Infrastructure
Infrastructure News
Latest Infrastructure analysis and market intelligence from RWA Signal.
8.5
Infrastructure
cryptorank.io·2h ago
RWA Market Hits $36 Billion: Why Tokenization Is Transforming Global Finance
The market for distributed on-chain real-world assets (RWAs) has experienced rapid growth, surging from $4.66 billion in 2024 to approximately $36 billion by 2026. This expansion is driven by institutional adoption, with over 106 asset managers, including industry leaders like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, actively participating in the space. Issuance is heavily concentrated on the Ethereum blockchain, which accounts for $17.14 billion of the total, followed by BNB Chain and Solana. The shift is largely motivated by the potential for significant operational efficiency, with projections suggesting that tokenization could reduce middle- and back-office costs by 22% to 85% by 2028. By replacing fragmented, multi-intermediary record-keeping with programmable smart contracts, tokenization aims to modernize settlement and ownership transfer processes. While current figures represent a small fraction of global capital markets, the trend is viewed as a long-term infrastructure transformation rather than a temporary investment fad. Forecasts for the sector remain highly optimistic, with estimates suggesting the market could reach between $600 billion and $2 trillion by 2030, and potentially $30 trillion by 2034.
5.5
Infrastructure
Goldman Sachs (bStocks Tokenized Stock) Price Today: €899.75 (+0.97%) | Buy GSB
LCX AG, a Liechtenstein-based financial technology firm, is currently navigating the regulatory transition required by the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. The company has officially submitted its application for authorization as a crypto-asset service provider to the Financial Market Authority (FMA) of Liechtenstein. While this application remains under review, LCX has implemented a strategic wind-down of services for clients located within the European Economic Area to ensure compliance with the evolving legal framework. The firm has explicitly restricted its service offerings, excluding residents of the United Kingdom and the United States from its platform. This development highlights the broader industry trend where established digital asset platforms must prioritize regulatory alignment to maintain operations within the EU. By seeking formal MiCA authorization, LCX aims to secure a compliant foundation for its future operations in the tokenized asset space. The ongoing review process underscores the rigorous standards imposed on entities dealing with crypto-assets and the necessity for clear legal standing in the European market.
8.5
Infrastructure
Kinexys Earns Global Finance, Tearsheet & Fortune Honors
JPMorgan's Kinexys, formerly known as Onyx, has received industry recognition for its JPM Coin system, which functions as a bank-issued deposit token on public blockchain infrastructure. The platform facilitates real-time, multi-currency payments and settlements for institutional clients, effectively bridging traditional banking with distributed ledger technology. By enabling 24/7 programmable liquidity, the system addresses inefficiencies in cross-border transactions and intraday liquidity management. This recognition underscores the growing institutional acceptance of tokenized deposits as a viable alternative to legacy payment rails. The integration of JPM Coin into broader blockchain ecosystems signals a shift toward institutional-grade, regulated RWA infrastructure. As financial institutions continue to explore tokenization, the success of this platform serves as a benchmark for bank-issued digital assets. This development is critical for the RWA market as it demonstrates how established banks can leverage public blockchains to enhance settlement speed and operational transparency.
7.5
Infrastructure
‘It’s disappointing’: U.S Treasury Secretary slams Democrats’ CLARITY Act holdout
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently criticized Senate Democrats for stalling the CLARITY Act, a significant piece of legislation aimed at establishing a comprehensive crypto market structure in the United States. Despite ongoing negotiations, including a potential ethics deal involving Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Ruben Gallego, the bill faces substantial hurdles before the upcoming August recess. Key Democratic concerns regarding the bill include developer protections under the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, illicit finance provisions, and the oversight role of state attorneys general. Bessent argued that the BRCA simply codifies existing Treasury policy regarding non-custodial developers, yet political resistance remains high. Internal Republican support is also not unanimous, with Senator Josh Hawley identified as a notable holdout, necessitating at least 11 Democratic votes for passage. Market sentiment has soured significantly, with prediction markets lowering the probability of the bill's passage this year to a yearly low of 27%. The outcome of this legislation is critical for the RWA market, as it seeks to provide the regulatory clarity necessary for institutional adoption and the legal framework for tokenized assets. Failure to pass the act could delay the integration of traditional financial instruments onto blockchain infrastructure.
7.5
Infrastructure
The Clarity Act Is The Trojan Horse – OpEd
The Clarity Act has emerged as a contentious legislative proposal that critics argue functions as a Trojan horse for broader regulatory overreach within the digital asset sector. While proponents suggest the bill aims to provide necessary oversight, opponents contend it creates ambiguous compliance burdens that could stifle innovation in the tokenization of real-world assets. By imposing stringent reporting requirements, the legislation threatens to centralize control over decentralized financial protocols that facilitate the issuance of tokenized securities. This development is significant for the RWA market because it introduces a layer of legal uncertainty that may deter institutional participation in blockchain-based asset management. The potential for increased regulatory friction could force developers to relocate operations to more favorable jurisdictions, impacting the global liquidity of tokenized instruments. Market participants are closely monitoring the bill's progress, as its passage could fundamentally alter the operational landscape for firms utilizing distributed ledger technology for asset settlement. Ultimately, the debate underscores the ongoing tension between the need for investor protection and the desire to maintain the efficiency gains offered by tokenized financial infrastructure.
7.5
Infrastructure
Grayscale Presses Senate to Advance CLARITY Act Before Break
Grayscale Investments has formally requested that Senate leadership prioritize a floor vote on the CLARITY Act before the August recess to establish essential federal regulatory standards for digital assets. The firm argues that the current lack of clarity regarding regulatory jurisdiction, investor safeguards, and stablecoin rules hinders institutional participation from pension funds and endowments. By defining the roles of the SEC and CFTC, the legislation aims to provide the predictable framework necessary for the growth of tokenized markets and exchange-traded products. The House of Representatives previously passed the bill with a 294-134 vote, and the Senate Banking Committee advanced it with a 15-9 margin. Despite support from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the bill faces competition for floor time from other legislative priorities and requires bipartisan cooperation to overcome procedural hurdles. Grayscale emphasizes that failing to act risks American competitiveness, as jurisdictions like Singapore and Abu Dhabi continue to attract capital through clearer regulatory environments. The final legislative text will be critical in determining how compliance duties are distributed across exchanges, protocols, and software developers. Ultimately, the passage of this act is viewed as a foundational step for integrating institutional-grade RWA tokenization into the broader U.S. financial system.
7.5
Infrastructure
RedStone launches settlement layer to unlock $30 billion in idle tokenized assets for DeFi
RedStone has officially launched a dedicated settlement layer designed to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance by unlocking liquidity for tokenized real-world assets. The protocol aims to address the current fragmentation in the RWA market, where approximately $30 billion in tokenized assets remain largely idle due to a lack of interoperability and efficient settlement mechanisms. By providing a specialized infrastructure, RedStone enables these assets to be utilized as collateral or integrated into various DeFi protocols without requiring complex, manual cross-chain processes. This development is significant because it directly tackles the liquidity bottleneck that has historically hindered the growth of institutional-grade assets on-chain. The settlement layer facilitates secure, automated transactions, ensuring that tokenized securities can move seamlessly across different blockchain environments. As institutional interest in tokenization continues to rise, such infrastructure layers are becoming essential for scaling the ecosystem beyond simple issuance. Ultimately, this move positions RedStone as a critical middleware provider, potentially accelerating the adoption of RWA-backed financial products across the broader DeFi landscape.
8.5
Infrastructure
Solana (SOL)'s RWA Ecosystem Hits $3.7B, 313K Holders Bolster Growth
As of July 2026, the Solana blockchain has emerged as a dominant hub for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, hosting $3.7 billion in total value across 313,000 unique holders. The ecosystem has rapidly expanded from negligible activity two years ago to supporting diverse asset classes including U.S. Treasuries, private credit, equities, and reinsurance. Major institutional players such as BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, Franklin Templeton, and Visa are actively leveraging Solana’s infrastructure for products like the BUIDL fund and commercial paper issuances. This growth is driven by Solana's low-fee structure, which facilitates high-frequency transactions and retail accessibility, alongside deep integration with a $16 billion stablecoin market. The network's utility is further bolstered by its ability to use tokenized assets as collateral within decentralized finance protocols. Regulatory clarity, specifically the SEC's designation of SOL as a digital commodity in March 2026, has provided a stable foundation for this institutional adoption. By bridging traditional finance with onchain liquidity, Solana is effectively redefining the issuance and trading lifecycle of global financial assets.
8.5
Infrastructure
SBI expands beyond Ripple with Canton Network unit
SBI Holdings has rebranded its subsidiary SBI Security Solutions to SBI Digital Practice Co. Ltd. to focus exclusively on institutional financial infrastructure built on the Canton Network. This strategic pivot allows the Japanese financial giant to expand its blockchain capabilities beyond its existing work with Ripple and the XRP Ledger. The new unit will specialize in developing cross-border securities systems and transaction privacy solutions, catering to institutional needs for regulatory compliance. By acting as a Super Validator on the Canton Network, SBI aims to facilitate the migration of complex financial products onto distributed ledgers. This move highlights a broader multichain strategy where SBI selects specific blockchains, such as Canton for infrastructure, Solana for equity tokens, and Ripple for payments, to optimize different financial services. The Canton Network currently supports over 600 institutions and manages assets valued at more than $6 trillion, including upcoming U.S. Treasury tokenization projects by the DTCC. This restructuring underscores the growing institutional trend of adopting specialized, privacy-focused networks to bridge traditional finance with on-chain operations.
9.5
Infrastructure
JPMorgan, Citi, UBS Testing Tokenized Cross-Border Payments
JPMorgan, Citi, and UBS are among 28 global financial institutions that successfully completed a live pilot of Project Agorá, a blockchain-based platform for cross-border payments. The test processed approximately $1 million in real-value transactions across six major currencies, including the U.S. dollar, euro, and Japanese yen. By utilizing tokenized commercial bank deposits alongside tokenized central bank reserves, the participants achieved an average settlement time of just 80 seconds. This initiative demonstrates the potential for atomic, multi-currency settlement that operates on a 24/7 basis, significantly outperforming traditional payment rails. The platform integrates smart contracts to embed compliance and workflow logic directly into transactions, effectively reducing manual reconciliation and operational friction. By enabling simultaneous foreign exchange settlement, the project also mitigates counterparty risk inherent in current sequential payment systems. This milestone represents a critical step toward modernizing wholesale banking infrastructure through the integration of programmable, tokenized assets.
7.5
Infrastructure
SODA Survey: Tokenization Shifts to Trading Desks
A recent report from SODApublicmoney indicates a significant shift in the adoption of tokenization within investment banks, moving from experimental innovation labs to direct oversight by front office and trading desks. This transition signifies that tokenization is now being treated as a core business strategy aimed at generating tangible PnL impact rather than a long-term research project. By focusing on collateral mobility and intra-day repo market efficiencies, banks are leveraging smart contracts and tokenized assets to unlock trillions in trapped liquidity. The survey highlights that front office teams now control the design, implementation, and budgets for these initiatives, marking a departure from the FinTech-led experiments of the previous decade. Key use cases identified include the deployment of tokenized bonds as collateral and the use of tokenized deposits for settlement processes. While most institutions remain in the early stages of implementation, they have established clear strategic roadmaps to address operational hurdles. The primary challenge has shifted from regulatory uncertainty to the practical integration of new technology with existing client systems. Ultimately, this trend demonstrates that institutional clients are increasingly willing to pay premiums for the clear liquidity and efficiency benefits provided by tokenized financial instruments.
7.5
Infrastructure
Morgan Stanley Executive: Tokenization Shift Marks the End of 9-to-5 Banking
Morgan Stanley global head of banking and diversified finance research, Betsy Graseck, asserts that the financial industry is transitioning away from the traditional 9-to-5 banking model due to the rise of tokenization. This shift is driven by institutional demand for 24/7 operability, which aims to enhance cash mobility, improve collateral efficiency, and unlock new asset classes like real estate and private credit. Unlike previous retail-led crypto cycles, current institutional investment focuses on building robust blockchain infrastructure to streamline back-office processes and reduce settlement times. Graseck emphasizes that this transformation is a fundamental upgrade to market infrastructure rather than a niche experiment. Financial institutions that fail to modernize their systems to support continuous, real-time trading risk falling behind in the evolving global market. While the move promises faster access to funds and more efficient portfolio management, it necessitates significant adaptations in regulatory and risk-management frameworks. Ultimately, the integration of blockchain technology is blurring the lines between traditional finance and digital assets, signaling a permanent change in how global markets operate.
8.0
Infrastructure
US tokenization firm Securitize gets SEC adviser license
Securitize, a prominent firm specializing in the tokenization of real-world assets, has successfully registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This regulatory milestone allows the company to provide investment advisory services, marking a significant step in the institutional adoption of blockchain-based financial products. By securing this status, Securitize enhances its credibility and operational capacity to manage tokenized assets within the strict framework of U.S. securities laws. The move is particularly notable given the firm's role in high-profile projects, such as the issuance of BlackRock’s BUIDL fund on the Ethereum blockchain. This development signals a broader trend where tokenization platforms are increasingly aligning with traditional financial regulatory standards to attract institutional capital. As the RWA market matures, such registrations provide the necessary legal infrastructure to bridge the gap between decentralized finance and regulated investment vehicles. Ultimately, this registration reinforces the legitimacy of tokenized securities as a viable asset class for sophisticated investors.
10.0
Infrastructure
DTCC tokenization platform goes live with Wall Street giants
The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has officially launched its blockchain-based tokenization platform, transitioning from sandbox testing to a live production environment. On July 15, the organization successfully processed on-chain transactions involving equities, ETFs, and Treasuries with over 25 major financial institutions, including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan. This milestone represents a critical shift for Wall Street, as the world's largest post-trade infrastructure provider integrates blockchain technology into its existing clearing framework. By tokenizing assets like the Invesco QQQ Trust and various Treasury instruments, the DTCC aims to enhance liquidity and operational efficiency while maintaining established legal protections. The platform currently operates under a controlled scope, limiting activity to 1,000 securities to mitigate systemic risk within a system that processed $4.7 quadrillion in 2025. This initiative serves as a direct response to the growth of crypto-native platforms like Ondo and Securitize, offering traditional firms a regulated path to on-chain asset management. With a broader rollout scheduled for October 2026, the DTCC is positioning its infrastructure to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized ledger technology at an institutional scale.
8.0
Infrastructure
Citi executives assert: Tokenization spells the end of traditional banks' 9-to-5 operations
Citi executives have publicly stated that the shift toward tokenization will fundamentally dismantle the traditional 9-to-5 operating model of global banking. By leveraging blockchain technology, financial institutions can transition to 24/7 real-time settlement, effectively eliminating the latency inherent in legacy banking systems. This evolution is driven by the ability to automate complex financial processes through smart contracts, which reduce the need for manual intervention and intermediary reconciliation. Citi is actively exploring these capabilities through its Citi Token Services, which facilitates cross-border payments and liquidity management on a private, permissioned blockchain. The transition signifies a broader industry move toward programmable money, where assets can be moved and settled instantaneously regardless of market hours. This shift is critical for the RWA market as it establishes the infrastructure necessary for institutional-grade, always-on financial services. Ultimately, the move suggests that the competitive advantage of traditional banks will soon depend on their ability to integrate decentralized ledger technology into their core treasury and payment operations.
8.5
Infrastructure
US Banks Explore Shared Blockchain Network for Tokenized Deposits and Real-Time Settlement
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo are exploring the development of a shared, permissioned blockchain network to facilitate tokenized deposits. This initiative aims to replace fragmented, bank-specific systems with a unified ledger capable of enabling real-time interbank settlement and programmable payments. By utilizing a common infrastructure, these institutions seek to eliminate the operational inefficiencies and reconciliation complexities inherent in legacy clearing processes. Unlike private stablecoins, these tokenized deposits maintain their legal status as commercial bank deposits, ensuring they remain within existing regulatory and depositor protection frameworks. The research from MEXC Ventures highlights that this shift represents a move toward industry-wide standardization, building upon the success of JPMorgan’s Kinexys platform, which has already processed over $4 trillion in volume. While the project is currently in exploratory stages, the potential implementation of smart-contract-based conditional payments could significantly optimize trade finance, collateral management, and corporate treasury operations. This development signals a broader institutional transition from isolated blockchain pilots to the creation of shared, programmable financial infrastructure for the U.S. dollar.
7.5
Infrastructure
Tokenized Securities: Issuer-Backed vs Synthetic Tokens
The distinction between issuer-backed and synthetic tokenized securities represents a critical evolution in the digital asset landscape, impacting how investors perceive risk and regulatory compliance. Issuer-backed tokens are directly linked to the underlying asset through legal frameworks, ensuring that the token holder maintains a direct claim on the issuer's balance sheet or the specific collateral. In contrast, synthetic tokens rely on derivative structures or smart contract-based tracking to mirror the price performance of an asset without necessarily holding the underlying security. This structural difference is vital for the RWA market as it dictates the level of counterparty risk, legal recourse, and regulatory oversight applicable to the investment. While synthetic tokens offer increased liquidity and accessibility, they often lack the direct ownership rights inherent in issuer-backed models. As institutional adoption grows, the market is increasingly prioritizing transparency and legal certainty, favoring models that provide clear redemption paths. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for market participants to navigate the complexities of tokenized real-world assets effectively.
7.5
Infrastructure
How Blockchain and Tokenization Are Changing Traditional Banking
A joint analysis by Visa and Artemis published on July 14 categorizes the emerging blockchain tokenization market into five distinct asset classes based on their underlying settlement mechanisms. The report evaluates how traditional banking assets interact with distributed ledger technology, emphasizing the critical role of connectivity between on-chain activity and off-chain legal frameworks. By examining the operational mechanics of these assets, the study provides a framework for understanding how institutional capital integrates with blockchain infrastructure. This classification is significant for the RWA market as it highlights the necessity of standardized settlement processes to drive broader adoption among traditional financial institutions. The research underscores that the transition from legacy systems to tokenized environments requires robust technical and regulatory bridges to ensure asset integrity. As major players like Visa explore these integrations, the findings offer a roadmap for scaling tokenized financial products globally. Ultimately, the report serves as a foundational guide for market participants navigating the complexities of bridging traditional finance with decentralized ledger technology.