Emerging Markets Poised to Drive RWA Tokenization Surge by 2026
Bitfinex executive Knutson's bullish forecast on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization has electrified crypto markets, with emerging economies expected to lead adoption. The projection—initially met with skepticism—now galvanizes institutional players preparing for 2025's anticipated inflection point.
Tokenization's promise to fractionalize high-value assets like real estate and art resonates powerfully in developing nations. By bypassing legacy financial intermediaries through blockchain rails, these markets circumvent chronic capital formation hurdles. Knutson notes this aligns with their tendency to 'leapfrog' aging infrastructure in favor of digital solutions like stablecoin settlements.
Yet challenges persist. Emerging markets still grapple with attracting foreign investment and liquidity constraints. The executive emphasizes that tokenized RWAs could unlock trillions in currently illiquid assets—a potential game-changer for frontier economies.