Tiger Research: Moving RWA Tokenization Overseas First

The RWA tokenization market reached a valuation of $25 billion to $36 billion by early 2026, driven by institutional demand for automated settlements and broader investor reach. Despite this growth, many financial institutions face a regulatory vacuum in their home jurisdictions, forcing a strategic choice between waiting for legislation, using sandboxes, or entering overseas markets. Tiger Research emphasizes that cross-border RWA operations require meticulous preparation across six core areas, including licensing, asset definition, and settlement infrastructure. Institutions are increasingly looking to mature regulatory environments like Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States to build operational experience. Hong Kong offers a comprehensive framework under the Securities and Futures Ordinance, while Singapore utilizes the Variable Capital Company structure for fund tokenization. The United States remains a key market, with platforms like Securitize facilitating issuances such as BlackRock’s BUIDL fund under Reg D and Reg S exemptions. Ultimately, the report argues that tokenization is not a shortcut but a complex migration of financial instruments that demands higher precision than traditional issuance. Institutions that proactively navigate these cross-border complexities are better positioned to secure early market dominance.