Key Takeaways:
- Citi expects the tokenized securities market to grow from $17 billion today to $5.5 trillion by 2030.
- Major market players, including DTCC, Nasdaq, and NYSE-linked firms, are moving tokenization into mainstream finance.
- Stablecoins, clearer regulation, and public-market adoption are expected to drive the next phase of growth.
Citi has predicted that the global tokenized securities market could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030. If the prediction comes true, this can mark a major shift for traditional finance. Tokenization, which places real-world assets such as stocks and bonds on blockchain networks, is now moving beyond experiments and into everyday market infrastructure.
According to Citi’s report, Tokenization 2030: Wall Street On-Chain, the market currently stands at around $17 billion. However, the bank estimates it could grow to between $2.7 trillion and $8.2 trillion by the end of the decade, depending on the speed of adoption.
Wall Street Giants Lead the Shift
Citi says major financial institutions are now building tokenization into capital markets. DTCC plans limited production trades of tokenized securities in July, while Nasdaq is developing a framework for blockchain-based shares. Intercontinental Exchange, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, is also exploring tokenized stocks.
Stablecoins and Regulation Support Growth
The report highlights stablecoins as a key driver because they can help trades settle instantly. Citi expects stablecoins to reach a $1.9 trillion by 2030, potentially creating about $1 trillion in demand for U.S. government bonds. Citi also noted that clearer digital asset regulations could speed up adoption.
Still, the transition will be gradual, with traditional and blockchain-based systems operating side by side before tokenization becomes fully mainstream.
