Experts from the investment bank Standard Chartered predict that by 2028, the market for real-world tokenized assets (RWA) will reach a capitalization of $2 trillion. This level is equivalent to the current volume of the stablecoin market, indicating rapid growth in the digital asset industry.
This is reported by Finway
Growth of the RWA market and the role of stablecoins
Analysts note that an increasing number of international financial flows and payment operations are transitioning to blockchain technologies, contributing to the exponential development of DeFi and RWA. Specialists have particularly focused on stablecoins, which, according to them, have become a catalyst for a “self-reinforcing cycle” in decentralized finance. According to data from the RWA.xyz platform, the current total capitalization of tokenized real assets is $35.5 billion, and Standard Chartered’s forecast anticipates this figure to grow more than 57 times in three years.
“The liquidity of stablecoins and DeFi banking are crucial prerequisites for the rapid expansion of the tokenized asset market. We expect exponential growth in the RWA sector in the coming years,” said Jeff Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Assets at Standard Chartered.
Of the projected $2 trillion, the bank estimates that $750 billion will be allocated to money market funds, another $750 billion to tokenized U.S. equities, $250 billion to tokenized American funds, and the remaining $250 billion to less liquid assets: private equity, commodities, corporate debt, and real estate.
Market dynamics, Tether Gold records, and industry challenges
According to Coinbase, the RWA segment grew 245 times in a year and reached $21 billion by April 2025. Additionally, CoinGecko reports a 544.8% increase in the market for tokenized treasury securities, reaching $5.6 billion. As of early October 2025, the capitalization of stablecoins exceeded $300 billion, indicating an increase of nearly 47% since the beginning of the year. Jeff Kendrick emphasized that this has been a key driver for the sustainable development of the DeFi sector. He also added that the launch of new products stimulates further liquidity, creating a self-reinforcing growth cycle for the industry.
Despite positive forecasts, Standard Chartered highlights regulatory risks. The bank notes that the lack of a clear legislative framework regarding cryptocurrencies in the U.S. could hinder further market development if the administration of President Donald Trump does not make appropriate decisions before the 2026 elections.
Amid growing interest in RWA, the tokenized stablecoin Tether Gold (XAUT) has shown record results. By the end of the third quarter of 2025, the capitalization of XAUT exceeded $2.1 billion, placing it among the leaders in tokenized assets backed by gold. October 2025 marked a significant moment for the RWA market: an increasing number of investment funds, fintech companies, and government institutions are implementing blockchain technologies for asset management.
Gold prices reached historic highs in 2025 under pressure from inflation, geopolitical risks, and rising demand from central banks and large investors. Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized:
“Tether Gold proves that real assets can effectively exist on-chain without compromise,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.
It is worth noting that according to Binance Research, in 2024, the capitalization of the RWA sector rose to $12 billion, and analysts at Real Vision expect that by 2030, the figure could reach $1.3 trillion.