RWA Market Poised for Exponential Growth by 2026 as Tokenization Goes Mainstream

The real-world asset (RWA) sector is on the cusp of a transformative breakout, with Plume CEO Chris Yin forecasting a 3–5x expansion by 2026. On-chain RWA valuations have already surpassed $35 billion, attracting over 539,000 holders—a signal that tokenized assets are transitioning from crypto novelty to institutional staple.

Plume’s data reveals a 10x surge in RWA holders this year alone. Yin projects a 25x user explosion by 2026 as tokenization democratizes access to private credit, mineral rights, and energy markets—diversifying beyond the current dominance of Treasury bills. Regulatory clarity in key markets like the U.S. is accelerating this shift, with stablecoin frameworks acting as the catalyst.

‘This isn’t sandbox experimentation anymore,’ Yin notes. ‘When pension funds and sovereign wealth funds enter, the floodgates open.’ The sector’s trajectory mirrors early internet adoption curves, with 2026 poised to be the inflection point where RWAs eclipse traditional securitization models.