Tokenised funds: the transition could take more than a decade

At the Global Fund Summit 2026, industry leaders from State Street, WisdomTree, and Accenture discussed the operational realities of tokenized funds, noting that a full transition from traditional infrastructure is likely over a decade away. State Street’s latest survey of 300 executives reveals that 38% expect blockchain to coexist with hybrid models for at least ten years, while 20% anticipate indefinite coexistence. Despite this long-term outlook, WisdomTree reported that its Treasury Money Market Digital Fund (WTGXX) has reached $1.2 billion in assets, driven by demand for stablecoin reserve management and corporate treasury operations. Panelists emphasized that the industry currently faces a difficult economic paradox where providers must invest in costly new digital infrastructure without the ability to charge premium fees. Key challenges include the need for dual-system maintenance, the complexity of delivery-versus-payment settlement, and the requirement to integrate verified investor identities with blockchain wallets. While North American firms focus on money market funds as collateral, European institutions are prioritizing the integration of tokenized products into existing regulatory and distribution frameworks. Ultimately, the panel concluded that tokenization is an infrastructure upgrade rather than an immediate replacement, requiring significant progress in cross-border regulatory consistency to achieve global scale.