RWA Tokenization 2026: Where Is the $29B Onchain Money Going

Onchain real-world asset tokenization has officially surpassed $29 billion in total market value, according to new data from DefiLlama. While the total market cap is significant, the industry is shifting its focus toward DeFi Active TVL, which measures how much of these assets are actually utilized within decentralized finance protocols. Currently, only about 9-10% of tokenized assets are actively deployed in lending or trading, suggesting that most investors treat these tokens as stable, low-volatility holdings rather than yield-generating tools. Ethereum remains the dominant settlement layer, hosting approximately 55.6% of the total RWA market share, valued at $14.8 billion. Despite the current low utilization rates, the sector is projected to grow significantly, with some forecasts estimating a $30 trillion market by 2034. This growth is driven by the integration of tokenized Treasuries, private credit, and equities, which offer faster settlement times compared to traditional financial systems. The transition from raw market cap to active usage metrics provides a clearer picture of how institutions and retail users are interacting with regulated products on blockchain rails.