Standard Chartered Forecast: DeFi Volume Could Reach $2.7 Trillion by 2030
The decentralized finance (DeFi) market is on the verge of massive growth. Based on the latest data, I estimate that the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols could soar to $2.7 trillion by the end of 2030. This represents nearly a 37-fold increase from current levels. Key catalysts for this growth will be tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and the further development of on-chain protocols.
Currently, only 3% of the total stablecoin supply and 10% of RWAs are utilized in DeFi. By 2030, I calculate that the share of these assets used in protocols could reach 30%. Achieving the target of $2.7 trillion would require a ninefold increase in the proportion of tokenized value involved in the DeFi ecosystem.
However, the path to this goal will not be straightforward. Several industry experts point to serious obstacles. For instance, issuing the same asset on different blockchains creates fragmented liquidity and leads to higher operational costs. Moreover, tokenization itself is not a panacea — it cannot "magically" turn illiquid assets into liquid ones, as some market participants rightly note.
In this context, the Uniswap platform deserves special attention. I believe it could become a hub for RWA trading. Institutional players are likely to choose Uniswap due to its impeccable reputation and high level of security. Partnerships with traditional finance could narrow the gap in Uniswap's market capitalization compared to a giant centralized exchange like Coinbase.
My analysis confirms that interest in stablecoins and RWAs is gradually shifting away from Bitcoin, which is an important signal for the market. Advisors and institutional investors are increasingly focusing on these instruments, which will only accelerate the process of tokenization and DeFi growth.
Expert commentary: The $2.7 trillion forecast looks ambitious but realistic, provided that issues with liquidity and standardization are resolved. However, the regulatory environment remains a key factor: without clear rules of the game, institutional capital will enter the sector more slowly than desired. The market is heading toward consolidation, and Uniswap, as the most mature protocol, could become one of the main beneficiaries of this process.