Standard Chartered: DeFi market to grow to $2.7 trillion by 2030 — tokenization as the main driver
Analysts at Standard Chartered have presented an ambitious forecast: by the end of 2030, the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols could reach $2.7 trillion. This implies a 37-fold increase relative to the sector's current figures. Key catalysts for such explosive growth will be real-world assets (RWAs) and the evolution of on-chain protocols.
Currently, only 3% of stablecoin issuance and 10% of the total RWA volume are utilized in DeFi. However, by 2030, in my estimation, the share of these assets used in protocols could rise to 30%. Achieving the target of $2.7 trillion would require a ninefold increase in the share of tokenized value involved in the DeFi ecosystem.
However, not all market participants share such an optimistic view. Axis CEO Chris Kim rightly points to the problem of liquidity fragmentation: issuing the same asset on different blockchains leads to scattered pools and higher operational costs. Meanwhile, Ondo Finance's Head of Sales Oya Celiktemur emphasizes that tokenization itself is not a "magic wand"—it does not turn illiquid assets into liquid ones without proper infrastructure and market demand.
Standard Chartered particularly highlights the Uniswap platform as a potential epicenter for RWA trading. According to analysts, institutional players will choose this protocol due to its reputation and high level of security. Partnerships with traditional financial institutions could help Uniswap narrow the market capitalization gap with the centralized exchange Coinbase.
Earlier, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan noted that advisors are shifting their focus from Bitcoin to stablecoins and RWAs, confirming the overall trend toward tokenization of real-world assets.
My analysis: Standard Chartered's forecast looks realistic, but only if key issues—liquidity and regulatory clarity—are resolved. A 37-fold growth will require not only technological innovations but also mass adoption by traditional financial giants. For now, DeFi remains a niche market dominated by speculative strategies rather than real asset utilization.