Tokenized real-world assets are starting to draw more attention as Bitcoin (BTC-USD) continues to struggle after a 50% drop since October. Investors are increasingly looking beyond traditional crypto into digital versions of US Treasuries, corporate bonds, stocks, commodities, ETFs, and money-market funds. The market is still small at about $32 billion, but Citigroup NYSE:C estimates tokenized assets could grow into a $2.7 trillion to $8.2 trillion market by 2030. That growth could be driven by younger retail investors and public-market securities, especially US Treasuries and equities.
The core investment case is not just about lower trading costs. It is about speed, flexibility, and unlocking capital that normally sits trapped inside the traditional financial system. In a standard brokerage account, settlement delays can keep cash unavailable for days, while using a portfolio as collateral often involves credit checks, paperwork, and bank-controlled margins. Tokenized assets could change that structure by allowing investors to move securities instantly, trade around the clock, and potentially post tokenized ETFs or Treasury bonds as collateral without waiting for a middleman to approve the transaction.
Major financial players are already moving into this space. Mirae Asset Global Investments, a $377 billion asset manager, has partnered with Ondo Finance to bring its Global X ETF lineup onto the blockchain, giving investors possible access to themes such as space innovation, robotics, and artificial intelligence even when US markets are closed. Ondo's OUSG and BlackRock's BUIDL, both tokenized money-market funds, have helped push the trend forward by allowing holders to earn yields tied to short-term interest rates while potentially using those assets as margin on digital-asset exchanges. Japanese government bonds are also making their blockchain debut, a sign that sovereign assets may need to adapt if they want to remain useful as top-tier collateral in a 24/7 global market.