Tokenized assets have emerged as the fastest-growing sector in the cryptocurrency landscape, a trend largely fueled by significant investment from major financial institutions such as BlackRock and J.P. Morgan. According to Token Terminal, this surge reflects a broader evolution within the crypto ecosystem, as traditional investment products are increasingly being adapted for the blockchain.
The influx of institutional capital has catalyzed the development of blockchain-based alternatives for traditional financial products, including payments, savings, and investment vehicles. This shift has created a burgeoning market for tokenized assets, which are now recognized as a pivotal component of the financial landscape.
As of January 16, more than 2,100 tokenized assets have been launched across over 80 different blockchains, with more than 140 issuers actively participating in this space. The data reveals a growing trend, with platforms like Ethereum and Solana serving as critical infrastructure for startups and established financial entities alike, enabling them to introduce new financial instruments to a global audience.
Recent reports indicate that the value of real-world assets (RWAs) secured on blockchain networks has skyrocketed by 232% in 2025, reaching $18.6 billion, a significant increase from $5.6 billion in 2024. This growth is attributed primarily to the rising adoption of tokenization by traditional finance sectors, with assets such as bonds, commodities, and private credit being transformed into digital formats.
Key developments in tokenized equities have also gained traction, allowing traditional stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to be represented on the blockchain. In particular, metals like gold and silver are now publicly tradable as perpetual contracts on various platforms, enhancing liquidity and trading opportunities.
In the United Arab Emirates, a notable initiative has seen PRYPCO Mint, the first licensed real estate tokenization platform in the region, collaborate with the Dubai Land Department and VARA to tokenize ownership certificates. Their first tokenized certificate successfully attracted 224 investors from over 40 nationalities, showcasing the global demand for fractional ownership in real estate.
Europe is also witnessing advancements in this domain, with Swift completing a pilot program for tokenized assets alongside BNP Paribas Securities Services, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Société Générale. This collaboration aims to refine the mechanisms for the trading and settlement of tokenized bonds, further integrating these assets into mainstream financial practices.
The CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, has remarked on the transformative potential of tokenized assets, predicting they will reshape global trading landscapes. He emphasizes that tokenized stocks will broaden international access and enable features such as fractional stock purchases and continuous trading. This strategic shift is part of Coinbase”s broader vision to compete within the equities market.
Furthermore, Jesse Knutson, Head of Operations at Bitfinex Securities, highlighted that emerging markets are poised to drive robust growth in the realm of real-world asset tokenization. By offering fractional ownership, tokenization allows retail investors to engage with investments that would otherwise be financially prohibitive, thereby democratizing access to diverse asset classes.
The rapid evolution of tokenized assets represents a significant turning point in the financial industry, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the emerging digital economy.
