A recent report from PwC paints a bullish future for blockchain-based finance, projecting that tokenized investment products will grow from $40 billion in 2023 to over $317 billion by 2028. This nearly 8x increase highlights the accelerating adoption of tokenization across traditional financial markets, signaling a profound shift in how assets are issued, traded, and managed.
What Are Tokenized Investment Products?
Tokenized investment products are digital representations of real-world assets—such as equities, bonds, funds, or commodities—recorded on a blockchain. These tokens:
-
Can be fractionalized for broader investor access
-
Trade on digital exchanges with real-time settlement
-
Operate under smart contracts, automating compliance and governance
-
Enable global access and 24/7 liquidity
From tokenized U.S. Treasury funds to real estate shares, tokenization is opening new channels for both institutional and retail investors.
Why the Surge?
The PwC report attributes the projected growth to several converging factors:
-
Regulatory clarity improving across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East
-
Institutional demand for programmable financial products
-
Cost efficiencies in asset servicing and fund administration
-
Development of regulated tokenization platforms backed by banks and fintechs
These trends are transforming tokenization from a blockchain experiment into a mainstream infrastructure upgrade for financial markets.
Key Benefits for Investors
Tokenized investment products offer a range of advantages:
-
Lower barriers to entry via fractional ownership
-
Increased transparency with on-chain data tracking
-
Global reach without cross-border settlement friction
-
Improved efficiency through real-time reporting and automated compliance
As a result, more investors than ever can access complex, yield-bearing assets once reserved for high-net-worth individuals or institutions.
What’s Next?
With banks like JPMorgan, HSBC, and UBS experimenting with on-chain assets, and platforms like Securitize, RealT, and Tokeny scaling fast, the ecosystem is rapidly maturing.
By 2028, PwC predicts tokenized products will include:
-
Bond and equity funds
-
Private credit and venture capital vehicles
-
Carbon credits and ESG-linked financial instruments
This transformation could enable a seamless digital experience across primary issuance, trading, settlement, and reporting—all in one programmable layer.
The projected growth to $317 billion by 2028 is more than a number—it’s a milestone in finance’s digital evolution. Tokenized investment products represent a fusion of trust, technology, and liquidity, and their adoption will likely reshape capital markets for the next generation of investors.
