Ethereum Emerges As Backbone Of Tokenized Finance, BlackRock 2026 Outlook Shows

BlackRock has identified Ethereum as the foundational infrastructure for the future of tokenized finance, moving beyond its perception as a speculative asset. The firm reports that over 65% of all tokenized assets are currently issued on the Ethereum blockchain, establishing it as the primary settlement layer for the industry. By framing Ethereum as a 'toll road' for financial activity, BlackRock emphasizes that value is increasingly derived from transaction flow, settlement, and issuance rather than traditional crypto trading. Data from RWA.xyz supports this, confirming Ethereum's dominance in hosting the majority of tokenized real-world assets by total value. The report highlights that stablecoin transaction volumes have now surpassed spot crypto trading, signaling a shift toward functional financial utility. This transition suggests that blockchain technology is maturing into a critical component of global financial market infrastructure, similar to energy grids or data networks. Ultimately, this institutional perspective validates the role of public blockchains in reducing settlement friction and operational complexity for private credit and other real-world assets.