Federal Reserve Payments Conference May Accelerate RWA Tokenization as Ethereum Remains Dominant Onchain

• Fed to convene industry experts on payments innovation and tokenization.

• Onchain real-world asset (RWA) value reached $27.8 billion, up 223% year-to-date.

• Ethereum and its layer-2s control the majority share of tokenized asset activity.

Meta description: Fed payments innovation conference focuses on tokenization and RWA markets; learn how $27.8B in onchain RWAs and new platforms reshape tokenized markets.

The Federal Reserve announced a payments innovation conference focusing on tokenization as RWA markets hit an all-time high this week.

What is the Federal Reserve payments innovation conference on tokenization?

The Federal Reserve payments innovation conference is a one-day forum scheduled for Oct. 21 to explore how tokenization, stablecoins, DeFi convergence and AI can improve safety and efficiency in the U.S. payments system. The event will bring regulators, industry participants and technologists together to discuss practical pathways for payment modernization.

How significant is the recent RWA onchain value surge?

Tokenized real-world assets (RWA) reached an all-time high of $27.8 billion onchain, a 223% increase since the start of the year, per RWA.xyz data. This growth is driven largely by tokenized private credit and U.S. Treasury debt, underscoring growing institutional activity and product issuance in tokenized formats.

The conference agenda includes panels on tokenizing financial products, converging traditional finance and decentralized finance, new stablecoin use cases, and the role of artificial intelligence in payments. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said, “I look forward to examining the opportunities and challenges of new technologies, bringing together ideas on how to improve the safety and efficiency of payments, and hearing from those helping to shape the future of payments.”

Why does Ethereum remain central to tokenization?

Ethereum continues to be the dominant blockchain for tokenized assets, with a market share of about 56% including stablecoins and more than 77% when layer-2 networks are counted. The ecosystem’s smart contract standards, liquidity pools and developer base make it the primary settlement and issuance layer for most tokenized products.

How are new platforms and partnerships affecting RWA issuance?

This week saw continued product launches and partnerships in the tokenization sector. Chainlink and Ondo Finance collaborated on the Ondo Global Markets RWA platform, which lists over 100 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs onchain for non-U.S. investors. Such initiatives expand tradable tokenized exposures and encourage TradFi participants to evaluate onchain execution models.

Total RWA value is at an all-time high. Source: RWA.xyz

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the Fed conference influence tokenization policy?

The conference will provide policymakers and industry experts a structured forum to identify operational, legal, and safety questions around tokenized payments and assets, potentially informing future supervisory guidance and pilot frameworks.

What types of assets dominate current RWA tokenization?

Tokenized private credit and U.S. Treasury debt account for the largest shares of onchain RWA value, reflecting issuer focus on credit instruments and sovereign debt as initial tokenization use cases.

Can retail investors access tokenized U.S. stocks?

Some platforms are launching tokenized U.S. stock offerings for non-U.S. investors; access depends on platform jurisdiction, KYC/AML requirements, and local securities rules.

Key Takeaways

• Fed engagement: The Federal Reserve will hold a payments innovation conference on Oct. 21 to evaluate tokenization and payments modernization.
• RWA growth: Onchain tokenized assets hit $27.8 billion, up 223% YTD, led by private credit and U.S. Treasury tokenization.
• Market infrastructure: Ethereum and layer-2 networks remain central; new platforms list tokenized stocks and ETFs for non-U.S. investors.

Conclusion

The Federal Reserve’s conference signals heightened institutional and regulatory attention on RWA tokenization and payments innovation. With onchain RWA value at record levels and new issuance platforms emerging, market participants should track policy signals, platform capabilities, and operational safeguards as tokenization moves into broader financial-market workflows. For ongoing coverage and analysis, consult COINOTAG updates and industry data sources.