Ripple’s latest report highlights the rapid rise of real-world asset tokenisation, projected to reach $19 trillion by 2033. With custody as a core foundation, Ripple enables secure tokenisation of treasuries, equities, real estate, and more. Regional projects, including Dubai’s real estate initiative with Ctrl Alt, illustrate global momentum despite regulatory and legal complexities.
Ripple publishes a new report outlining the role of institutional-grade custody in unlocking the potential of real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation. The report, released on 8 August 2025, highlights how tokenisation is reshaping global finance by moving assets such as treasuries, equities, gold, and real estate onto blockchains.
Commenting on Ripple’s forecast, Konstantin Anissimov, CEO of Currency.com, remarks: “As tokenisation accelerates and crypto assets such as BNB surpass traditional financial institutions in market cap, we’re witnessing a structural shift in how value is stored, transferred and accessed globally. Ripple’s $19 trillion tokenisation forecast and the surge in crypto ETPs reflect a growing appetite for blockchain-backed instruments that offer liquidity, transparency, and programmability. This is no longer about speculative trading, it is about building the next generation of financial infrastructure.”
He adds that regulatory environments are also shaping the future of tokenisation: “At the same time, regulatory divergence is shaping the geography of innovation. While the U.S. and EU are laying clearer foundations for institutional growth, China’s restrictions and Brazil’s retreat from decentralisation are pushing momentum toward Asia and the Middle East. KakaoBank’s stablecoin ambitions and South Korea’s fintech pivot show how local players are stepping up where central banks are pulling back. We are focused on enabling access to regulated and high-quality digital assets, wherever innovation continues to lead.”
Global Growth of Tokenised Assets
According to the report, RWA tokenisation is no longer an emerging trend but a fast-developing financial infrastructure. Estimates suggest that by 2033, the overall value of tokenised RWAs could reach nearly $19 trillion. Within this, tokenised client assets such as real estate may exceed $3.7 trillion, while equities could surpass $2 trillion.
Ripple notes that tokenisation delivers multiple benefits, including liquidity generation, improved transparency, and wider market access. These features are seen as critical for institutional adoption and for strengthening financial markets globally.
Regional Developments in Tokenisation
The report identifies varied adoption patterns across regions.
- North America and Europe: Growth is led by tokenised treasuries and money market funds.
- Latin America: Agricultural receivable tokenisation is being used to strengthen rural credit.
- Southeast Asia: Trade receivable tokenisation is advancing supply chain finance.
- Middle East: Dubai, supported by favourable regulation, is accelerating tokenised real estate projects.
An example of this progress is the Dubai Land Department’s Real Estate Tokenisation Project. The designated provider, Ctrl Alt, will use Ripple Custody to secure property deeds issued on the XRP Ledger. Matt Ong, CEO of Ctrl Alt, states: “Partnering with Ripple allows us to leverage proven and trusted technology that meets the highest security and operational standards.”
Ripple also points to pilot initiatives such as property-backed lending in Hong Kong and land registry modernisation in Colombia, which demonstrate the global potential of tokenisation while also highlighting legal and operational complexities.
Custody as the Foundation
The report stresses that custody providers must deliver strong private key protection, comply with regulatory requirements, ensure transparency, and provide scalable services. It concludes: “Tokenisation isn’t something to prepare for, it’s here. And with secure custody as the backbone, institutions worldwide can unlock new opportunities in the global digital asset economy.”
Ripple positions institutional-grade custody as a structural requirement for enabling programmable assets, broader financial participation, and lower transaction friction across global markets.
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