Asset Tokenization Explained: Why Are Wall Street Giants Rushing In and How Can Retail Investors Grab A Bite?

Introduction

Since January 1, 2025, tokenized U.S. Treasury bonds have surged by 71%, with valuations rising from $4.03 billion to $6.89 billion, accelerating the adoption of asset tokenization and attracting major Wall Street financial institutions.  

Why are Wall Street giants entering this space? What advantages does asset tokenization offer? And most importantly, how can retail investors hitch a ride? Let’s dive in.  

What Is Asset Tokenization?

Asset tokenization refers to the process of converting stocks, bonds, real estate, collectibles, private equity, and other assets into digital tokens on the blockchain. Each token represents fractional ownership or rights to an asset and can be traded on digital platforms.  

In theory, almost any asset can be tokenized—whether it's real estate, commodities, or even fine art. Simply put, tokenization enables real-world assets to exist as digital currencies.  

Advantages of Asset Tokenization

Why go through the effort of putting real-world assets on the blockchain? Is tokenization just hype, or does it provide tangible benefits?  

Here’s why tokenized assets solve key inefficiencies in traditional markets:  Fractional Ownership – High-value assets can be divided into smaller units, lowering entry barriers and expanding the investor base.  

Global Liquidity – Physical assets are often illiquid, while tokenized assets can be freely traded 24/7, eliminating geographic restrictions.  

Transparency & Security – Blockchain ensures immutable transaction records and smart contract automation, reducing fraud risks.  

Reduced Costs – Tokenization eliminates intermediaries, cutting transaction costs and settlement times.  

How Does Asset Tokenization Differ from Traditional Securitization?

Although both tokenization and securitization enhance asset liquidity, they differ significantly:  

Market Growth & Adoption

As of May 15, 2025, the Security Token Market reports 826 tokenized projects, totaling $63 billion in value.  

Major institutions—especially Wall Street giants—have actively tokenized traditional financial assets, including:  

Major institutions are betting big on tokenization's future:  

- McKinsey projects the underlying value of tokenized assets will reach $2 trillion by 2030  

- A BCG & Ripple (XRP) joint study forecasts the global tokenized asset market surpassing $18.9 trillion by 2033.

Why Is Wall Street Entering the Asset Tokenization Space?

While tokenization offers clear advantages, profitability is the primary driver behind institutional adoption.  

1. Fee Advantage  

- Traditional asset management fees range from 0.5%–1.2%, whereas tokenized products charge 1.5%–2.5% plus smart contract execution fees (0.1%–0.3% per transaction).  

- Example: BlackRock’s BUIDL fund surpassed $5 billion in just three months, offering 80 basis points higher fees than comparable traditional funds.  

2. Unlocking Long-Tail Assets  

- High-value illiquid assets benefit from tokenization:  

  - Goldman Sachs tokenized an $800 million private jet portfolio, expanding the buyer base 60x.  

  - Sotheby’s reported 900% increase in fine art transaction frequency after tokenization.  

3. Regulatory Compliance Efficiency  

- JPMorgan’s Onyx reduced AML checks from 72 hours to just 3 seconds.  

- BNP Paribas tokenized bonds slashed compliance workforce needs by 75%, cutting costs significantly.  

4. Preventing Client Migration  

- As crypto adoption expands, traditional financial players risk losing market share.  

- Morgan Stanley predicts firms failing to enter tokenization will lose 28% of institutional clients by 2027.  

- Citibank reports 65% of family offices already allocate assets to tokenization.  

How Can Retail Investors Participate in Asset Tokenization?

Retail investors can participate in two key ways:  

1. Investing in Tokenization Service Providers  

These companies facilitate tokenized asset trading:  

- Public blockchains: Ethereum, Ondo Chain  

- Exchanges: Binance, Coinbase  

Investors can purchase their stocks or native tokens (e.g., BNB, COIN) to gain exposure.  

2. Buying Tokenized Assets Directly  

Retail investors can purchase tokenized versions of real assets, such as:  

- Gold-backed tokens (PAXG)  

- Tokenized U.S. Treasuries (BUIDL)  

While asset tokenization improves market efficiency and expands investment opportunities, investors must remain cautious. Potential risks include:  

Regulatory & Compliance Risks – Legal uncertainties may impact market stability.  

Smart Contract Vulnerabilities – Security flaws in smart contracts can lead to asset loss.  

Custody Risks – Investors must safeguard private keys to prevent fund loss.  

Market Manipulation & Fraud – Scams and unverified tokenized assets pose risks.  

Asset Valuation Uncertainty – Token price deviations may create mispricing risks.  

Conclusion

Asset tokenization is reshaping traditional finance, attracting Wall Street giants, and creating new investment opportunities for retail investors. While the future is promising, investors must remain aware of risks, conduct thorough research, and select reliable tokenization platforms to ensure stable returns.