Tiger Research: Three Strategies for Financial Institutions to Keep Up with the Tokenization Wave
Tiger Research's in-depth report analyzes the strategic choices for financial institutions entering the rapidly growing Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization market. With the market projected to be worth $25-36 billion and a lack of complete regulatory frameworks in many jurisdictions, institutions face three options: waiting for domestic legislation, using regulatory sandboxes for limited experiments, or moving first into established overseas markets to gain a competitive edge.
Tokenization is not magic; it requires meticulous preparation. Before entry, institutions must strategically plan across six core areas: choosing a jurisdiction, obtaining necessary licenses, defining the asset type, targeting the appropriate investor base, selecting settlement currencies, and designing operational requirements like custody and governance.
The report outlines two main operational paths. The first is a direct jurisdictional path, establishing a legal presence in mature markets like Hong Kong, Singapore, or the U.S., often leveraging local licensed platforms to accelerate market entry. The second is a chain-native path, using platforms like Ondo or Plume that are built with regulatory compliance embedded, allowing for faster, more flexible market access without being tied to a specific jurisdiction.
Ultimately, the report advises against waiting for perfect regulation. The preparation process can take 6-12 months and requires thorough legal review. Using the example of a mid-sized securities firm, it details steps from evaluating existing entities to final execution. The core message is that accumulating real-world operational experience is paramount, as the market is moving ahead and will not wait for latecomers.
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