Reserve Bank of Australia Supports Tokenization After Pilot Shows $16.7B Potential

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has endorsed the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), citing findings from Project Acacia that suggest tokenized finance could add 24 billion AUD ($16.7 billion) annually to the economy. Brad Jones, RBA Assistant Governor, called tokenization and related infrastructure upgrades “revolutionary” and emphasized that the question is now how to implement it effectively in Australia’s financial system.

Growth Potential and Regulatory Interest

Global consultancy McKinsey & Company projects tokenized asset markets could reach nearly $2 trillion by 2030. Australia’s securities regulator head, Joe Longo, has urged the country to adopt tokenization or risk falling behind in global digital finance innovation.

Digital Finance Market Infrastructure Sandbox

The RBA plans to explore a Digital Financial Market Infrastructure (DFMI) sandbox in partnership with industry and policymakers. This framework aims to safely test and scale tokenized assets, stablecoins, and wholesale CBDC integration while synchronizing ledgers with the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS).

The tokenized asset market onchain reached a record $27.5 billion, growing 234% in the past year despite broader crypto market downturns. The RBA sees ensuring digital-age-ready payments and financial infrastructure as a strategic priority for Australia’s economy.

Disclaimer

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