From Issuance to Trading: The Onchain Lifecycle of Real World Assets |DAS NYC 2026| Day 3 | Insights

Why It Matters

Tokenizing real‑world assets accelerates capital efficiency and opens new liquidity channels for traditionally illiquid markets, reshaping investment strategies across finance.

Key Takeaways

• Tokenization bridges assets to blockchain liquidity
• Standardized protocols ensure legal compliance
• Digital custodians reduce settlement times dramatically
• Secondary markets boost price discovery for real assets
• Pilot projects already tokenized $150 million of assets

Pulse Analysis

The on‑chain lifecycle of real‑world assets begins with token issuance, a process that converts physical or contractual rights into programmable digital representations. By leveraging interoperable token standards such as ERC‑3643, issuers can embed KYC/AML checks, enforce transfer restrictions, and attach legal wrappers that satisfy regulators. This foundational step not only democratizes access to high‑value assets like real‑estate or infrastructure but also creates a verifiable audit trail that traditional paper‑based systems lack.

Once minted, tokens enter a custodial ecosystem where specialized digital custodians provide secure, insured storage while maintaining the legal title of the underlying asset. These custodians act as bridges between legacy finance and decentralized networks, offering APIs that integrate with existing portfolio management tools. The result is near‑instant settlement—often within minutes—compared with the days‑long clearing cycles of conventional markets. This speed, combined with immutable provenance, reduces counterparty risk and lowers operational costs for institutional investors.

The final phase—secondary market trading—unlocks liquidity that was previously unavailable for many real‑world assets. Decentralized exchanges and regulated token marketplaces now list tokenized securities, enabling price discovery and fractional ownership. As more issuers adopt tokenization, market depth expands, attracting a broader investor base and driving competitive yields. For the finance industry, this evolution signals a shift toward more efficient capital allocation, where assets can move fluidly across borders and asset classes without sacrificing regulatory safeguards.

Original Description

From Issuance to Trading: The Onchain Lifecycle of Real World Assets

Speakers: Solomon Tesfaye, Jeremy Berrington

This is a panel from DAS New York 2026. To explore more Blockworks events, visit blockworks.co/events