The market for tokenized assets surged by 40%: new records and structural shifts
Since the beginning of the year, the market for tokenized real-world assets (RWA) has shown impressive growth of 40%, reaching $51 billion. This rise occurs against the backdrop of a general correction in the cryptocurrency market, indicating the fundamental strength of this sector. The number of holders of tokenized assets has increased by 60%, exceeding 917,000 unique addresses. The leaders in asset volume remain platforms Figure ($18.9 billion) and Securitize ($4.3 billion), which continue to dominate the infrastructure race.
Market Structure and Dynamics
The majority of RWA is occupied by three key segments: private credit (47%), US Treasury bonds (30%), and precious metals (9%). However, the most dynamic segment has become tokenized equities, whose volume grew by 130% over the past six months, reaching $1.6 billion. The main activity is concentrated on the Provenance (39%) and Ethereum (33%) blockchains, highlighting their role as foundational layers for tokenization.
Analysts identify three key tokenization models, each with its own advantages and limitations:
- Trading Infrastructure: Brokers, such as Robinhood, acquire shares and hold them as collateral for tokens. This enables 24/7 trading but does not provide the holder with voting rights.
- Settlement Layer: The blockchain replaces traditional accounting systems. Projects Figure and Securitize create regulated stacks where investors receive full ownership rights.
- Hybrid Model: Coinbase offers an "exchange of everything," combining tokens for equities, derivatives, and crypto assets for users outside the US.
Regulatory Prospects
The further development of the industry directly depends on the position of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The regulator has already approved pilot projects by NYSE and Nasdaq for trading tokenized securities. A key stimulus could be the so-called "innovation exemption," which would allow trading such assets within the US. The monthly transaction volume in the tokenized equities segment reached $5.3 billion in June, ten times higher than the figure from September last year ($500 million).
Expert Commentary: The growth of the RWA sector amid a correction is a clear signal that institutional investors are seeking more reliable and regulated instruments for storing value. Tokenization of equities, especially with 130% growth, could become the next "killer app" for blockchain. However, the key barrier remains regulatory uncertainty in the US. If the SEC adopts a more favorable stance, we could see explosive growth in this market over the next 12-18 months.