Emre Yumlu 
Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) has rapidly emerged as one of the most dynamic segments in the blockchain industry. Chris Yin, co-founder and CEO of the Layer-2 blockchain Plume, believes the sector is poised for an even larger transformation as it expands beyond crypto-native users and gains traction in traditional finance. According to Yin, the total value of tokenized RWAs could more than triple by 2026.
Massive Expansion Expected: 300–500% Growth Forecast
Yin notes that the RWA market has experienced remarkable momentum over the past year, and this growth could accelerate further. Current projections indicate that the market may expand by 300% to 500% within the next two years. One of the strongest indicators supporting this outlook is the rapid increase in user engagement across RWA platforms.
User Base Grows Nearly 10x in a Single Year
Since the beginning of the year, the number of on-chain RWA holders has surged by nearly tenfold. Yin expects this rise to continue and suggests that the total number of participants could multiply by more than 25 times as adoption broadens.
Recent data shows that over 539,000 users collectively hold more than 35 billion dollars in tokenized real-world assets, signaling that the sector is moving beyond its early, niche stages.
Beyond Crypto-Native: New Asset Classes on the Horizon
A substantial portion of today’s RWA value is tied to U.S. Treasury bills, reflecting a preference for low-risk yield-bearing instruments. However, Yin points out that with shifting interest rate conditions and a maturing landscape, investors are increasingly seeking higher-yield opportunities.
Areas such as private credit, mineral rights, petroleum assets, energy markets, and even GPU infrastructure are beginning to attract interest. This diversification is expected to draw a broader investor base and strengthen the ecosystem’s long-term foundation.
Regulatory Clarity Could Accelerate Real-World Adoption
Global regulators are actively working on frameworks for stablecoins and tokenized assets, a development Yin believes will push the industry from experimentation toward mainstream use. Clear regulatory guidelines could open the door for institutional capital and legitimize tokenization as a core component of modern finance.
Plume and Securitize Partnership: Institutional Assets Entering Nest Protocol
Plume recently announced a strategic collaboration with Securitize, a tokenization platform supported by major financial institutions including BlackRock and Morgan Stanley. Through this partnership, institutional-grade assets from Securitize will be integrated into Plume’s Nest staking protocol.
The initial phase will include Hamilton Lane funds, with additional issuers and asset classes expected to join throughout 2026, further expanding the protocol’s capabilities.
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