CI recently received detailed commentary from blockchain and web3 industry professionals focused on emerging trends such as tokenization, stablecoins, and other forms of digital innovations.
Over the past few years, the blockchain and crypto space has emerged from a niche market to an ecosystem ready for mainstream adoption. Both retail and institutional investors can now participate in the fast-growing digital assets space.
Below, we have shared detailed insights about DeFi and how it is merging with TradFi.
Crowdfund Insider: How does the rising demand for tokenized assets shape investor behavior in uncertain markets?
Mike Cahill, CEO of Douro Labs and contributor to the Pyth Network, said that in uncertain markets, investors want transparency and liquidity. Tokenized assets offer both.
“Right now, we’re seeing investor behavior shift from passive holding to active allocation—people want exposure to real-world value, but with the speed and flexibility of crypto rails. The demand for tokenization isn’t just speculative anymore; in fact, it’s highly strategic.”
Irina Karagyaur, Polkadot Ecosystem Agent and Co-Founder & CEO of BQ9, believes the maturing crypto market is becoming central to investors’ portfolios by delivering real work value. Shifting money into tokenized treasuries and stablecoins as programmable safe havens.
“Given that maintaining U.S. dollar dominance is a strategic priority for the American government, tokenization is reinforcing demand for yield-bearing, dollar-denominated assets as safe havens in times of global instability.”
Bhaji Illuminati, CEO of Centrifuge, said the risk-off environment means investors are seeking stability. Rather than off-ramping to fiat, many are turning to tokenized treasuries as a safer, yield-generating alternative to stablecoins.
“These tokenized assets offer a way to stay within the crypto ecosystem while preserving capital and earning yield, making them increasingly attractive during periods of macro uncertainty.”
Crowdfund Insider: How are institutional investors leveraging tokenized assets in response to tariff risks and global trade disruptions?
Cahill sees this as a big moment for tokenized assets. Now is the chance to see how digital gold measures up to some of the shakiest macro events we have experienced in a long time.
“For institutional investors, that means diversifying their portfolios and betting on assets that don’t rely on any one national policy or currency. We’re going to see a lot more institutional involvement in crypto as our current economic outlook becomes more uncertain; the institutions that are betting on the future of finance are also betting on tokenized assets.”
Karagyaur, says institutions are using tokenized commodity contracts and trade finance instruments to lock in prices and mitigate tarrif exposures. She pointed to Centrifugre’s tokenized invoices and Xpansivs digital commodity markets.
“Tariffs are reinforcing dollar dominance, and investors are leaning into tokenized U.S. assets, like Franklin Templeton’s tokenized Treasuries and Ondo Finance’s yield-bearing stablecoins, as both hedge and settlement layers. In many cases, such as the Canton Network’s institutional smart contract framework, permissioned blockchains automate compliance and routing to avoid tariffed jurisdictions or sanctioned counterparties.”
Political tensions and trade barriers, along with tokenized assets and stablecoins, transcend borders, says Illuminati:
“Stablecoins are apolitical and programmable, they don’t have opinions or allegiances, they just work. In this context, technology becomes a reliable foundation, allowing capital to move freely and efficiently across jurisdictions.”
Crowdfund Insider: How do tokenized real-world assets, such as real estate or commodities, compare to digital-native assets in terms of risk and adoption?
Cahill notes that traditional markets sleep, but crypto never turns off. When tariff announcements hit post market, equities have time to digest the news but Bitcoin dropped almost immediately and then rallied by lunchtime:
“That kind of after-hours volatility is exactly why institutions are turning to tokenized assets: they offer a 24/7 risk management tool. In other words, they provide an off-market hedge window that’s like nothing that’s ever existed before. Even if these markets aren’t perfectly correlated, it’s important to note that they’re becoming a powerful extension of the institutional trading toolkit, especially in moments of global disruption like we’re seeing right now.”
Karagyaur says tokenized RWAs are lower risk, yield-generating, and more attractive to conservative investors compared to volatile digital native assets.
Adoption is rising as platforms like Centrifuge and Tokeny bring institutional-grade infrastructure for asset onboarding, while RWAs increasingly reflect global investor appetite for stability over speculation.”
Tokenized RWAs are inherently grounded in off-chain value, which makes them less susceptible to speculative volatility, said Illuminati:
“While adoption is slower compared to digital-native assets like crypto tokens, institutional trust is higher due to their familiarity with the underlying asset. The risk profile is different — less about smart contract exploits, more about custody, governance, and enforceability. But as tokenized RWA infrastructure matures, we’re seeing convergence in adoption rates, especially from institutions.”
Crowdfund Insider: How can stablecoins and tokenized assets serve as an alternative financial safe-haven amid macroeconomic uncertainty?
Cahill stated that when things get shaky, tokenized assets and stablecoins offer real-world exposure with on-chain agility:
“They’re becoming the modern safe haven—not because they’re hype-driven, but because they’re highly functional,” said Cahill. “In a world where capital needs to move faster and smarter, programmable dollars and tokenized treasuries are starting to replace traditional currencies.”
Karagyaur, emphasized that stablecoins and tokenized treasuries insulate from banking risks:
“Their programmability and global accessibility make them a compelling safe haven as traditional financial channels (e.g., SWIFT) face friction.”
Illuminati added that tokenized treasuries represent a modern safe haven for low-risk assets that generate yield and are uncorrelated with crypto markets.
“For investors looking to preserve value in turbulent times, they bring the reliability of government debt to the crypto market. It’s a compelling option for onchain investors seeking shelter from volatility. This is indicated in the Sky (formerly MakerDAO) recent allocation of $1B to tokenized treasuries, including $200M to Centrifuge’s Janus Henderson Anemoy Treasury Fund (JTRSY).”
Crowdfund Insider: What role do DeFi platforms play in facilitating access to tokenized assets for retail and institutional investors?
Cahill said that DeFi protocols empower anyone with an internet connection to trade any on-chain asset anytime. They do not need a middleman and some offer real-time data without being tied to a Bloomberg Terminal:
“At the end of the day, decentralized protocols are enabling a whole new era of finance that’s affordable, equitable, and transparent to every player—no matter how elite they might be.”
Defi platforms act as open rails for RWAs, offering yield, said Karagyaur. Protocols like Centrifuge, Maple, and Aave integrate tokenized credit, invoices, and Treasuries, along with risk-sharing across investor classes:
“For institutions, DeFi increasingly complements TradFi custody and settlement tools.”
DeFi is unlocking an entirely new access path to RWAs, said Illuminati:
“Stablecoins are now backed by tokenized assets like Treasuries, generating yield while maintaining liquidity. RWA aggregators function as onchain savings accounts. Lending markets allow users to borrow or lend against real-world assets. As more protocols build utility around RWAs — whether for savings, payments, or collateral — the ecosystem expands, pulling in more users and capital.”