The DeFi sector is poised for significant growth through the tokenization of renewable resources like solar energy, according to Stani Kulechov, the founder of Aave.
— Stani.eth (@StaniKulechov) February 15, 2026
Currently, the RWA market is valued at approximately $25 billion, dominated by U.S. Treasury bonds, real estate, and private loans. Kulechov described these assets as scarce and predicted further growth in this segment.
Source: rwa.xyz.However, Kulechov sees the greatest potential in digitizing what he calls “abundance assets.” In addition to solar energy, these include:
- energy storage systems (batteries);
- robotics;
- vertical farms and synthetic food products;
- semiconductors;
- 3D printing.
According to Kulechov, these sectors will provide higher returns compared to scarce resources, which are “on a path of low margins and declining profitability.”
“Capital craves new types of collateral, and the world is ready for a transformation that on-chain lending can capture and accelerate,” he noted.
He forecasts that the RWA market will reach $50 trillion by 2050, with solar energy alone accounting for between $15 trillion and $30 trillion.
How Will This Work?
Kulechov provided an example of how the tokenization of this new class of assets could work:
- An investor funding solar energy startups tokenizes a $100 million project;
- then, using this asset as collateral, they borrow $70 million from DeFi protocols to reinvest in new projects;
- users gain access to a tool with “scalable returns and low risks,” backed by real assets.
“An investor can buy tokenized solar energy, hold it for three years, sell it for a profit, and immediately reinvest in a new development,” he explained.
The key advantage of this model is capital efficiency. While traditional infrastructure locks up funds for decades, RWAs allow for continuous trading.
As a reminder, ARK Invest has predicted a 50,000% growth in the tokenized asset sector by 2030.