BlackRock: "Ethereum is the highway to the tokenization era" [Doyeri's DeFi Radar]

BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm, has identified virtual currencies and asset tokenization as key market themes for 2026. Specifically, it identified Ethereum as a key infrastructure for tokenized assets and predicted that blockchain technology could transform the distribution structure of traditional assets.

BlackRock's "2026 Thematic Outlook," released on the 21st (local time), mentioned Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and stablecoins. The report viewed blockchain not as a speculative asset, but as a tool for modernizing approaches to traditional asset classes. The report was written by a team led by Jay Jacobs, head of U.S. equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs).



It also noted the rapid spread of "tokenization," the distribution and issuance of real-world assets like real estate and stocks based on blockchain technology. Stablecoins pegged to the US dollar were cited as an early example of tokenized assets.

In its chapter, "Can Ethereum Become the Toll Road for the Tokenization Era?", the report revealed that over 65% of tokenized assets are issued on the Ethereum blockchain. The report explained, "As tokenization expands, opportunities for blockchain access will grow beyond cash and U.S. Treasuries to include private credit and real assets." Furthermore, the report identified the Ethereum blockchain, widely used for decentralized applications (Dapps) and tokenization infrastructure, as a key beneficiary of tokenization growth.

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund (ETF), has been ranked as the fastest-growing exchange-traded product (ETP) in history. Launched in January 2024, the product currently boasts net assets exceeding $70 billion. The report explained that this inflow reflects investor demand for BTC as a long-term thematic asset. As of 3:15 PM on the same day, BTC was trading at $89,927.

The cryptocurrency industry positively evaluated BlackRock's outlook, which manages over $10 trillion in assets. CoinDesk, a cryptocurrency media outlet, analyzed, "While artificial intelligence (AI) and energy infrastructure are central themes in the report, cryptocurrency was also addressed as a separate major theme," adding, "This signifies the growing importance of the cryptocurrency market."

Reporter Do Ye-ri