RWA Market Surges 260 in Six Months as Ascend Accelerator Backed by Galaxy and OKX Targets Institutional Scale

As the tokenized real-world asset (RWA) market continues to expand, a new startup accelerator is stepping in to bridge the gap between innovation and institutional scalability. Ascend, a nine-week initiative launched by Odisea, has secured backing from major players in the crypto and fintech space, including Galaxy Ventures, OKX Ventures, and Anchorage Digital. The program is designed to support early-stage teams with live RWA products and meaningful traction, providing mentorship and access to a $500,000 discretionary funding pool [1].

The RWA sector has shown rapid growth, with the total market value rising from approximately $15.2 billion at the end of 2024 to over $24 billion by June 2025. By July 2025, the value had surged further to an estimated $25.5 billion, representing a 260% increase in just six months. This momentum is driven by traditional finance institutions such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, which are now tokenizing U.S. Treasuries and other assets on-chain [1].

Ascend focuses on more than just funding. It offers strategic guidance on product architecture, tokenomics, regulatory structuring, and investor readiness. The program is highly selective, accepting only six to eight teams, and is supported by experienced mentors from firms like YZi Labs, Bankless Ventures, and Sentora—organizations that have previously helped scale multi-billion-dollar asset platforms [1].

Industry leaders have emphasized the importance of building infrastructure that supports institutional-grade RWA platforms. Chris Yin, CEO and co-founder of Plume, noted that RWAs are evolving from a speculative theme to a strategic growth area. Will Nuelle of Galaxy Ventures stressed that helping startups meet institutional standards is key to the next wave of growth, while Dora Yue of OKX Ventures highlighted the role of strong infrastructure and institutional alignment in ensuring long-term success [1].

The benefits of RWA tokenization include reduced settlement delays, fractional ownership of high-value assets, and compliance automation through smart contracts. Assets such as corporate debt, private credit, and U.S. Treasuries are increasingly being brought onto the blockchain, unlocking access to traditionally illiquid markets [1].

Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Regulatory uncertainty, cross-border compliance issues, and limited secondary market liquidity continue to pose risks. Additionally, while global assets under management exceed $400 trillion, only a small fraction has been tokenized to date [1].

Ascend’s application window runs from August 4 through August 18, with final team selections announced on August 22. The program begins on September 1 and will conclude with a demo day on October 30, where participating startups will showcase their progress to institutional investors and ecosystem leaders. Preference is given to teams with live products and early market validation [1].

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[1] BlackRock-backed RWA boom spurs new accelerator for on-chain finance (https://crypto.news/blackrock-backed-rwa-boom-spurs-new-accelerator-for-on-chain-finance/)