The tokenized asset sector has surged by 40%: a new record of $51 billion and explosive growth in the number of holders
The market for tokenized real-world assets (RWA) is showing steady growth despite the overall correction in the cryptocurrency market. Since the beginning of the year, the sector's market capitalization has increased by 40%, reaching $51 billion. This trend confirms the growing interest of institutional and retail investors in blockchain solutions for traditional finance.
The number of unique holders of tokenized assets has jumped by 60%, exceeding 917,000 addresses. The leaders in asset volume remain the Figure platform with $18.9 billion and Securitize with $4.3 billion. These figures indicate that the infrastructure for tokenization is becoming increasingly mature and attractive.
Market Structure: Private Lending Dominates
The main share of RWA is occupied by three segments: private lending (47%), U.S. Treasury bonds (30%), and precious metals (9%). At the same time, the highest activity is concentrated on two blockchains: Provenance (39% of total volume) and Ethereum (33%). The segment of tokenized equities deserves special attention, having grown by 130% over six months to $1.6 billion.
Analysts highlight three key tokenization models. The first is trading infrastructure, where brokers like Robinhood buy shares and issue tokens backed by them, enabling 24/7 trading but without transferring voting rights. The second is a settlement layer, where blockchain replaces traditional accounting systems, as Figure and Securitize do, providing investors with full ownership rights. The third is Coinbase's hybrid model, which combines equity tokens, derivatives, and crypto assets for users outside the U.S.
Regulatory Prospects and Transaction Dynamics
Further development of the industry directly depends on the SEC's position. The regulator has already approved pilot projects by NYSE and Nasdaq for trading tokenized securities. The key driver, in my assessment, will be the so-called "innovation exemption," which could legalize trading of such assets within the U.S. This will open the gateway for mass adoption.
The monthly transaction volume in the tokenized equities segment reached $5.3 billion in June — for comparison, in September last year, it was only $500 million. Growth of more than tenfold in six months is not just a trend but a tectonic shift.
Expert Opinion: The RWA market is at a bifurcation point. If regulatory barriers are lowered, we will see exponential growth comparable to the DeFi boom in 2021. However, the current dependence on SEC decisions creates a risk of delays. Investors should closely monitor political signals — they, not technology, will be the main catalyst.