The tokenized asset market surged by 40%, reaching the $51 billion mark.
The tokenized real-world assets (RWA) sector is showing steady 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. This confirms the growing interest of institutional investors in blockchain solutions for traditional finance.
A key driver of growth has been the expansion of the holder base: their number has soared by 60%, exceeding 917,000. The leaders in asset volume remain platforms Figure ($18.9 billion) and Securitize ($4.3 billion), which are actively implementing regulated infrastructure solutions.
RWA Market Structure
The majority of tokenized assets are occupied by three segments: private credit (47%), U.S. Treasury bonds (30%), and precious metals (9%). Most activity is concentrated in the Provenance (39%) and Ethereum (33%) networks. However, the most impressive growth is shown by the tokenized equities segment — it has grown by 130% over the past six months, reaching $1.6 billion.
Analysts highlight three main models of equity tokenization:
- Trading infrastructure. Brokers, such as Robinhood, purchase shares and hold them as collateral for tokens. This enables 24/7 trading, but token holders do not receive voting rights.
- Settlement layer. 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 stocks, derivatives, and crypto assets for users outside the U.S.
Regulatory Prospects
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. According to leading analysts, a key stimulus will be an "innovation exemption" that will allow trading such assets within the U.S. The monthly transaction volume in the tokenized equities segment reached $5.3 billion in June, compared to just $500 million in September last year.
My expert assessment: The growth of the RWA sector amid the overall market correction confirms that tokenization of real-world assets is becoming not just a trend, but a fundamental shift in the financial system. However, the key challenge remains regulation — without clear rules from the SEC, mass adoption of tokenized equities in the U.S. may be delayed. Investors should closely monitor the development of hybrid models, such as Coinbase's offering, which could serve as a bridge between traditional finance and DeFi.