The real-world asset (RWA) market is expected to grow more than 30 times in 8 years, with blockchain-based asset tokenization technology set to disrupt the financial industry. Major global financial institutions such as JP Morgan and BlackRock are already actively participating in asset tokenization, further accelerating market growth.
According to the fourth week of April's weekly trend by the Korea Internet Promotion Agency, Ripple and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) predict that the asset tokenization market will expand from $600 billion in 2025 to $18.9 trillion by 2033. With an annual growth rate of 53%, it is emerging as a central axis for financial infrastructure reorganization beyond mere technological innovation.
Tokenized assets refer to physical assets (real estate, bonds, artwork, etc.) that can be divided and traded in digital token form through blockchain technology. This process eliminates intermediaries and enables faster and more transparent transactions. A key advantage is that small-scale investors can now participate in high-value physical assets.
In the report, Ripple and BCG proposed a three-stage strategy for tokenization expansion. Stage 1 involves digitalizing familiar assets like money market funds (MMF) and corporate bonds, with infrastructure such as custody being established. Stage 2 focuses on expanding to complex assets like real estate and private loans. In the final Stage 3, tokenization technology will be integrated into overall financial operations and consumer financial products, with the maturation of secondary markets and emergence of new business models.
Global financial institutions like JP Morgan, BlackRock, and Societe Generale are already applying asset tokenization in practice. JP Morgan's blockchain platform 'Onyx' processes tokenized transactions averaging $2 billion daily. The European Union, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates have completed related legislation, while the United States is currently in the legislative process.
The report emphasizes that tokenization can achieve cost savings and operational efficiency in billions of dollars across five key areas: investment-grade bonds, real estate, collateral management, trade finance, and financial management. Particularly, companies can maximize asset management efficiency through real-time collateral setting (T+0 settlement) and reduced idle funds, while tokenized real estate can open doors to investors who previously had no access.
