RWAs break the $19.000 billion barrier and claim fifth place in DeFi

The Real World Assets (RWA) sector reached a historic milestone by exceeding $19.000 billion in TVL, displacing traditional categories and consolidating itself as the fifth pillar of decentralized finance in 2025.

Real-World Asset (RWA) protocols have surpassed historical segments such as decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and liquidity bridges in market capitalization, officially positioning themselves as the fifth largest category by Total Locked Value (TVL). According to data consulted on analysis platforms such as RWAxyz and DeFi Llama, RWAs reached a record figure of $19.000 billion, a quantitative leap compared to the $12.000 billion recorded at the close of the fourth quarter of 2024.

At the beginning of 2025, RWAs had barely any presence among the top ten DeFi sectors. However, in just one year, digitized Treasury bonds, private credit, and other real asset-backed products went from being experimental to becoming key elements within the decentralized financial infrastructure.

The strong momentum of RWAs shows a profound transformation in the dynamics of the ecosystem and demonstrates how the integration of traditional assets into blockchain is redefining the future of global finance.

Tokenized sovereign debt as a catalyst for institutional liquidity

The main driver behind this exponential growth has been the integration of US Treasury bonds into the blockchainDuring 2025, these instruments transitioned from proof-of-concept to become the foundation of stability within DeFi. The demand for risk-free assets, accessible on-chain 24/7, spurred the creation of sophisticated financial products that replicate the security of the traditional system with the efficiency of smart contracts.

High-profile funds such as BUIDL by BlackRock, BENJI by Franklin Templeton y OUSG by Ondo Finance These institutions have spearheaded this market capture. They have succeeded in making investors perceive blockchain not only as a vehicle for speculation, but also as a superior settlement infrastructure. By the close of the 2025 fiscal year, the value locked exclusively in tokenized Treasury bonds exceeded $10.000 billion. This capital seeks refuge from the volatility inherent in native cryptocurrencies, opting for stable returns backed by U.S. government debt.

Parallel, Private lending has found in tokenization a way to optimize capital efficiencyThis subsector allows companies to finance real operations using crypto rails, eliminating costly and slow banking intermediaries. Vincent Liu, investment director at Kronos Research, points out that this phenomenon validates the sector's financial fundamentals: current growth is based on real cash flows and creditworthiness, moving away from the inflationary governance token models that prevailed in previous cycles.

From Ethereum to Solana: the networks leading the RWA market

In terms of infrastructure, Ethereum maintains its hegemony in the RWA sector as the preferred settlement layer, concentrating approximately 65% ​​of issued assets. However, the need for lower operating costs and faster completion speeds has benefited alternative networks such as Solana, Avalanche, Polygon and Arbitrum, which have absorbed a significant market share, according to data from RWAxyz. 

Likewise, permitted networks such as Canton Network They have emerged as secure environments for institutions that require strict regulatory compliance (KYC/AML), managing large volumes of institutional capital that cannot interact on fully public networks.

Taken together, the connection between traditional capital and decentralized finance is already a reality. This integration is transforming how individuals and businesses understand digital value within the global economy.

Digital commodities are gaining prominence

The growth of RWAs is not limited to Treasury bonds or private credit. In recent months, tokenized commodities such as gold and silver have attracted increasing amounts of investment. Projects such as Tether Gold and Paxos Gold This trend is reflected in the rebound of metal prices in the traditional market. The market capitalization of tokenized commodities is already approaching $ 4.000 million dollarsThis figure shows how these digital assets have gone from being niche products to becoming important tools within the financial system, both in the decentralized and institutional environments.

Furthermore, interoperability has become essential for the future of RWAs. The ability to move tokenized assets seamlessly between different chains and platforms marks a significant step toward wider adoption. This advancement facilitates their use as digital collateral and drives their integration with secondary markets and traditional financial infrastructure, extending their utility beyond the economic returns they offer.

Finally, the increase of almost $10.000 billion in total value locked (TVL) Since the beginning of 2025, the growing interest of investors in RWAs has become evident. Many see them as a solid alternative in a high-interest-rate environment, offering stability and profitability within the crypto ecosystem. Their transition from experimental projects to key assets within DeFi reflects the maturity this sector is reaching and how it is gradually building bridges to traditional finance.

Towards full financial integration by 2026

The entry of RWAs into the DeFi Top 5 symbolizes the end of the dichotomy between "traditional finance" and "decentralized finance." We are witnessing a financial convergence where blockchain technology acts as the global operating standard. 

With the active participation of the world's largest asset managers and increasing regulatory clarity in key jurisdictions, the next expansion cycle is expected to come not from retail investors, but from the massive tokenization of institutional portfolios, real estate, and corporate debt. Experts believe that RWAs are undeniably emerging as the backbone of the digital economy for the next cycle.