Real-world asset tokenization creates blockchain-based digital representations of traditional financial assets — Treasury bonds, private credit, real estate, and commodities. BlackRock's BUIDL fund tokenized US Treasuries on Ethereum, surpassing $500 million in assets. Franklin Templeton, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs have all launched tokenized asset products. The technology enables fractional ownership, 24/7 trading, and instant settlement.
Tokenization addresses fundamental inefficiencies in financial markets: private credit and real estate are illiquid, settlement takes days, and fractional ownership is complex. Blockchain-based tokens enable $100 minimums for assets that previously required $1 million+ entry, instant peer-to-peer trading, and automated compliance through smart contracts.
The US financial industry is driving tokenization adoption, leveraging its position as the world's largest capital market. If successful, tokenization could restructure how assets are issued, traded, and settled globally — potentially making traditional stock exchanges, clearinghouses, and custodians less central to financial infrastructure.