Ethereum News Today: Blockchain's Financial Infrastructure Revolution: RWAs to Hit $2T by 2028

Ethereum is poised to dominate the next phase of blockchain-driven finance, with tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) expected to reach a $2 trillion market capitalization by 2028, driven by DeFi's growth and stablecoin liquidity, according to the Standard Chartered forecast. The bank's research highlights Ethereum's role as the primary infrastructure for this expansion, with $9.6 billion in RWA issuance already recorded on the network, according to an Oracle and IPDN report. This projection aligns with broader institutional momentum, as major firms like JPMorgan, Oracle, and IPDN accelerate efforts to tokenize traditional assets, signaling a structural shift in global capital markets, AmbCrypto reports.

Ethereum's recent performance underscores its growing relevance. The cryptocurrency rose 5.2% to $4,160 in late October 2025, with technical indicators pointing to potential price targets of $6,303 and beyond, TradingView reports. This rally coincides with a record $9.6 billion in net inflows into U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs during Q3 2025, surpassing Bitcoin ETFs in liquidity, TradingView also reported. The network's expanding utility is evident in sectors like DeFi and derivatives trading, where projects such as ASTER — a decentralized perpetual futures platform — have surged 525% post-listing, according to an HTX report.

Institutional adoption is accelerating infrastructure development. Oracle's Digital Assets Data Nexus, launched in October 2025, enables banks to issue and settle tokenized assets on-chain while ensuring regulatory compliance, as reported by Oracle and IPDN. Meanwhile, IPDN's partnership with QBSG Limited aims to create a global RWA Exchange, bridging traditional markets with blockchain rails, according to the same Oracle and IPDN report. JPMorgan's Kinexys Fund Flow platform, set for a 2026 launch, automates fund transactions for alternative investments, leveraging blockchain to reduce settlement times from days to minutes, according to FinanceFeeds. These initiatives reflect a broader trend, as AmbCrypto notes.

The RWA market's rapid growth — now valued at $30 billion — fuels optimism. Tokenized private credit alone accounts for $12–$16 billion, while BlackRock leads with $2.6 billion in tokenized Treasuries, according to the Oracle and IPDN report. Standard Chartered projects this market to expand 57-fold by 2028, with tokenized U.S. stocks and money-market funds each reaching $750 billion, Yahoo Finance reports. Stablecoins, now valued at $300 billion, underpin this growth by enabling a "self-sustaining cycle" where liquidity fuels new DeFi products, which in turn attract more capital, Cointelegraph reports.

However, regulatory clarity remains a critical hurdle. Standard Chartered warns that delays in U.S. crypto legislation could stall progress, particularly if comprehensive frameworks aren't enacted before the 2026 midterm elections, the Standard Chartered forecast cautions. Despite this, DeFi's trustless architecture is already challenging traditional finance's dominance, with protocols demonstrating resilience amid broader market volatility, Cointelegraph noted.

As Ethereum solidifies its position as the backbone of tokenization, the convergence of institutional infrastructure and decentralized innovation is reshaping global finance. From JPMorgan's blockchain-based fund platforms to Oracle's compliance-focused tools, the race to tokenize real-world assets is accelerating — paving the way for a future where blockchain underpins trillions in traditional capital.