The multinational bank Standard Chartered has published a key report. The report details a tokenized assets projection that will reach $2 trillion by 2028. This growth represents a decisive bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and the blockchain ecosystem.
Standard Chartered’s analysis highlights an imminent operational transformation. The conversion of traditional assets, like stocks or real estate, into digital tokens will fundamentally change current processes. The bank anticipates a radical shift in the settlement, custody, and trading of securities. This new paradigm seeks to reduce bureaucracy. Furthermore, it will allow financial operations seven days a week, 24 hours a day, migrating functions currently controlled by banks to decentralized networks.
The relevance of this tokenized assets projection lies in its democratizing and systemic impact. For individual investors, tokenization facilitates access to assets previously unreachable, allowing for fractional ownership. However, for the financial industry, the challenge is significant. It implies the need for secure and regulated custodians. It also requires reliable data oracles and a clear legal framework that protects against smart contract failures.
Are markets prepared for uninterrupted liquidity?
The report warns that banks must radically adapt their infrastructures. They will shift from monopolizing settlement systems to simply lending their services on open networks. Competition will focus on speed and regulatory compliance (KYC/AML). Although 24/7 liquidity is an advantage, it also introduces new risks. Errors in protocol code or the concentration of assets on a few platforms could generate immediate losses, amplified by leverage.
The year 2028 is shaping up to be an inflection point. The success of the tokenized assets projection will depend on institutional trust. The ability of networks to manage a $2 trillion volume will be the definitive test. The decisive factor will be the ecosystem’s ability to balance the efficiency of tokenization with the stability and regulation demanded by the global financial system.
