Tiger Research Report: Institutional RWA Adoption Moves Beyond Tokenization to Capital Market Infrastructure Overhaul

Tiger Research reports that institutional RWA adoption has shifted from simple asset tokenization to a fundamental reconstruction of global capital market infrastructure. As of May 2026, onchain-issued assets reached USD 34 billion, with total represented assets climbing to approximately USD 360 billion. The report highlights that the industry is prioritizing transaction-level privacy, atomic settlement, and BCBS-compliant permissioned structures to avoid the 1,250% risk weight associated with permissionless blockchains. Key operational successes include Broadridge's Canton-based repo platform, which handles USD 368 billion in average daily volume, and the Hong Kong government's issuance of HKD 6 billion in digital green bonds. Major financial institutions like JPMorgan, Citi, and Goldman Sachs are backing the Canton Network to facilitate these institutional-grade requirements. Regional expansion is accelerating, with significant partnerships formed in Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong to integrate onchain systems into national monetary authorities and securities firms. This transition marks a critical juncture where early adoption of standardized infrastructure will determine long-term competitive advantages for global financial institutions.