Korea's RWA Summit: Building the Bridge Between TradFi and DeFi

The , Korea’s first real-world asset (RWA) tokenization conference, is set to take place on April 14, 2025, at the FKI Tower Diamond Hall in Seoul’s Yeouido district. Co-hosted by MBN and global blockchain platform MANTRA, and organized by Digital Asset, the summit aims to position South Korea as a global leader in RWA innovation. The event will explore critical themes such as the legal framework for tokenized funds, stablecoin regulation, and infrastructure strategies for RWA adoption, aligning with the country’s digital asset-friendly policies under the second Trump administration and its push for a stablecoin-based financial system Korea's first real asset tokenization (RWA) conference ^[1].

South Korea’s regulatory landscape is accelerating to support this transition. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) plans to legalize Security Token Offering (STO) platforms by June 2025, a move that positions the country as a hub for digital asset innovation RWA Seoul Summit 2025 - mantrachain.io^[2]. This regulatory clarity is expected to attract institutional players, including the National Pension Fund, Korea Investment, and NH Securities, to participate in the RWA ecosystem. The summit will also address global trends, such as the tokenization of real estate and infrastructure, and the role of stablecoins in bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) Inaugural MANTRA RWA Summit Unites Traditional Finance and Web3 Leaders in Seoul^[3].

The event’s agenda highlights a convergence of TradFi and Web3 leaders. Key speakers include MBN CEO Lee Dong-won, MANTRA’s John Patrick, and international figures like Amira Sajwani of DAMAC Group, who will discuss the UAE-based firm’s $1 billion tokenization efforts across real estate and data centers. Other participants, such as Korea Investment Trust’s Nam Yong-soo and Mirae Asset Securities’ Lee Yong-jae, will explore asset infrastructure and policy frameworks. The summit’s emphasis on collaboration reflects MANTRA’s belief that RWA adoption is driven by collective innovation RWA Seoul Summit 2025 - mantrachain.io^[2].

Market dynamics underscore the urgency of this transition. Tokenized RWAs are projected to reach a $50 billion market cap in 2025, driven by institutional adoption and regulatory progress . U.S. Treasuries, private credit, and commodities are leading categories, with South Korea’s Financial Capital Market Act and the FSS’s “food-in-container” analogy—treating tokenized securities as digital versions of traditional assets—providing legal clarity . This framework is expected to attract global investors, particularly as South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) aligns with Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s approaches to tokenized asset regulation .

The summit’s significance extends beyond policy. By fostering partnerships between traditional institutions and blockchain innovators, it aims to address liquidity challenges and operational inefficiencies in asset management. For instance, DAMAC’s tokenization of real-world assets and Centrifuge’s V3 multichain infrastructure exemplify how blockchain can streamline processes like settlement and compliance . Additionally, the event will spotlight the role of stablecoins in enabling 24/7 trading and cross-border transactions, a critical factor as the U.S. GENIUS Act and South Korea’s stablecoin policies gain traction .

With over 350 attendees expected, the BTCON RWA Summit 2025 represents a strategic milestone for Korea’s digital asset ambitions. As Lee Dong-won noted, the summit will “pave the way for Korea to lead the global RWA market” Korea's first real asset tokenization (RWA) conference ^[1]. By aligning regulatory progress with institutional readiness, the event could catalyze a shift in how financial assets are issued, managed, and exchanged, reinforcing South Korea’s role in the $30 trillion RWA market projected by 2030 .

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