Real-World Asset Tokenisation: A Breakthrough Year in 2025 — and What’s Coming in 2026

Real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation has moved from theory and pilot projects to mainstream adoption throughout 2025. What was once a niche segment of the digital-asset economy has now become the fastest-growing category in the broader Web3 landscape. This year marked a turning point: global financial institutions, regulators, and infrastructure providers finally aligned in ways that unlocked meaningful progress. From tokenised treasuries crossing tens of billions, to major banks launching on-chain settlement pilots, to national regulators providing clearer rules for digital asset classifications — 2025 will be remembered as the year that real-world assets became real.

A Year of Acceleration

Here are a few defining shifts we saw in 2025:- Institutional adoption surged with traditional banks integrating tokenised settlement for bonds, funds, and collateral.- Regulatory frameworks matured, providing long-awaited clarity for issuers, custodians, and stablecoin operators.- Tokenised money markets boomed, with stablecoins proving essential in bridging Web3 rails with institutional liquidity.- Infrastructure scaled rapidly, including compliant custody, cross-chain messaging, and blockchain-native record-keeping for property, commodities, and private credit.What was once 'experimental' has now become expected — and 2026 is set to take this even further.

What to Expect in 2026

The momentum is undeniable. Here’s what industry leaders and analysts are forecasting for the year ahead:

1. Major banks will move from pilots to production.

2. Stablecoin-settled RWAs will become the norm.

3. Property, commodities, and private credit will lead tokenisation volumes.

4. Australia and Singapore will continue to punch above their weight.

5. Retail adoption will grow through simple, compliant on-ramps.

Comment from Caroline Macdonald, CEO of Black Tie Holdings

“After six years of focused research, development, and strategic execution, it is profoundly rewarding to see global RWA tokenisation finally reach the scale we have always believed possible. What we are witnessing in 2025 is not a trend — it is the foundation of a new financial system. My team and I are delighted to see so many positive outcomes this year, and we remain committed to leading the next chapter of innovation as we move into 2026.”

Caroline also highlighted Australia’s emerging position:

“Although Australia represents a smaller share of global population, we consistently rank among the highest adopters of digital infrastructure, blockchain compliance frameworks, and tokenised financial products. Our market’s willingness to innovate places us in a strong global position — and 2026 will only strengthen this trajectory.”

Let’s Start the Conversation

The RWA landscape is evolving at a speed we haven’t seen before — and we want to hear from you.What excites you most about 2026?Which asset classes do you believe will benefit most from tokenisation?Where do you see the biggest opportunities for Australia to lead?Share your thoughts — let’s make 2026 the year we take tokenisation mainstream.