Half of asset and fund managers have already deployed tokenization initiatives in some form as blockchain-based financial infrastructure gains traction across traditional capital markets, according to a survey commissioned by Apex Group.
Asset Managers Push Tokenization Beyond Pilots Though Talent, Cost Hurdles Remain
27 May 2026 - 14:00 CEST
By Sandmark staff
The study of 100 senior industry executives found 17% of firms had achieved broad operational deployment, while another 33% reported limited implementation of tokenized products or related infrastructure.
Private markets emerged as the leading use case, with 45% of respondents saying they had already tokenized assets such as private equity and private credit. Firms cited broader investor participation and lower barriers as key drivers behind adoption.
Expanding investor access ranked ahead of operational efficiency as the primary motivation for tokenization strategies, the report found. High-net-worth individuals were identified as the investor group showing the strongest demand for tokenized products.
Despite growing adoption, firms continue to face operational and regulatory challenges. Only 7% of respondents said they were fully confident in the technical capabilities of their in-house tokenization teams, while implementation costs, cybersecurity risks and fragmented market standards remained major concerns.
The findings come as firms including JPMorgan, BlackRock and BNY Mellon expand tokenized fund, custody and settlement initiatives across traditional financial markets, reflecting a broader industry shift from tokenization pilots toward live institutional deployment.
