A quiet revolution is unfolding in global finance — one that could transform how trillions of dollars in assets are stored, traded, and accessed. According to industry executives and leading asset managers, tokenization may soon capture 1–5% of the massive $257 trillion stock and bond markets, potentially unlocking up to $13 trillion in value.
📈 From Hype to Reality: Tokenization Takes Off
The traditional financial system — with its reliance on custodians, brokers, and slow settlement layers — may be entering a new era. Tokenization, the process of turning real-world financial assets like stocks, bonds, and funds into blockchain-based tokens, is rapidly gaining traction.
Executives from Bitwise recently projected a surge in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization in the second half of 2025. They emphasized that even capturing a mere fraction of the $117 trillion stock market and the $140 trillion bond market would equate to trillions in tokenized assets.
> “It seems possible,” one Bitwise executive noted. “And it would translate into trillions of dollars — potentially even surpassing Bitcoin’s market cap.”
🏦 BlackRock and the Rise of Tokenized Funds
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is already leading the charge. In March 2024, the firm launched the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) on Ethereum, marking a historic shift. Just one year later, BUIDL became the first tokenized fund to surpass $1 billion in AUM.
In his 2025 annual letter to shareholders, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink declared:
> “Every stock, every bond, every fund — every asset — can be tokenized.”
It’s a bold vision — and one that’s already materializing.
🔮 What’s Next? Trillions More on the Horizon
If even 5% of traditional equities and bonds move on-chain, over $13 trillion could be tokenized. For comparison, the entire market cap of Bitcoin is currently below $2 trillion, and stablecoins are projected to grow to $2 trillion by 2028.
In fact, Bitwise executives argue that the tokenization wave will dwarf stablecoin adoption, calling $2 trillion “chump change” compared to the scope of Larry Fink’s tokenization dream.
However, they acknowledge the transformation will take time. Most analysts believe it could take a decade or more before the majority of stock and bond trading fully migrates on-chain.
🔗 Blockchain Winners: Ethereum, Solana, Chainlink & Ondo
In the short term, blockchain protocols supporting tokenized finance could be the biggest beneficiaries.
Platforms like:
Ethereum (ETH) – Already hosting BlackRock’s BUIDL fund
Solana (SOL) – Known for speed and scalability
Chainlink (LINK) – Providing secure data feeds for tokenized assets
Ondo (ONDO) – Facilitating RWA access and DeFi liquidity
These technologies are being adopted by major institutions like JPMorgan, which has already experimented with tokenized assets on-chain.
⚖️ Regulatory Lens: Tokenized Securities Still Under SEC Oversight
While the technology surges ahead, regulators are watching closely.
Just this week, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce reminded the public that, despite innovation, “tokenized securities are still securities.”
This underscores the importance of compliance, transparency, and investor protections as tokenization grows.
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🔍 Final Thoughts
The tokenization of real-world assets is no longer a theoretical future — it’s happening right now. As institutions like BlackRock push the boundaries and blockchain protocols rise to meet demand, we may be witnessing the start of a multi-trillion dollar transformation in global finance.
The question isn’t if tokenization will reshape markets. The question is: How fast will it happen — and who will lead the charge?