Tokenized assets could reach $50–60 billion by 2026, according to RedStone, an oracle provider that feeds real-world data to blockchains. The firm says demand is rising for real-world assets (RWAs) like private credit, U.S. Treasuries, and equities brought on-chain, but warns the next leg of growth depends on stronger market plumbing.
Big picture
The RWA market has expanded from about $5 billion in late 2023 to more than $35 billion today, RedStone estimates. The report points to big investors moving on-chain for yield, faster settlement, and 24/7 markets.
Key numbers at a glance
- Market size today: $35B+, up from ~$5B in late 2023
- 2026 forecast: $50–60B
- Private credit on-chain: ~$19B now; expected to hold ~45–50% share next year
- Tokenized Treasuries: ~$8.4B, including BlackRock's $2.5B BUIDL fund
- Tokenized equities: projected to grow fastest (200–300%) once U.S. rules clarify, targeted for mid-2026
Where the growth could come from
Private credit is leading today because it offers steady yield and fits well with on-chain issuance and repayment. Tokenized Treasuries give investors a simple way to hold short-term government debt on public chains. And once the United States clarifies rules for on-chain stocks, RedStone expects tokenized equities to accelerate the most.
Think of this like moving paper-based assets into a digital locker that works around the clock. You still own the same bond or loan exposure, but it becomes easier to transfer, track, and use as collateral.
The catch: data and plumbing
RedStone's main warning: infrastructure must keep up. Oracles—services that deliver off-chain data to blockchains—were designed to update fast, liquid crypto prices. RWAs are different. Private credit relies on net asset value (NAV) calculations for loans that don't trade every second, plus outside valuations and audit trails that meet compliance standards.
In short, RWA tokenization needs slower, verified data in some places and ultra-fast feeds in others. Weak links can break systems. During a sharp market drop on Oct. 10, roughly $20 billion was liquidated within 24 hours, showing how fragile protocols can be when risk controls and data sources fail under stress.
AI agents enter the chat
The report also looks ahead to artificial intelligence. RedStone expects AI agents—software that can act and transact on their own—to become heavy users of on-chain data by 2026, with a market topping $15 billion. These agents won't sleep, will operate across many chains, and will demand near-instant data with clear confidence levels and no tolerance for bad prices.
DeFi outlook
Decentralized Finance (DeFi), the set of apps for lending, trading, and more without middlemen, holds about $124 billion in total value locked (TVL) today, RedStone says. The firm projects $150–200 billion by 2026. But it argues only platforms with strong oracles and real-time risk monitoring will earn institutional trust and capital.
Why this matters
- Yield and access: Tokenized Treasuries and loans give investors simple, 24/7 access to traditional assets on-chain.
- Collateral and composability: RWAs can plug into DeFi tools for lending and trading, unlocking new liquidity.
- Compliance pressure: Growth will favor protocols that pair blockchain speed with regulated-grade data, audits, and reporting.
What to watch next
- U.S. rulemaking for tokenized equities, expected to clarify in mid-2026.
- Oracle upgrades tailored for illiquid assets, including validated NAV feeds and audit trails.
- Expansion of tokenized Treasury products beyond early leaders like BlackRock's BUIDL.
- Risk systems that can withstand extreme volatility without mass liquidations.
- Early real-world uses of AI agents executing trades and portfolio moves on-chain.
The message from RedStone is straightforward: investor appetite is here, the pipeline is growing, and $60 billion is within reach. But to get there, crypto's data backbone must be as reliable as the assets it is bringing on-chain.