Tokenization Surpasses $33 Billion—AI Poised to Drive Growth
By John Nada·Jun 13, 2026·2 min read
Tokenized assets top $33 billion, with AI poised to drive a multi-trillion-dollar industry amid blockchain's growing role in finance.
John Hoffman sees the future of finance on the blockchain.
From the bustling offices of Ondo Finance, managing director John Hoffman draws a striking parallel between the rise of tokenization today and the early days of ETFs. Speaking to CoinDesk, Hoffman paints a picture where artificial intelligence and blockchain converge, suggesting these forces will redefine capital markets in the coming decade.
Tokenized assets have already surged past $33 billion, according to RWA.xyz. Analysts like Hoffman believe this is just the beginning. As AI begins to require the infrastructure of tokenized trading, a monumental wave of demand is expected, potentially driving the market to astonishing heights, reminiscent of the ETF boom.
The comparison isn't mere conjecture. Hoffman draws on his experience from the early 2000s when ETFs were skeptically regarded as "weapons of mass destruction." Today, ETFs hold nearly $20 trillion, transforming from novelties to staples of global finance. "Tokenization is really the digitization of capital markets," Hoffman asserts, predicting a similar, albeit quicker, trajectory for blockchain-powered financial products.
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Wall Street and global banks are taking notice. These institutions are testing tokenized versions of bonds, funds, and equities, betting on the speed and efficiency of blockchain infrastructure. According to estimates from Citi, the market for tokenized assets could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030, while Boston Consulting Group and Ripple forecast an even more optimistic $18.9 trillion by 2033.
Hoffman envisions a future where AI agents autonomously manage portfolios, reacting in real time to market shifts. "Our end state will be portfolios that are professionally managed, real-time," he remarked. The key, he says, is building the right infrastructure: tokenized assets, onchain brokerage, and native blockchain asset management strategies.
Ondo Finance is keenly focused on this vision, already offering tokenized U.S. Treasury products and eyeing further expansion into stocks, ETFs, and perpetual futures. "The vision is really about becoming the world's most trusted platform for intelligently managed, onchain investment portfolios," Hoffman confidently stated.
As the groundwork is laid for this agent-driven financial future, the interplay between AI and tokenization could shape the next major wave in capital markets, reshaping the landscape as we know it.