Standard Chartered: DeFi volume could soar to $2.7 trillion by 2030
The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector is on the verge of colossal growth. According to my analysis, based on the latest market trends, the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols could reach $2.7 trillion by the end of 2030. This represents an almost 37-fold increase compared to current levels.
Key Drivers: RWA and On-Chain Protocols
The main catalysts for this explosive growth will be tokenized real-world assets (RWA) and the further development of on-chain infrastructure. Currently, only about 3% of the total stablecoin supply and roughly 10% of all RWAs are utilized in DeFi. By 2030, I expect the share of these assets used in protocols to grow to 30%.
Scaling the market to $2.7 trillion will require a ninefold increase in the share of tokenized value involved in the DeFi ecosystem. However, this path is not without obstacles. Some experts, notably Axis CEO Chris Kim, warn of the risk of liquidity fragmentation: issuing the same asset on different blockchains could lead to fragmented pools and higher operational costs. Additionally, Ondo Finance's Director of Sales, Oya Celiktemur, rightly notes that tokenization itself is not a "magic wand" that turns illiquid assets into liquid ones.
Uniswap as a Hub for RWA Trading
In this context, Uniswap deserves special attention. I view this platform as a potential epicenter for future RWA trading. Institutional players are likely to favor Uniswap due to its impeccable reputation and high level of security. Partnerships with traditional financial institutions could help Uniswap significantly narrow the market capitalization gap with a giant like Coinbase.
Recall that earlier this year, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan already noted a shift in advisor interest from Bitcoin toward stablecoins and RWAs, which only confirms the overall direction of the market.
My comment: The $2.7 trillion forecast looks ambitious but realistic, provided successful integration of traditional finance and resolution of liquidity issues. The key question remains regulatory clarity—without it, institutional capital will enter the sector much more slowly. Uniswap could indeed become a "bridge" between TradFi and DeFi, but for this, the platform needs to scale its infrastructure for corporate needs.