Citi Predicts the Tokenized Securities Market Will Grow to $5.5 Trillion by 2030

Why It Matters

The forecast signals a multi‑trillion‑dollar shift of core capital‑market assets onto blockchain, reshaping settlement, custody and revenue streams for banks and exchanges. Early adopters will capture a decisive competitive edge as digital cash rails and tokenized assets converge.

Key Takeaways

• Citi forecasts tokenized securities market reaching $5.5 trillion by 2030
• Stablecoins could drive $1 trillion demand for on‑chain U.S. Treasuries
• DTCC, Nasdaq and NYSE plan production‑grade tokenized trades
• Regulatory “Clarity Act” moves closer to Senate approval
• Structural orchestrators stand to control assets and digital‑cash rails

Pulse Analysis

Tokenization is moving from pilot projects to mainstream finance, with Citi’s latest outlook suggesting a market size of $5.5 trillion by 2030. This leap from a $17 billion base reflects not only the appeal of on‑chain settlement but also the scalability of blockchain protocols for high‑volume securities. By tokenizing Treasury bills and equities, issuers can tap into near‑instant settlement, reduced counterparty risk, and broader investor access, especially as stablecoins mature into a $1.9 trillion digital‑cash ecosystem.

Infrastructure giants are the catalysts behind this transformation. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation plans limited‑production token trades this summer, with a broader rollout later in the year, while Nasdaq and the NYSE’s parent, Intercontinental Exchange, are developing frameworks for blockchain‑based shares. These moves embed tokenization into the core of market operations, ensuring that legacy clearinghouses retain relevance while offering faster, more transparent processes. Simultaneously, the U.S. Senate’s progress on the Clarity Act promises regulatory certainty, encouraging further investment and innovation in digital asset settlement.

For banks and large investment firms, the convergence of tokenized assets and trusted digital cash creates a new value chain. Entities that control both the underlying securities and the stablecoin or digital‑deposit rails—dubbed “structural orchestrators”—can internalize the entire trade lifecycle, capturing fees traditionally split among custodians, brokers, and settlement agents. While legacy systems will coexist with blockchain platforms for years, early adopters stand to lock in market share, reshape revenue models, and set industry standards for the next generation of capital markets.