Tokenization Gains Traction Among Asset Managers at TokenizeThis 2026

At the TokenizeThis 2026 conference, the conversation surrounding the use of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) has evolved significantly. As of 2026, RWAs have surpassed $30 billion in adoption, a notable increase from the previous year. A survey conducted by EY and Coinbase revealed that 64% of asset managers express interest in tokenization, compared to 40% in the prior year.

The shift in sentiment towards tokenization is attributed to regulatory advancements. The enactment of the GENIUS Act has granted legitimacy to payment stablecoins, while discussions point to the potential impact of the CLARITY Act, still pending in the Senate. According to Marcin Kazmierczak, co-founder of RedStone, the CLARITY Act may facilitate access to a wider range of asset classes, potentially increasing the market's capacity exponentially.

Panel discussions at the conference highlighted how initial adoption has primarily focused on collateral and cash management. For instance, Broadridge's Robert Krugman noted that the company manages around $370 billion in tokenized repurchase agreements daily via the Canton network. This represents a small fraction of the $12 trillion U.S. repo market but showcases practical applications for tokenization.

Christine Moy from Apollo referenced the advantages of tokenized products by emphasizing secondary liquidity and the ability to use tokenized private credit as collateral in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, enhancing their attractiveness to asset managers. Meanwhile, Maredith Hannon from WisdomTree described how a small U.S. construction company utilizes a tokenized money market fund for seamless international payments, which underscores the utility of tokenization in traditional finance.

Despite the progress, significant challenges remain in the tokenization space. Issues surrounding distribution and compliance were highlighted, indicating a gap in integration with existing portfolio and risk frameworks. Furthermore, there are concerns about fragmentation and interoperability, with Stellar's Raja Chakravorti labeling interoperability as a critical long-term solution to enable asset fluidity across different platforms and blockchains.

As the industry continues to evolve, the conference underscored a pragmatic approach toward tokenization. It remains to be seen whether the necessary foundational elements will be solidified in the coming year to support the anticipated growth.

The interest in tokenization is driven not just by novelty but also by the realization among asset managers that these innovations can provide tangible benefits over traditional products. However, the complexity surrounding what a token represents—whether it confers ownership or merely a contractual claim—remains a crucial consideration for advisors as they navigate these evolving structures.

Overall, while the industry shows promise, unmet regulatory and infrastructural needs could pose hurdles for broader acceptance and adoption of tokenization in financial markets.