The market for tokenized assets surged by 40%: key trends and prospects
The sector of tokenized real-world assets (RWA) is demonstrating impressive growth despite the overall correction in the cryptocurrency market. Since the beginning of the year, the capitalization of this segment has increased by 40%, reaching $51 billion. The number of RWA token holders has surged by 60% over the same period, exceeding 917,000 unique addresses. This indicates growing interest from institutional and retail investors in blockchain solutions for traditional assets.
Market Structure and Leaders
The RWA structure is dominated by three segments: private lending accounts for 47% of the market, U.S. Treasury bonds — 30%, and precious metals — 9%. The highest activity is concentrated in the Provenance (39%) and Ethereum (33%) networks. Leaders in tokenized asset volume remain platforms Figure with $18.9 billion and Securitize, managing assets worth $4.3 billion. The tokenized equity segment stands out particularly, growing by 130% over the past six months to reach $1.6 billion.
Three Tokenization Models
Analysis of the current landscape allows us to identify three main approaches to equity tokenization. The first is infrastructure-based, where brokers like Robinhood buy shares and hold them as collateral for tokens, enabling 24/7 trading but without transferring voting rights to holders. The second is the settlement layer: blockchain replaces traditional accounting systems, as Figure and Securitize do, providing investors with full ownership rights in a regulated environment. The third is a hybrid model, where Coinbase offers an "exchange for everything," combining tokens for stocks, derivatives, and crypto assets for users outside the U.S.
Regulatory Prospects
Further development of the industry directly depends on the SEC's stance. The regulator has already approved pilot projects by NYSE and Nasdaq for trading tokenized securities, which is a significant signal. The key driver for growth, in my view, will be the introduction of a so-called "innovation exemption," which will allow full-fledged trading of such assets within the U.S. The monthly transaction volume in the tokenized equity segment reached $5.3 billion in June — for comparison, in September of last year, this figure was only $500 million. Such exponential growth confirms that tokenization is not just a trend but a fundamental change in the structure of financial markets.
My expert opinion: The RWA sector is at a turning point. If regulators continue to soften their stance, we will see an avalanche-like inflow of capital that could multiply current figures within the next 12-18 months. Investors should closely monitor the development of platforms operating in regulated jurisdictions.