Centrifuge Hires Goldman Sachs Alum Jürgen Blumberg as COO to Drive Tokenization Growth

Centrifuge, a blockchain platform focused on tokenizing real-world assets, has appointed Jürgen Blumberg, a former executive at Goldman Sachs, as its new chief operating officer. Blumberg, who previously led the ETF accelerator business in Europe for the investment bank, will also serve as chief investment officer for Anemoy, Centrifuge’s affiliated on-chain asset management firm [1]. His appointment underscores the growing interest in tokenized assets from the traditional finance sector and marks a strategic step for Centrifuge to expand its influence in the market [1].

The tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is gaining traction among global banks and asset managers, who are exploring blockchain technology to streamline the movement and recording of assets such as bonds, funds, and equities [1]. This shift is driven by the potential for operational efficiencies, broader distribution channels, and 24/7 programmable transactions. The RWA market, currently valued at $25 billion, is expected to grow to trillions of dollars within a decade, according to reports from McKinsey, 21Shares, Ripple, and BCG [1].

Centrifuge is positioning itself as a bridge between blockchain infrastructure and financial institutions, building regulated structures for tokenized investment products. The platform holds over $760 million in total value locked, according to DefiLlama data. Notable products include a $400 million tokenized U.S. Treasury fund issued with Anemoy and a tokenized version of the S&P 500 Index [1]. The company has expanded its offerings to blockchain networks such as Avalanche and Solana and recently launched a tokenized fund of credit loan obligations in partnership with Janus Henderson [1].

Blumberg brings over two decades of experience in traditional capital markets, having worked at institutions like Invesco and BlackRock. In an interview with CoinDesk, he compared the rise of tokenization to the early development of ETFs and their disruptive impact on the mutual fund market [1]. He emphasized the potential of tokenization to bring financial inclusion to underserved markets, particularly in the Global South, where traditional financial systems have been limited by high inflation or currency volatility [1].

He also highlighted the operational advantages of blockchain for traditional finance, stating that the technology allows for broader distribution and more efficient transactions. "There’s a big distribution opportunity for TradFi," Blumberg said. "From a technology point of view, if you are too late, you might miss the train" [1].

Blumberg’s role at Centrifuge will focus on helping traditional financial institutions integrate blockchain technology while improving operations and tokenized products for institutional use [1]. His appointment reflects Centrifuge’s broader strategy to bridge the gap between decentralized finance and traditional markets as the tokenization sector continues to evolve.

Source: [1] Tokenization Specialist Centrifuge Appoints Former Goldman Sachs Executive as COO (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/08/04/tokenization-specialist-centrifuge-appoints-former-goldman-sachs-executive-as-coo)