RWA

Real-world asset protocols have grown into DeFi's fifth-largest segment by total value locked, with TVL surpassing $17 billion and Ethereum hosting more than $12 billion of that. Gold-backed tokens such as Tether Gold and Paxos Gold lead the category, while tokenized equities have pushed their market cap beyond $1.2 billion to a new all-time high. RWA tokens have also delivered strong year-to-date gains, supported by standout performers like Keeta Network, Zebec, and Maple Finance.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Ethereum's onchain development hit an all-time high with 8.7 million new smart contracts deployed, according to Token Terminal. The surge was primarily linked to real-world asset tokenization, stablecoin usage and infrastructure projects, even as Ether's price hovered near $3,000 after retreating from levels close to $5,000 earlier in the year. Ethereum also continues to dominate RWA deployments and hosts more than half of the $307 billion stablecoin supply in circulation.

Gold and silver prices pulled back sharply as traders locked in profits after a powerful multi-month rally, with silver dropping nearly 9% and gold sliding about 5% following CME margin hikes that triggered leveraged unwinds. Despite the correction, tokenized precious metals saw nearly $900 million in trading volume, and technical structures—particularly for Tether Gold (XAU₮)—suggest consolidation rather than a breakdown in the broader uptrend.

BlackRock's BUIDL tokenized money market fund has distributed around $100 million in dividends since its launch in March 2024, according to Securitize. The onchain fund has grown beyond $2 billion in assets, expanded from Ethereum to several other major blockchains, and is fueling debate over the risks and growth prospects of tokenized money market products.

As of December 30, 2025, tokenized stocks have reached a combined market capitalization of $1.2 billion, with the strongest gains in September and December. Institutional activity accelerated via launches from Backed Finance and Securitize, while Nasdaq filed with the SEC to list tokenized shares. Observers liken the moment to early stablecoin and DeFi phases.

Ethereum’s total value locked remains elevated despite the latest market pullback, with onchain capital consolidating around core protocols. TVL on Ethereum is about $68.6 billion, while aggregate DeFi TVL stands near $182 billion. A 2026 outlook from Joseph Chalom foresees a potential 10x increase driven by stablecoins and tokenized RWAs.

On December 29, 2025, DefiLlama data showed real‑world asset protocols overtook decentralized exchanges to become the fifth‑largest DeFi TVL category, behind lending, liquid staking, bridging, and restaking. RWA TVL is about $17 billion, up from $12 billion in Q4 2024, with growth tied to tokenized Treasurys, private credit, and a 2025 rally in gold and silver.

Canton (CC) rallied strongly over the past week and in the last 24 hours. A range breakout aligned with rising momentum indicators, while a DTCC partnership on asset tokenization boosted confidence. On-chain activity also spiked, with active addresses and transactions surging on the network.

BlackRock's USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) has reached $100 million in cumulative onchain dividend payouts, announced Monday by its issuer Securitize. Launched in March 2024 on Ethereum, BUIDL invests in short‑term U.S. dollar assets and has expanded to six additional blockchains, with assets peaking above $2.8 billion in October.

BlockBeats News reported that on December 29th Real World Assets reached $17 billion in TVL, moving ahead of decentralized exchanges to become DeFi's fifth-largest sector. The advance was linked to demand for tokenized U.S. Treasuries and private credit, while Ethereum remained the primary chain supporting RWA activity.