How Do Tokenized Equities Work? Ft. BlackRock’s Head of Digital Assets

Tokenization is evolving from a mere efficiency tool into a fundamental financial access layer, enabling broader participation in global capital markets. Stablecoins serve as the digital infrastructure for this transition, facilitating programmable money movement and bridging the gap between crypto-native ecosystems and traditional finance. While tokenized equities and deposits offer potential for 24/7 trading and improved settlement, they face significant regulatory hurdles and liquidity challenges. Institutional adoption remains cautious, with a focus on solving for privacy and compliance without relying on regulatory arbitrage. The future of market structure points toward shorter, more automated value chains that reduce the need for traditional intermediaries. As the industry matures, the integration of diverse fiat-backed tokens and the shift toward public, permissionless chains will likely define the next phase of global financial infrastructure.