Tokenized Asset Market to Reach $400 Billion by 2026 with Global Push

TLDR

Tokenized asset market reached nearly $20B by end of 2025, with rapid growth expected.
Stablecoins seen as key to bridging digital cash and capital markets.
Over half of top 20 asset firms expected to issue tokenized products by 2026.
Real-world tokenized assets may exceed $100B in value locked by end of 2026.

The global financial system is undergoing a major shift as tokenized assets gain traction. With stablecoins acting as digital cash, the stage is set for a new era of on-chain finance. Experts predict the tokenized asset market will soar to $400 billion by 2026, fueled by growing adoption, real-world asset integration, and major financial institutions moving from trials to full deployment of blockchain-based financial products.

Stablecoins Seen as Key to On-Chain Capital Growth

The tokenized asset market is projected to surpass $400 billion by the end of 2026. The expansion is expected to be driven by the growing adoption of stablecoins, which are becoming essential as “on-chain cash.” According to industry leaders, this shift is supported by the involvement of major financial institutions and changing value transfer models.

RWA Tokenization Momentum: $400B Market Predicted as Banks Go On-Chain
Tokenized assets are positioned to become a $400 billion market in 2026 as traditional finance finally goes on-chain. State Street’s CEO says blockchain transformation is about ‘reengineering traditional… pic.twitter.com/t3xfhBMifi

— PIPO.new (@PIPOnew_) January 18, 2026

Samir Kerbage, CIO at Hashdex, stated that the current tokenized asset market is valued at approximately $36 billion. He added that structural changes in how value moves across systems will drive future market growth, rather than short-term speculation. As stablecoins mature, they are expected to support the development of on-chain investment assets and digital capital markets.

Financial Institutions Move from Trials to Implementation

The year 2025 is expected to see the tokenized asset market reach nearly $20 billion, with institutions like BlackRock, JPMorgan, and BNY Mellon participating in pilot programs and early product launches. By 2026, many of these institutions are anticipated to move from trials to full deployment of tokenized products.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said that banks are preparing to transition from testing to implementation, especially in emerging markets. “Tokenization is edging closer to becoming a mainstream capital raising tool,” Ardoino noted. He added that local issuers in emerging economies can use blockchain to bypass traditional infrastructure and reach more investors at lower costs.

Centrifuge COO Jürgen Blumberg expects that the total value locked in on-chain real-world assets could exceed $100 billion by the end of 2026. He also projected that more than half of the top 20 global asset managers will introduce tokenized offerings.

Rise of Tokenized Equities and ETFs

Tokenized equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are gaining momentum as investors seek real exposure to traditional financial assets through blockchain. Robert Leshner, founder of Superstate, explained that the shift from synthetic representations to issuer-backed tokenized equities is accelerating. “Public equities move from ‘off-limits’ to ‘in play’,” he said.

Platforms like Kraken, Robinhood, and Gemini have begun offering token versions of popular stocks. Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize, emphasized that native tokenization—working directly with issuers to create tokenized shares with full rights—is becoming the standard. He also sees growing demand for tokenized ETFs that give users exposure to major indices like the S&P 500.

Building the Foundation for Market Scaling

Experts say that while growth is on track, some foundational elements are still needed. These include clear legal frameworks, interoperability across blockchain networks, and identity systems for secure transactions. Kerbage noted that the groundwork is being laid, similar to the early development of the internet.

As more cash becomes tokenized, capital is expected to flow into on-chain assets. Domingo noted that high-quality tokenized assets will likely be used as collateral in DeFi lending, bringing institutional standards to the decentralized space. Institutions are looking for reliable, regulated collateral, and tokenized stocks and ETFs are emerging as suitable assets.

The overall movement shows a transition from experimental projects to functioning markets, with institutions and users both pushing adoption. By 2026, tokenized assets are expected to be a core part of global finance, especially in regions where blockchain provides new access to capital markets.

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