For years, asset tokenization has often been described as an intriguing yet nascent experimental project. A new survey from financial technology provider Broadridge shows that the narrative has changed: 84% of the 200 North American financial institution executives surveyed now call tokenization a strategic priority for their businesses. Such a high figure signals that the industry has moved past the trial phase and is preparing for an era where tokenized assets become a routine component of market infrastructure.
Tokenization itself is the process of representing ownership of real-world assets - stocks, bonds, funds, and real estate - as digital tokens on a blockchain. The value proposition is compelling: faster settlement, lower operational costs, 24/7 trading, and fractionalized ownership.
From Testing to Live Transactions
The surge in interest over the past two years aligns with moves by financial giants. BlackRock now manages a tokenized Treasury fund that has become one of the largest blockchain-based funds. Franklin Templeton runs a tokenized money market fund. JPMorgan is expanding blockchain-based settlement via its Kinexys platform, while Visa and DTCC are building infrastructure for tokenized payments and securities.
The turning point became tangible on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, when DTCC completed its first live production transaction involving tokenized securities - a major milestone bringing blockchain technology directly into the heart of traditional financial markets. In the survey, 68% of respondents believe tokenization will at least partially reshape financial markets over the next 3-5 years, and nearly one-third plan to increase project investments by 26%-50% or more within two years.
Connecting Rather Than Replacing
Interestingly, this enthusiasm does not mean the industry intends to dismantle legacy systems. In fact, 92% of firms are not preparing for a ‘fully on-chain’ future - they expect digital and traditional assets to coexist for a long time. In line with this, 69% plan to integrate tokenization into existing infrastructure rather than building separate, blockchain-native systems.
Adoption is also uneven. About 44% of capital markets firms already have fully operational tokenization initiatives, well ahead of asset managers (20%) and wealth managers (9%). Around 80% of respondents believe tokenized money market and mutual funds will play an important role over the next five years, while only about half hold similar expectations for tokenized equities.
Lingering Hurdles
Behind the optimism, the industry still has homework to do. The most frequently cited challenge among respondents is regulatory uncertainty, followed by the operational complexity of connecting blockchain to established financial systems. This means that while the momentum is clearly pointing toward tokenization, the pace of adoption will still be determined by how quickly regulators provide certainty - and how smoothly the new technology can be stitched into legacy financial plumbing. For Indonesian market participants, this is a sign that global financial infrastructure is steadily shifting tracks.
Via CoinDesk.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
