down 20% over six months [2][3] - By 2026, RWAs are anticipated to evolve into standardized financial products with embedded risk classification and insurance, driven by the inefficiencies in traditional finance [3] RWA Tokenization and Market Dynamics - The market is seeing significant volumes of tokenized assets, including U.S. stocks like Apple and Tesla, with total trading volume exceeding $457 million since June [2] - The integration of RWAs into traditional finance is expected to enhance efficiency, transparency, and liquidity, making them a core part of institutional portfolios [4] - Institutions are looking for RWAs that can be used as collateral, unlocking liquidity and fitting into risk frameworks, rather than merely tokenized assets sitting idle [5][6] Regulatory and Compliance Considerations - Institutions prefer clarity and predictability in regulations surrounding issuance, transfer, custody, and redemption of RWAs, with compliance built into the structure from the outset [7] - The focus is shifting from democratizing access to ensuring responsible ownership and governance as assets move on-chain, which may disrupt traditional ownership models [7] - Challenges remain in market infrastructure, interoperability, and legal enforceability of on-chain contracts, but major institutions are expected to transition from pilot projects to large-scale implementations by 2026 [8]

Core Insights - Coinbase Ventures identifies key growth trends in the cryptocurrency sector for 2026, focusing on real-world assets, advanced DeFi, prediction markets, and the integration of AI with blockchain technology [1][2] Group 1: Investment Trends - Venture funding in the cryptocurrency space surged to $4.65 billion in Q3 2025, marking the highest level since early 2023, indicating strong investor interest despite sideways trading in major cryptocurrencies [1] - The investment focus is shifting towards themes such as perpetual futures for real-world assets, advanced decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions, and the intersection of AI and blockchain [2] Group 2: Real-World Assets (RWAs) - RWAs allow trading on-chain exposure to traditional assets like US Treasuries and commodities, with tokenized Treasuries increasing from approximately $700 million to over $8 billion in two years as institutions seek on-chain yield [3] - Coinbase Ventures is emphasizing perpetual futures on RWAs, which act as perpetual bets on asset prices rather than direct ownership [3][4] Group 3: DeFi Innovations - Perpetuals are highlighted as essential components that integrate with lending protocols, enabling leveraged bets while collateral earns yield, akin to margin trading in traditional finance [5] - The focus on unsecured, credit-based lending aims to transition a portion of the trillion-dollar off-chain credit market onto the blockchain, moving away from overcollateralized loans towards models resembling real-world credit cards and business loans [5]

Core Insights - Real-world asset (RWA) protocols have surpassed decentralized exchanges (DEXs) to become the fifth-largest category in DeFi by total value locked (TVL), with approximately $17–30 billion now invested in tokenized Treasuries, private credit, and commodities [1][2][3] Group 1: Market Dynamics - More capital is now allocated to tokenized "real world" products than to many traditional token swapping applications, indicating a shift in DeFi from speculation to yield generation and stability amid a challenging macroeconomic environment and prolonged high interest rates [2][3] - The TVL of RWAs increased from around $12 billion in late 2024 to about $17 billion in 2025, with projections suggesting the broader tokenized RWA market could reach nearly $30 billion by Q3 2025 [3][4] - Tokenization of RWAs has grown almost fivefold in three years, with banks like Standard Chartered predicting that tokenized assets could reach $30 trillion by 2034 [3][4] Group 2: Product Offerings - Tokenized Treasuries are leading the growth, with products such as BlackRock's BUIDL fund and Franklin Templeton's tokenized money market funds offering U.S. government debt returns on-chain, often yielding more than traditional bank accounts [4] - Several of these funds have surpassed $1 billion in deposits each, indicating strong institutional interest in tokenized assets [4] - Private credit platforms and tokenized commodities, such as gold-backed tokens, are integrating traditional finance (TradFi) with crypto, enhancing the appeal of these products [4] Group 3: Implications for Investors - The evolving landscape of DeFi is transforming it into a digital bond and money-market marketplace rather than merely a speculative environment for meme coins, providing investors with more familiar yield sources [5] - On-chain products are now backed by traditional assets like Treasuries, corporate loans, and gold, making them more relatable for investors compared to complex yield farming mechanisms [5]

crypto institution, retail crypto, wall street crypto, cryptocurrency market, retail crypto, meme coin, rwa, tokenization, cryptocurrency industry, crypto 2025. Photo by BeInCrypto In 2025, the cryptocurrency industry entered a new phase, characterized by a surge in institutional participation. After years of caution and skepticism, large firms are now allocating meaningful capital to digital assets. But what changed for institutions to finally turn to an industry they once kept at arm’s length? BeInCrypt ...

Core Insights - Tokenization is emerging as a significant trend in the crypto space, acting as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized finance [1] - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted both the opportunities and risks associated with tokenized assets [5] Group 1: Definition and Process of Tokenization - Tokenization involves converting real-world assets like cash, treasuries, or equities into blockchain-based tokens that can be globally transferred and settled instantly [2] - The tokenization process consists of three steps: immobilizing the underlying asset with a custodian, issuing a smart contract-driven token on a blockchain, and allowing the token to circulate freely while maintaining digital claims on the reserve [3] Group 2: Benefits of Tokenization - Tokenized assets can potentially make markets faster and cheaper by minimizing the need for intermediaries such as clearinghouses and registrars [5] - Early research indicates significant cost savings in tokenized financial markets, with programmable settlement rails enabling near-instant clearing and more efficient collateral use [6] Group 3: Risks Associated with Tokenization - The IMF warns that the speed and automation of tokenized platforms may increase volatility, potentially leading to market instability [6] - Automated trading systems have previously caused sudden market declines, known as flash crashes, suggesting that tokenized platforms could be more volatile than traditional trading systems [7]

Market Trends - VanEck launched tokenized treasuries as collateral on Aave Horizon [1] - $450 million in deposits were made in the first week [1] - $130 billion AUM managers are borrowing stablecoins against T-bills at 45% to farm 12% on Pendle PTs [1] DeFi Infrastructure - Aave captures fees on both sides [1] - Link powers every oracle [1] - The industry should own the infrastructure, not the treasuries [1]

Core Insights - The report "Real World Assets: A Practitioner's Guide" emphasizes the rapid growth of tokenized assets in global markets, highlighting that tokenization transcends mere digitization by enabling programmable and composable assets that can settle instantly on blockchain networks [1] Group 1: Tokenization vs Traditional Infrastructure - Tokenized assets function as bearer instruments, allowing for real-time transfer, swapping, and integration into smart contracts, contrasting with traditional financial systems where assets are siloed [2] Group 2: Evolution of Tokenization - The evolution of tokenization is categorized into three phases: the introduction of Bitcoin, the development of Ethereum's smart contracts, and the recent integration of stablecoins with real-world assets, which has facilitated institutional adoption [3][4] Group 3: Market Growth and Potential - Tokenized funds are experiencing rapid growth, with tokenized Treasuries currently representing only a few billion dollars compared to the $20 trillion Treasury market, yet their growth trajectory resembles that of early exchange-traded funds [5] - Tokenized money and real-world assets are increasingly connecting capital markets to blockchain infrastructure, with significant participation from established financial firms [4] Group 4: Drivers of Adoption - Key factors driving the adoption of tokenization include the return of positive interest rates, the success of stablecoins, institutional experiments by major firms, advancements in blockchain scalability, and clearer regulatory frameworks in the U.S. and Asia [6]