Key Takeaways
What Does Standard Chartered Predict for Tokenized Real-World Assets by 2028?
Standard Chartered projects that real-world assets (RWAs) issued on blockchain networks will grow from $35 billion today to nearly $2 trillion by 2028. This dramatic increase is expected to be driven by enhanced liquidity and ongoing innovation in the space.
How Are Stablecoins Influencing the Shift Toward Blockchain-Based Finance?
Stablecoins, which have surpassed $308 billion in market capitalization, are playing a pivotal role in accelerating the mainstream adoption of decentralized financial infrastructure. Their growth acts as a catalyst, extending blockchain-based finance well beyond the crypto-native audience.
Standard Chartered Signals a Major Shift in the Global Financial Order
Decentralized finance is no longer considered a fringe experiment. According to Standard Chartered, it is emerging as a significant counterweight to the traditional banking system. Tokenized real-world assets are expected to become the backbone of this transformative transition.
Geoffrey Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, highlights in a recent analysis that the total value of RWAs on blockchain could soar to $2 trillion by 2028. A key factor driving this growth will be the performance of stablecoins throughout 2025, which will help propel blockchain-based finance further into mainstream markets.
Projected Growth of Tokenized Real-World Assets by 2028
The bank forecasts that non-stablecoin tokenized assets will expand from approximately $35 billion today to nearly $2 trillion by the end of 2028. This substantial increase would place the market size of tokenized RWAs on par with the projected stablecoin sector.
According to the report, tokenized money-market funds and publicly listed equities are expected to lead this surge, with each category potentially reaching around $750 billion in value. Additional growth drivers include tokenized corporate debt, commodities, private equity, real estate, and other investment funds.
To achieve the $2 trillion milestone, RWAs will need to grow more than 57-fold from their current base. While ambitious, this growth appears increasingly plausible given the accelerating pace of institutional adoption.
Stablecoin Growth to Date
Stablecoins have already exceeded $308 billion in market cap, led by major players such as Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC. Newer stablecoins like USDe, USDS, and DAI continue to enhance on-chain liquidity and ecosystem robustness.
Alongside this, companies including Oracle and IPDN are actively participating in the tokenization movement. Their involvement signals a shift from tokenization being a mere experimental trend to becoming a strategic business priority.
Moreover, global banks, asset managers, and public companies are developing tokenized infrastructure for credit, treasury, and exchange services. This represents a rapid acceleration of the traditional financial sector’s transition onto blockchain rails.
As a result, the industry consensus has shifted: the question is no longer if RWAs will move on-chain, but rather how quickly the market will reach the projected $2 trillion milestone.
https://ambcrypto.com/standard-chartered-projects-2t-tokenized-asset-boom-by-2028
