Asset tokenization is nearing a breakthrough moment as adoption by institutional investors accelerates, with Grayscale suggesting the sector could expand 1,000x by 2030 and become the core of global capital markets.
Tokenized assets predicted to grow 1,000x as Grayscale signals structural changes in capital markets
As financial institutions become more involved, asset tokenization is emerging as a structural change in digital finance, expected to grow far beyond its current scale. Grayscale Investments released its 2026 Digital Asset Outlook last week, identifying asset tokenization as reaching an inflection point and predicting that the sector could expand approximately 1,000 times by 2030 as it becomes more integrated into global capital markets.
Grayscale is still in its infancy as a market for asset tokenization, but is entering a period of accelerated expansion as infrastructure and policy conditions improve. “Grayscale expects asset tokenization to grow rapidly in the coming years due to more mature blockchain technology and increased regulatory clarity,” the report states.
The Outlook also outlines a long-term growth trajectory that has the potential to significantly reshape capital markets, stating:
In our view, it would not be surprising to see tokenized assets increase by up to 1,000x by 2030. This growth could increase the value of blockchains and various supporting applications that process transactions for tokenized assets.
The company emphasized that the minimal share of tokenization in global equity and debt markets today reflects early adoption rather than limited potential, as financial institutions increasingly value on-chain issuance, settlement, and asset management.
These dynamics connect tokenization directly to broader themes shaping digital assets, including regulatory harmonization, stablecoin adoption, and deeper integration between traditional finance and public blockchains.
read more: Grayscale Files files for IPO with SEC for NYSE listing targeting ticker GRAY
Grayscale’s research also identifies infrastructure that will benefit as adoption accelerates. Report details:
Currently, the main blockchains for tokenized assets are Ethereum (ETH), BNB Chain (BNB), and Solana (SOL), but this list may evolve over time.
These networks currently support the largest share of decentralized tokenized assets, backed by liquidity, developer activity, and operational resilience. Beyond the base layer network, middleware, and data providers are considered critical to scalable and compliant tokenization.
“When it comes to application support, we believe Chainlink (LINK) is particularly well-positioned given its unique software technology suite,” Grayscale added.
Overall, this outlook presents asset tokenization as a realistic path to blockchain adoption, rather than a speculative narrative. Efficiencies such as fractional ownership, faster settlement, and reduced coordination costs align closely with institutional priorities, positioning tokenization as the cornerstone of a new institutional era for digital assets, despite continuing legal and jurisdictional challenges.
FAQ ⏰
- Why is asset tokenization reaching an inflection point at Grayscale?
Institutional participation, regulatory clarity, and mature blockchain infrastructure are converging to drive real-world adoption. - How fast is the asset tokenization market likely to grow?
Grayscale predicts that tokenized assets could grow approximately 1,000 times by 2030. - Which blockchains are currently leading the issuance of tokenized assets?
Currently, Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana support the largest share of tokenized assets. - Why is Chainlink important for asset tokenization?
Chainlink provides critical middleware that enables compliant, scalable, data-driven, tokenized assets.
