Standard Chartered: DeFi market to grow to $2.7 trillion by 2030 — driven by RWA and tokenization
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is on the verge of a massive leap. My market analysis shows that by the end of 2030, the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols could soar to $2.7 trillion. This represents a 37-fold increase from current levels. The key drivers of this surge are the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) and the rapid development of on-chain protocols.
RWA and Stablecoins as the Foundation for Growth
Currently, only 3% of the total stablecoin supply and just 10% of the RWA volume are utilized in DeFi. However, by 2030, this share could increase to 30%. Achieving the target of $2.7 trillion would require a ninefold increase in the share of tokenized value operating within the DeFi ecosystem. These are not just numbers — this is a fundamental shift in how institutional and retail investors will interact with blockchain assets.
Uniswap as a Hub for RWA Trading
In this context, Uniswap deserves special attention. Leading analysts point to this protocol as a potential hub for trading tokenized real-world assets. Institutional players are likely to choose Uniswap due to its impeccable reputation and high level of security. Partnerships with traditional finance will allow Uniswap to significantly narrow the market capitalization gap with the giant Coinbase. This is a logical step: liquidity and trust are key factors for the transition of TradFi into DeFi.
Challenges on the Path to $2.7 Trillion
However, the path to such scale will not be easy. Market experts are already warning about systemic risks. Issuing the same asset on different blockchains creates fragmented liquidity and increases operational costs. Moreover, tokenization itself is not a "magic wand" — it does not automatically make illiquid assets liquid. This will require developed infrastructure, new market-making mechanisms, and, most importantly, regulatory trust.
Expert Opinion: Standard Chartered's forecast is ambitious but realistic, provided there is convergence between traditional finance and DeFi. However, liquidity fragmentation remains a key challenge. If the industry fails to address cross-chain interaction, growth could slow down. Nevertheless, the trend toward RWA tokenization is already irreversible — this is the future of global capital markets.