Tokenizing Wall Street: Real-world assets as blockchain’s institutional moonshot | Opinion

Wall Street's next evolution is unfolding on-chain, with tokenized real-world assets surpassing $23 billion in value. SEC Chair Paul Atkins is advocating for banks to adopt tokenization, signaling a shift from speculative meme tokens to institutional-grade blockchain applications.

Tokenization is revolutionizing capital markets by converting illiquid assets—private equity, real estate debt, structured credit—into programmable tokens. These digital assets offer faster settlement, broader access, and built-in compliance features like KYC and geo-fencing, aligning with global regulations such as MiFID II and U.S. securities law.

Cross-chain interoperability is critical for scaling liquidity. Protocols like EIP-7943 ensure assets can MOVE seamlessly across networks without fragmenting markets or introducing bridge risk. Open standards foster innovation while maintaining regulatory compliance, laying the groundwork for projections ranging from McKinsey's $2 trillion to BCG's $16 trillion in institutional adoption.