Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) just hit a major milestone — topping $21 billion — but the rise of newer chains could be the real story this year.

In the fast-evolving world of crypto, real-world assets — digital tokens backed by actual assets like US Treasuries, commodities, and private credit — are gaining serious traction. Ethereum still leads by a wide margin, but challenger networks are beginning to attract attention from institutional investors and builders alike.

&nbsp;
<h2>What’s Driving the $21B Tokenized Asset Boom?</h2>
Tokenized RWAs have crossed the $21 billion mark in total value locked (TVL) — a milestone that reflects growing demand for on-chain versions of traditional financial assets.

Here’s how the landscape looks:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">U.S. Treasury debt dominates with over ~$9B total value locked.&nbsp;</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Commodities and private credit follow as secondary drivers.&nbsp;</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Corporate bonds and institutional funds are gaining share, while real estate and private equity remain smaller but emerging categories.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Experts have projected massive long-term growth for tokenized assets — from $2-4 trillion by 2030 (McKinsey) to as much as $10-16 trillion in some industry forecasts.

Bottom line: Tokenization is no longer a niche experiment — it’s becoming an institutional trend.

&nbsp;
<h2>Ethereum Still Dominates — For Now</h2>
Ethereum continues to be the primary home for tokenized assets, hosting the lion’s share thanks to its deep liquidity, mature tooling, and broad developer ecosystem.

Stablecoins still represent the largest category by value on Ethereum, which helps explain why it remains the go-to network for issuers and institutional players.

But a key question on the minds of experts now is: How long will Ethereum’s dominance last?
<h2>Are New Chains Starting to Matter?</h2>
Here’s where the narrative gets interesting: some alternative blockchains are beginning to capture real RWA demand.

For example, Arbitrum-based tokenized products have amassed substantial TVL, driven by predictable fees, strong liquidity, and flexible architecture — factors that matter greatly to institutional users.

Lower-cost networks like Arbitrum and others could see increasing adoption, especially as institutional players explore options beyond Ethereum’s fee structure and scalability.

&nbsp;
<h2>Why This Matters to Crypto Investors Now</h2>
Tokenization is rapidly bridging TradFi and crypto:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Institutional demand for on-chain exposure is rising.&nbsp;</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Traditional financial firms (including NYSE and investment platforms) are building 24/7 token trading infrastructure.&nbsp;</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Regulatory discussions continue to shape frameworks for tokenized securities.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
This combination is transforming tokenized assets from “cool tech” into legitimate financial infrastructure.

&nbsp;
<h2>KEY TAKEAWAYS</h2>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Tokenized RWAs have surpassed $21 B in TVL.&nbsp;</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Ethereum remains the dominant network for tokenization.&nbsp;</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Alternative chains like Arbitrum are gaining traction.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Analysts forecast exponential growth through 2030.

Tokenized Assets Break $21B — But Are New Chains Finally Gaining Ground?

Tokenized real-world assets exceed $21 billion TVL in early 2026, with Ethereum still dominant but newer chains like Arbitrum gaining traction.

Tokenized Assets Break $21B — But Are New Chains Finally Gaining Ground?

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