RWA Tokenization Surges 237% in 2025, Reaching $18 Billion

The cryptocurrency landscape in 2025 experienced a significant shift with the rapid growth of Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization. This trend brought traditional assets like real estate and stocks into the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, transforming how these assets are managed and traded. The total value locked (TVL) in RWAs surpassed $10 billion, highlighting a growing trend towards tokenizing real-world assets for faster settlements, fractional ownership, and 24/7 trading.

Key developments in this space include strategic partnerships, such as the collaboration between RWA Inc. and Novastro, which introduced AI-driven solutions to enhance security and compliance. This shift is seen as a pivotal moment for DeFi, making financial markets more accessible and efficient. Analysts predict that RWAs could become dominant in the sector, given their resilience and the strong interest from major financial players like BlackRock and its BUIDL fund.

RWA tokenization has proven to be one of the most resilient sectors during the crypto market slump. Notably, RWA has been the top performer in the crypto market this year, with an average growth of 237%. While other sectors struggled, Bitcoin, privacy coins, and exchange tokens saw some profits. Top RWA crypto projects include Mantra, which hit an all-time high on Feb. 23, and ONDO. PENDLE, once a top 100 player, has dropped to #131 in 2025. Crypto analyst rektdiomedes remains extremely bullish on RWAs, especially Maple Finance, predicting a major growth in securitization and capital market infrastructure within the crypto industry. If the trend continues, Maple Finance could benefit greatly, as it specializes in institutional credit and on-chain capital markets.

The total value of RWAs has doubled in the past year, now surpassing $18 billion, with most of that value coming from Private Credit. The number of holders and unique RWA interactions over time are both at all-time highs and increasing. BlackRock’s tokenized treasury fund, BUIDL, has hit $1 billion in assets, making it the largest tokenized RWA. Meanwhile, Hashnote, the issuer of a tokenized money market fund acquired by Circle in January, ranks second with nearly $900 million, showing the biggest one year change.

Li Lang, CEO of HashKey OTC, believes that tokenizing sustainable assets, such as renewable energy projects and carbon credits, is an exciting opportunity for 2025. RWAs are now being integrated with Layer-1 and Layer-2 blockchain solutions to enhance scalability and lower transaction costs, addressing major barriers to adoption. Liang highlighted MANTRA’s growth, attributing its success to a user-focused approach. While he acknowledges that a potential bear market could create challenges, he believes RWAs are more resilient than other speculative assets. He highlighted that RWAs stand out because they are backed by real-world value and offer stable cash flows, making them more resilient and less vulnerable than speculative crypto assets.

Liang believes that whether RWAs surpass DeFi depends on institutional adoption and clear regulations. The regulatory landscape for tokenized assets is still evolving, and there are concerns about compliance and legal frameworks. Additionally, the technology behind RWA tokenization is still in its early stages, and there are technical hurdles that need to be overcome to ensure scalability and security. Despite these challenges, the momentum behind RWA tokenization is undeniable. As more traditional assets are brought onto the blockchain, the potential for growth and innovation in this space is immense. The $10 billion milestone is just the beginning, and as the technology matures, it could very well reshape the future of the crypto market.