The Era of Asset Management 3.0: Tokenizing Real-World Assets

The asset management industry is on the brink of a paradigm shift as traditional financial institutions and blockchain giants focus on tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs). This movement, often referred to as the dawn of "Asset Management 3.0," promises to transform the global financial landscape.

Last week, Tether unveiled its Hadron by Tether platform, dedicated to simplifying the issuance and management of tokenized assets. Meanwhile, Visa introduced the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP), marking its entry into the tokenization market. Both platforms aim to modernize the financial ecosystem, making asset tokenization more accessible and efficient.

Even industry leaders are aligning with this vision. Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, recently described the tokenization of financial assets as “the next step in the evolution of financial markets.”

A report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) on October 29 heralded tokenized RWAs as the cornerstone of the “third revolution” in asset management. It equates this transformation to the ETF boom of the past, where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) defined the Asset Management 2.0 era.

Large financial institutions are anticipated to be the driving force behind the industry's rapid growth. According to BCG, tokenized funds could hold 1% of the total assets under management (AUM) of mutual funds and ETFs globally by 2030—a figure that would surpass $600 billion.

Other industry analysts are even more optimistic. A Tren Finance report from October projects that the RWA tokenization market could exceed $30 trillion by 2030, growing over 50-fold in the next seven years.

Tokenizing RWAs involves transforming physical or financial assets—such as real estate, commodities, or securities—into blockchain-based digital tokens. This innovation increases asset liquidity, enhances transparency, and reduces transaction costs, making financial systems more inclusive.

The convergence of blockchain technology and traditional finance is reshaping the global economy. With heavyweights like Visa, Tether, and BlackRock embracing tokenization, the era of Asset Management 3.0 is not just a vision—it’s becoming a reality. As the sector grows, it is poised to redefine how assets are owned, traded, and managed, unlocking trillions of dollars in potential value.