Real-world asset tokenization (RWA) represents a significant advancement in blockchain technology, offering a mechanism to digitally signify ownership of a diverse array of assets, ranging from tangible properties like real estate and artwork to financial instruments such as equities and government securities. This concept extends even to unconventional applications, such as the sports investment platform Win Investments, which enables soccer clubs to issue tokens representing stakes in the careers of individual football players, allowing investors to receive shares of transfer fees.
Among tokenized assets, stablecoins — digital assets pegged to currencies like the U.S. dollar — have become one of the most prevalent forms. The year 2025 saw a notable surge in stablecoin issuance and adoption, propelled by new U.S. legislation providing regulatory frameworks for their operation and creation. The advantages of blockchain settlements, including speed and reduced transaction costs, present stablecoins as viable tools for payments and cross-border money transfers. This expanding stablecoin ecosystem has further stimulated interest in tokenizing various real-world assets.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, several industries stand out as primed for transformation through real-world asset tokenization:
Tokenization of U.S. Treasury Securities
Government-issued debt securities such as U.S. Treasury bonds, bills, and notes currently constitute a major portion of tokenized assets on blockchain platforms. These instruments are relatively straightforward to convert into tokens because each digital token can be precisely backed by a corresponding real-world security. Additionally, smart contract technology facilitates automatic execution of interest payments and administrative functions related to the tokens, improving efficiency.
The ability to achieve instant settlements through blockchain could help address inefficiencies in existing Treasury market operations. Data from rwa.xyz reveals that approximately $8.7 billion worth of U.S. Treasuries exist in tokenized form on-chain, representing roughly 45% of total real-world assets tokenized, which amount to $19.4 billion. Despite this substantial segment, tokenized Treasuries still account for only a minuscule fraction of the nearly $28 trillion in total U.S. Treasury issuance. Industry observers anticipate increased movement of Treasury securities onto blockchain systems in 2026 as acceptance builds.
Equity and Commodity Markets
Tokenization allows for borderless, 24/7 trading of equity and commodity assets, enabling investors globally to buy or sell assets at any time without geographic restrictions. The technology also facilitates more granular fractional ownership beyond existing fractional shares schemes, permitting investments in small denominations across a wider array of assets. While this seamless access has evident benefits, there are concerns regarding potential erosion of investor protections and the removal of traditional safeguards in trading.
Despite these challenges, regulatory developments and business ventures are advancing the integration of tokenization. For example, Nasdaq submitted a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in September 2025 aimed at enabling on-chain trading of tokenized stocks and exchange-traded products. Meanwhile, in December 2025, the SEC granted a no-action letter to The Depository Trust Company (DTC), which provides clearing and settlement for securities markets. This letter permits a three-year pilot for DTC’s tokenized service platform, enabling experimental operation under specific conditions.
Brokerage firms and cryptocurrency exchanges have begun offering tokenized financial products. Robinhood launched tokenized stock trading for European users in summer 2025, emphasizing the ability to access private company shares previously unavailable to many retail investors. At the end of 2025, Coinbase launched tokenized stock offerings for investors in the United States, further cementing tokenization trends in traditional securities markets.
Real Estate Sector
Compared with other industries, real estate has yet to experience widespread adoption of asset tokenization. Nevertheless, forecasts from the Deloitte Center for Financial Services suggest substantial growth potential, projecting that tokenized real estate assets could increase from approximately $300 billion in 2024 to $4 trillion by 2035. Opportunities exist in tokenizing not only direct property ownership but also real estate investment funds, loan instruments, and undeveloped land holdings.
Tokenization lowers barriers to real estate investment by allowing fractional ownership, making it feasible for smaller investors to participate. The shift to on-chain transactions also promises reductions in transaction costs and faster execution of sales processes. However, to realize these benefits, further development in regulatory clarity and compelling investor use cases will be necessary to support broader acceptance and confidence.
Cryptocurrency Ecosystem
The foundational concept of tokens is integral to cryptocurrencies, with platforms such as Ethereum and Solana already supporting token creation through smart contracts. The expansion of real-world asset tokenization could catalyze a broader mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies by increasing their utility and value proposition.
Consulting firm McKinsey estimates that the overall RWA tokenization market may reach a valuation of $2 trillion by 2030. Similarly, stablecoin issuance is projected to potentially hit $2 trillion by 2028. A significant portion of these tokenized assets could reside on public blockchain networks, potentially causing surges in metrics like Ethereum’s total locked value, which tracks the funds secured within its ecosystem. Current data from rwa.xyz indicates Ethereum holds about 65% of all on-chain real-world asset value, highlighting its dominant role in tokenization activities.
Outlook for Tokenization in 2026
Tokenization has emerged as a critical trend in the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain technology. Leading financial institutions, including BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and JPMorgan, have already introduced tokenized investment funds, demonstrating institutional confidence in this approach. Complemented by anticipated growth in stablecoin usage, this momentum may act as a tipping point, encouraging wider market adoption.
Industry leaders are forecasting that blockchain-based transaction settlements could become the norm. For instance, the CEO of Standard Chartered predicted in late 2025 that a majority of financial transactions will eventually settle on blockchain platforms. Such developments indicate that real-world asset tokenization will likely exert significant influence on sectors such as Treasury markets, equities, real estate, and cryptocurrencies throughout 2026 and beyond.