The value of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) on public blockchains has risen sharply in 2026, highlighting growing demand for blockchain-based representations of traditional financial instruments.

According to data from DeFiLlama, the total value of tokenized RWAs reached approximately $23.6 billion as of Wednesday, reflecting a gain of about 66% since the start of the year.

Tokenized real-world assets surge to $23.6 billion in 2026

At the beginning of 2026, the tokenized RWA market stood at roughly $14.1 billion. Since then, the sector has experienced steady expansion through early March, driven largely by the growth of tokenized investment products.

Tokenized funds represent the largest portion of the sector. These products often include blockchain-based versions of traditional financial instruments such as US Treasury bills, bonds and money market funds. Data from DeFiLlama shows that tokenized funds account for about 44.5% of the market, totaling roughly $10.5 billion.

Other segments have also grown alongside the expansion of tokenized funds. Tokenized gold and commodity products represent approximately $6.5 billion in value, while tokenized equities account for nearly $4 billion. Additional categories, including private credit and yield-generating assets, make up smaller shares of the onchain RWA ecosystem.

Industry participants told Cointelegraph that the next phase of growth may be driven less by the concept of tokenization itself and more by improvements in distribution channels, broader market access and the increasing appeal of financial assets that can trade continuously on blockchain networks.

24/7 trading and market access boost tokenized asset adoption

Market observers point out that one of the most important developments has been improved accessibility for certain tokenized financial products. “The real breakthrough here is that a handful of products have become significantly easier to access, distribute, and use,” an RWA.xyz spokesperson told Cointelegraph.

Recent milestones across several tokenized asset segments reflect this trend. On Tuesday, tokenized stocks surpassed $1 billion in total value recorded onchain, according to data from RWA.xyz. Platforms such as Ondo and xStocks account for a large share of that activity. Meanwhile, the tokenized US Treasury market crossed the $10 billion mark in February. By March, the sector had expanded further to approximately $11.13 billion in market capitalization.

Investors shift toward blockchain-based financial markets

Growing frustration with the limitations of traditional financial infrastructure may also be contributing to the expansion of tokenized assets. Ross Shemeliak, co-founder and chief operating officer at Stobox, said that many investors have grown dissatisfied with legacy financial systems that operate during limited trading hours and rely on multiple intermediaries to facilitate transactions. “Investors are tired of financial markets that close at 4 pm and require layers of intermediaries just to move capital,” Shemeliak told Cointelegraph.

He added that increased experimentation by institutional players has also strengthened the credibility of tokenization as a financial model. Over the past year, several major financial firms have introduced blockchain-based versions of US Treasury securities, investment funds and other real-world assets as part of broader digital asset strategies.

Sources:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/tokenized-rwas-rise-66-percent-2026-defillama

https://defillama.com/rwa?chartType=onChainMcap

http://rwa.xyz/