Tokenized Assets Explained: Own Treasuries, Gold and More On-Chain

Wall Street Meets the Blockchain

Until 2008, buying US Treasury securities directly required a minimum of $1,000 (today it is $100).¹ Real estate investments needed tens of thousands of dollars. Commodities like gold and oil were accessible only through specialized futures contracts. These barriers kept the best-performing asset classes out of reach for most people.

Tokenized assets are changing that. By representing real-world assets as digital tokens on a blockchain, they make it possible to own a small slice of a Treasury fund, a share of a rental property for about $50,² or a fraction of an ounce of gold. And the institutional money is already pouring in — BlackRock's tokenized Treasury fund (BUIDL) reached about $2.9 billion in assets in July 2026.³

What Are Tokenized Assets?

A tokenized asset is a digital token on a blockchain that represents ownership of a real-world asset. The token is backed 1:1 by the underlying asset — a Treasury bond, a real estate property, a gold bar — held by a custodian. You own the token, the token represents the asset, and you can buy, sell, or transfer it instantly, 24/7.

Think of it like buying a share of a mutual fund, except the fund holds actual assets and the share is tradeable on a blockchain at any time. No waiting for market hours and, for many products, no brokerage account or large minimum investment.

The Main Categories

Tokenized US Treasuries

The fastest-growing category. Instead of earning about 0.38% in a bank savings account,⁴ you can own tokenized Treasury bills that yield around 3.5% annually at 2026 rates.⁵ Major offerings include:

• BlackRock BUIDL — about $2.9B in assets (July 2026). Issued through Securitize on Ethereum and several other blockchains.³ Built for institutions: a $5 million minimum for qualified purchasers.⁶
• Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX) — about $687M in assets (August 31, 2026).⁷ Launched on Stellar and since expanded to Polygon, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Aptos, and other networks.⁸
• Ondo USDY — Tokenized US Treasury-backed yield product. Yield: ~3.5% APY (September 2026).⁵ Available to non-US investors; minimums vary by purchase route.⁹

Tokenized Real Estate

Platforms like Lofty let you buy fractional shares of rental properties, with tokens starting at about $50.² Instead of needing $50,000 for a down payment, you can invest $50 in a diversified portfolio of real estate tokens and earn rental income proportionally. Not every platform has lasted, though: RealT, an early tokenized real estate pioneer, announced a voluntary liquidation in July 2026.¹⁰

Tokenized Commodities

PAX Gold (PAXG) represents one troy ounce of gold stored in Brink's vaults.¹¹ Tether Gold (XAUT) does the same. You can buy a small fraction of an ounce and hold it in your wallet — no safe, no insurance, no storage costs. Similar tokens exist for silver, oil, and carbon credits.

Tokenized Private Credit

Platforms like Centrifuge and Maple Finance tokenize private credit portfolios — loans to small businesses, trade finance invoices, and other assets that were previously available only to institutional investors. Yields are typically higher than Treasuries and vary with risk.

Why Tokenized Assets Matter for Everyday People

Tokenized assets solve three problems that have kept the best investments out of reach for most people:

1. Lower Minimums

Buying a US Treasury directly from the government requires $100 and a TreasuryDirect account.¹ Once issued, some tokenized Treasury products can be traded in small fractions on crypto exchanges, so smaller savers can access yields that were previously hard to reach. Minimums for direct purchases still vary widely: BlackRock BUIDL, for example, is aimed at institutions with a $5 million minimum.⁶

2. 24/7 Liquidity

Traditional bond markets trade mainly during weekday business hours. Tokenized assets trade 24/7 on decentralized exchanges. You can sell your Treasury token at 3 AM on a Sunday if you need cash.

3. Instant Settlement

Traditional bond settlement takes T+1 (one business day) or longer. Tokenized assets settle in seconds on the blockchain. No waiting, no clearinghouse, no paperwork.

Traditional vs Tokenized at a Glance

Risks to Understand

Tokenized assets are not risk-free. Here are the main risks:

• Smart contract risk: The code that manages the token could have bugs. Use established, audited protocols.
• Custodian risk: The real-world asset must be held by a trusted custodian. If the custodian fails, your token could lose value.
• Regulatory risk: Tokenized securities may be treated as securities by regulators, which could affect how they're traded and who can access them.
• Liquidity risk: While tokenized assets can trade 24/7, the market is still small. Large sell orders may move the price.

Getting Started

If you're interested in tokenized assets, start with the simplest and most regulated option: tokenized US Treasuries. They offer around 3.5% yield at 2026 rates, are backed by US government debt, and are accessible through established platforms.

For beginners, the most practical approach is:

1. Hold USDC as your base — stable, liquid, and accessible on Moai.cash
2. Allocate a small portion to tokenized Treasuries — through platforms like Ondo or Securitize
3. Diversify gradually — as you learn more, consider real estate and commodity tokens
4. Never invest more than you can afford to lose — even "safe" assets carry some risk

Tokenized assets are bringing Wall Street to everyone's phone. The question is no longer whether you can access the best investments — it's whether you will.

Frequently asked questions

What is a tokenized asset?

A tokenized asset is a digital token on a blockchain that represents ownership of a real-world asset, backed 1:1 by that asset and held by a custodian. You can buy, sell, or transfer it instantly, 24/7.

Are tokenized assets safe?

They are not risk-free. The main risks are smart contract bugs, custodian failure, regulatory changes, and limited liquidity in a still small market, so stick to established, audited protocols.

How much money do I need to buy tokenized Treasuries?

It depends on the product. Buying Treasuries directly from the government requires $100. Some tokenized Treasury tokens can be traded in small fractions on crypto exchanges, while each product sets its own minimum for direct purchases. BlackRock BUIDL is aimed at institutions, with a $5 million minimum for qualified purchasers.

What is BlackRock BUIDL?

BUIDL is BlackRock's tokenized Treasury fund, issued through Securitize on Ethereum and several other blockchains. It held about $2.9 billion in assets as of July 2026.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Tokenized assets carry risks including potential loss of principal. Always research before investing.