FinanceTokenization Poised for Growth Similar to $20 Trillion ETF Surge, Says Ondo Executive
According to John Hoffman, the new head of portfolio products at Ondo, tokenization is setting the stage for autonomous investing and real-time portfolio management.
By Krisztian Sandor|Edited by Nikhilesh De Jun 13, 2026, 3:29 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on John Hoffman, Ondo Finance Managing Director, Head of Product Portfolios (Ondo Finance)SummaryShow- John Hoffman, Ondo's newly appointed portfolio leader, likens the current tokenization landscape to the initial phase of ETFs before they gained widespread acceptance.
- Hoffman noted that AI agents will require tokenized assets, trading frameworks, and portfolio strategies to function independently on-chain.
- With the tokenized asset market already exceeding $33 billion, it is projected to evolve into a multi-trillion-dollar sector within the next decade, paralleling the growth of ETFs.
The tokenized asset market is rapidly expanding, but John Hoffman believes the most significant surge in demand is yet to come, driven by artificial intelligence.
The newest head of portfolio products at Ondo Finance, who has previously worked with Invesco and Grayscale, stated that the combination of blockchain technology and AI might become a transformative force in capital markets over the next ten years.
In an interview with CoinDesk, Hoffman expressed, "The future of markets are onchain." He indicated that AI agents will eventually engage in buying, selling, and capital allocation through tokenized investment vehicles.
Hoffman’s perspective aligns with a major trend in both crypto and traditional finance, which is the migration of various financial assets to blockchain technology. Major financial institutions, including Wall Street banks and asset managers, are testing tokenized forms of bonds, funds, and stocks, believing that blockchain can enhance market speed and efficiency.
According to RWA.xyz, the tokenized asset market has nearly tripled in size over the last year, now surpassing $33 billion. Citi forecasts that this sector could grow to $5.5 trillion by 2030, while a different projection from Boston Consulting Group and Ripple estimates it could hit $18.9 trillion by 2033.
Tokenization Reflects the ETF Growth Trend
Hoffman draws comparisons between the current state of tokenization and the formative years of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
He recalled, "ETFs were labeled as weapons of mass destruction," highlighting the initial skepticism surrounding the structure before it became a leading method for investors to access markets.
When he entered the ETF sector in the early 2000s, assets totaled approximately $200 billion. Now, the global ETF market has ballooned to close to $20 trillion, as reported in a PwC report.
Hoffman believes tokenization is following a similar trajectory, albeit at a much quicker pace than ETFs.
"Every market that digitizes expands," he stated. "Tokenization is essentially the digitization of capital markets."
Preparing for an AI-Driven Future
Hoffman envisions tokenization as the cornerstone for future developments: AI-driven financial services.
He imagines a scenario where autonomous agents continuously monitor market conditions and allocate capital using professionally managed portfolios that adapt in real time.
"Our end state will be portfolios that are professionally managed, real-time and adjusting to market circumstances and data changes," he remarked.
To realize this vision, the industry must first establish tokenized assets, on-chain prime brokerage systems, and asset management strategies that can be executed directly on blockchain networks.
Ondo is working towards that goal, currently offering tokenized U.S. Treasury products and planning to branch out into stocks, ETFs, and perpetual futures via its tokenized marketplace.
"The vision is really about becoming the world's most trusted platform for intelligently managed, on-chain investment portfolios," Hoffman concluded.
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