For pension funds, tokenization’s real play is balance

Fidelity International's digital assets strategist Giselle Lai argues that the primary value proposition for institutional tokenization lies in balance sheet management rather than just 24/7 liquidity. Global institutions currently struggle with managing idle cash across multiple international bank accounts to meet regulatory and currency requirements. Tokenized assets offer a solution by providing yield-bearing instruments that can be moved efficiently and integrated into broader liquidity workflows. While tokenized money market funds like BlackRock's BUIDL have already reached significant scale, the broader onchain RWA market has surpassed $31 billion in value. The global tokenization market is currently estimated at $2.1 trillion and is projected to grow significantly by 2033. Institutional interest is driven by the functional utility of tokens, such as faster and cheaper asset management, rather than the tokenization process itself. Lai emphasizes that building a comprehensive ecosystem for these tools will likely require a multi-decade evolution similar to the development of the ETF industry.