BlackRock CEO Larry Fink says the financial industry is moving into the era of “tokenization of all assets”. In a CNBC interview on October 14, he outlined the firm’s strategy to digitize $4.1 trillion in global assets through tokenized ETFs and related platforms, framing tokenization as a major next step in the modernization of finance.
Tokenization moves closer to mainstream finance
Fink stressed that clearer U.S. regulation will be necessary for that transition to scale. For large asset managers, regulatory clarity affects not only product launches, but also custody, trading workflows, and compliance standards. His comments suggest that institutional interest is rising, but the pace of adoption will still depend heavily on the legal framework surrounding digital assets.
BlackRock’s current digital asset footprint already reflects that momentum. The firm’s iBIT Bitcoin ETF has surpassed $100 billion in assets, helping lift BlackRock’s total digital holdings to $107.4 billion. Those figures underscore how regulated crypto investment products are drawing significant institutional capital and strengthening BlackRock’s position in the broader digital asset market.
Platform buildout and custody partnerships
Beyond ETFs, BlackRock is also expanding its digital asset platform and working with Coinbase Prime for custody operations. The partnership highlights how traditional financial firms are leaning on established crypto infrastructure providers as they build tokenized products and on-chain investment rails.
The real-world asset sector is advancing in parallel. According to the report, Plume and Securitize are helping expand RWA adoption, with 280,000 users currently managing $200 million in on-chain assets. While that remains small relative to the size of traditional capital markets, it offers a tangible example of how tokenized ownership and blockchain-based asset management are gaining practical traction.
Overall, Fink’s remarks point to a broader industry shift: tokenization is no longer just a concept discussed on the margins of finance. With major asset managers, custody partners, and RWA platforms all pushing forward, the market appears to be entering a more operational phase, even as regulation remains one of the most important variables for future growth.