RWA Sector Surges as Ondo Finance Introduces Platform to Bring Real-World Assets onto the Blockchain

RWA sector has experienced remarkable growth, reaching an all-time high of $16.88 billion in on-chain value.

Cryptocurrency company Ondo Finance has announced the launch of Ondo Global Markets (Ondo GM), a platform that brings real-world assets (RWAs) like stocks, bonds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) onto the blockchain.

According to a statement on Feb. 4, this move will provide global investors with access to US securities by allowing those outside the country to gain exposure through tokenized representations of these assets.

"With Ondo GM, anyone outside the US in eligible geographies can get exposure to thousands of US securities—AAPL, TSLA, SPY, QQQ, etc.—with minimal fees using stablecoins, removing traditional cost and geographic barriers," the company stated.

The token issued through the Ondo GM platform will reportedly maintain a 1:1 backing with its underlying security, ensuring legitimacy and transparency. These tokens will function similarly to stablecoins, facilitating seamless transfers across blockchain networks beyond US borders, the company noted.

Investors will benefit from instant minting and redemption, enhanced liquidity, and built-in access to on-chain financial services, including lending, trading, and yield-generation opportunities, Ondo further stated.

"Ondo GM will propel financial markets into the open economy, returning power to stakeholders to make their own decisions and compete on a level playing field, while addressing challenges like high fees, limited availability, and transfer frictions," Ondo added.

To support broader adoption, Ondo GM provides comprehensive APIs that enable brokers, asset issuers, and fintech platforms to integrate tokenized assets into their systems. Additionally, a legal framework ensures investor protection, safeguarding assets with a structured approach that minimizes risk, according to the company.

The launch of Ondo GM comes amid a broader surge in the RWA sector, which has reached an all-time high of $16.88 billion in on-chain value, as reported by RWA.xyz.

Over the past year, the sector has experienced a 94% increase, with nearly $4 billion being added in the last three months alone. There are now 83,049 entities holding RWAs, collectively managing assets issued by 112 providers.

Private credit leads the market with $11.6 billion in tokenized value, followed by US Treasury debt ($3.5 billion) and commodities ($1.1 billion). Institutional funds, meanwhile, represent a smaller portion, valued at around $410 million.

Ethereum remains the dominant blockchain for RWAs, hosting 67 asset tokens, while zkSync (28) and Arbitrum (20) follow closely, according to the data.

The surge in RWA adoption aligns with growing interest from traditional financial institutions. Traditional financial institutions like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton have deepened their involvement in tokenized finance, signaling a shift toward blockchain-powered investment solutions.