Looking ahead to 2026, "RWA tokenization" will no longer be seen as a separate sector, but rather as part of the normalization of digital finance.

Article author and source: ChainUp, 1exchange

ChainUp, a leading global provider of digital asset solutions, and 1exchange, a licensed RWA exchange in Singapore, jointly released an industry insight, predicting that 2026 will be the "first year" of RWA tokenization trading.



Looking back at 2025, "RWA tokenization" was undoubtedly the hottest buzzword in the industry. Promoting real-world assets (RWAs) to be listed on the blockchain and issuing RWA tokens is gradually becoming a new trend. However, putting assets on the blockchain is not just the ultimate goal of tokenization; more importantly, it's about entering the market and fully releasing the liquidity of assets during transactions.

Earlier this year, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) disclosed its plans to launch a blockchain-based, 24/7 tokenized stock trading platform. Previously, Nasdaq had also submitted a related application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to explore the feasibility of tokenized stock trading. This aligns perfectly with the efforts of Singapore-licensed RWA exchange 1exchange and ChainUp, a leading global digital asset solutions provider, to promote the development of the RWA tokenized trading ecosystem.

These moves undoubtedly send an important signal: in 2026, RWA tokenization will no longer be just a demonstration of new technology, but will enter a market system centered on trading, liquidity and compliance.

The success of tokenization hinges on "transaction volume".

As a "newborn" in the capital market, the RWA token naturally needs to be put to the test in the trading market. In the new year, asset owners and tokenization platforms share a common goal: to ensure the token has a sustained trading volume and to truly activate the market.

Sheena Lim, CEO of Singapore-based 1exchange, commented: “By 2025, market practice has proven that RWA tokenization can provide an effective channel for assets to enter the market. However, in many countries and financial markets, secondary market trading activity for RWA tokens remains insufficient. This year, the measure of success will no longer be the issuance itself, but rather whether the token can continuously release liquidity through trading after issuance.”

Automating the token issuance and trading process is imperative.

Establishing an integrated automated mechanism for "issuance-trading" will be an important practical direction in 2026. By integrating the issuance, compliance verification, and trading processes, tokenized assets will no longer remain at the stage of "completing issuance," but will be able to smoothly enter a market environment with continuous trading and active liquidity after issuance.

By directly integrating compliance, risk control, and asset transfer restrictions into the asset's smart contract, the entire transaction chain is made traceable and auditable, meeting the regulatory requirements of different countries and regions. Furthermore, automated settlement will be a key component in establishing this automated mechanism. On-Chain Delivery-versus-Payment allows asset delivery and fund payment to be completed simultaneously in the same execution process, avoiding common obstacles such as reconciliation and "T+2" delayed settlement.

“Compliance is no longer just a bonus, but a fundamental requirement for the platform’s continued development,” said Sailor Zhong, founder and CEO of ChainUp. “By embedding rule logic into the entire transaction lifecycle, regulated platforms can scale with greater confidence. Every transaction is designed to be auditable and compliant without relying on human intervention.”

A more unified "post-trade" ecosystem

Tokenized assets and traditional assets require different systems for clearing, settlement, custody, and reconciliation in the post-trade process. This systemic "fragmentation" leads to problems such as settlement delays and capital tied up, limiting the liquidity of tokenized assets and the redeployment of funds. To better address this issue, the industry is moving from a vertically integrated, closed system to a modular market structure that unifies custody, clearing, and trade execution at the technical level.

By adopting a native on-chain protocol to achieve atomic settlement, the post-transaction process can transition from manual, multi-day reconciliation to a unified architecture of "Single Source of Truth." This architecture brings not only automated settlement but also 24/7 liquidity, enabling institutions to redeploy funds more accurately and efficiently.

Establish a high-quality token hub

In 2026, major capital markets, including Singapore, Dubai, and the European Union, are providing a compliant environment for deploying private lending and fixed-income token assets through improved legal mechanisms, creating conditions for large-scale capital allocation. These markets will continue to serve as "safe havens" for institutional capital, attracting more assets and accelerating the accumulation of market liquidity.

Therefore, the final key piece of the puzzle in 2026 is tokenized asset mobility, namely the ability of tokens to transfer and settle value "across blockchains, markets, and systems." Notably, with the help of multi-party computation (MPC) custody architectures, asset management institutions and trading execution teams can now manage multi-track asset portfolios through a unified interface, transforming digital assets from static ledger entries into liquid, collateralizable, and reusable financial instruments.

Digital finance has become the norm.

Looking ahead to 2026, "RWA tokenization" will no longer be seen as a separate sector, but rather as part of the normalization of digital finance.

Sheena Lim, CEO of Singapore-based 1exchange, stated, "2026 marks the end of the RWA tokenization trial phase and the official start of the trading era." Sailor Zhong, founder and CEO of ChainUp, added, "Blockchain is entering the core of global finance, enabling digital assets to move from a technological concept to a scalable institutional standard."