What Is Real World Asset Tokenization and How It Actually Works

Real-world asset tokenization bridges off-chain assets like Treasury bills and real estate with blockchain-based digital tokens to enhance settlement speed and accessibility. BlackRock’s BUIDL fund, launched on Ethereum in March 2024, has become a market leader with approximately $2.9 billion in assets by mid-2025. The process relies on three critical layers: a legal wrapper for asset ownership, permissioned smart contracts for compliance, and an oracle layer for accurate valuation. While tokenized Treasuries have achieved significant scale due to their inherent liquidity, tokenized real estate remains experimental and faces liquidity challenges despite improved fractional access. Industry projections from the Boston Consulting Group and ADDX suggest the tokenized asset market could reach $16 trillion by 2030, with government debt leading the growth. Regulators currently favor tokenized Treasuries because they utilize conventional fund structures, whereas other asset classes lack similar clarity. Ultimately, tokenization acts as a settlement rail rather than a replacement for traditional finance, requiring rigorous due diligence regarding custody and redemption rights.