Financial institutions accelerate tokenization of real-world assets

The financial sector is seeing an acceleration in the convergence of traditional finance and decentralized finance through the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). Franklin Templeton and Animoca Brands have entered a strategic collaboration to facilitate the institutional adoption of these tokenized assets, which include traditional financial instruments as well as unique assets like art and collectibles. Projections suggest the RWA market could reach US$30 trillion by 2033.

Bitfinex Securities is also expanding its role in the market, reporting over $500 million in listed assets as of September. The platform aims to move beyond simple investor access to help companies raise debt and equity more efficiently. By utilizing blockchain for on-chain ownership, the platform offers settlement in seconds rather than days and significantly faster issuance timelines compared to conventional processes. Bitfinex CTO Paolo Ardoino noted that while tokenization upgrades the transport layer for assets, further regulatory framework development is necessary to truly make capital more accessible.