Wharton Warns RWA Tokenization May Trigger Liquidity Risks With 24/7 Trading

A May 2026 report from the Wharton School’s Financial Policy and Regulation Initiative warns that the rapid growth of tokenized real-world assets (RWA) faces systemic risks if trading velocity outpaces underlying asset liquidity. While the RWA market has expanded from $2.9 billion in 2022 to approximately $46 billion by 2026, researchers emphasize that tokenization changes market access rather than the fundamental credit quality or valuation of assets. The report introduces a 'speed-matching' principle, cautioning that 'fast tokens' backed by 'slow assets' like private credit or real estate create dangerous maturity mismatches. Such structures risk triggering run-like dynamics if redemption mechanisms fail during periods of market stress. Furthermore, the study highlights significant concentration risks, noting that the top 10 issuers control 82% of the market and Ethereum hosts 54% of total RWA value. By analyzing major players like BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Figure Technologies, and Ondo Finance, the authors argue that current infrastructure lacks the robust, rule-bound redemption mechanics found in traditional finance. Ultimately, the report calls for regulatory frameworks that address the economic reality of these assets rather than just their technical implementation to prevent future systemic shocks.