Greater than 300 million DeFi customers and US$263 trillion in stablecoin transactions mark a turning level for digital belongings, with regulators now racing to match innovation with clear frameworks.

In accordance with the World Digital Property Report launched by the World Finance & Know-how Community (GFTN) at its Insights Discussion board 2025, digital belongings are transferring quickly from experimentation to institutional integration.

The report, produced with analysis and editorial help from Arthur D. Little and Whitesight, attracts on greater than 40 govt interviews and a worldwide survey throughout 12 jurisdictions.

Asia and World Friends Push Forward with Digital Asset Pilots

GFTN discovered that 9 of the twelve markets studied have carried out or are drafting digital asset frameworks, signalling rising regulatory maturity and convergence.

Stablecoins, tokenised real-world belongings, and decentralised finance (DeFi) are recognized as key pillars driving monetary modernisation.

Asia is highlighted for its function in digital asset pilots, together with tokenisation initiatives equivalent to MAS-led Mission Guardian, alongside broader experiments in cross-border connectivity.

Europe continues to advance implementation of the MiCA regime and digital-euro trials.

The Center East is rising as a fast-growing innovation hub supported by regulatory sandboxes and sovereign-backed initiatives, whereas the Americas are transferring towards deeper institutional adoption with measures such because the US GENIUS Act and digital-asset exchange-traded merchandise.

Stablecoins stay the dominant type of digital cash, having processed about US$263.4 trillion in cumulative transaction quantity since 2019, together with US$40.5 trillion prior to now 12 months.

Their market capitalisation rose from about US$208.4 billion in January 2025 to US$283.3 billion by August 2025.

The report additionally notes rising use of adjusted measures to strip out non-economic exercise and higher replicate real transaction flows.

Tokenised Property Prime US$24 Billion Globally

Tokenised real-world belongings excluding stablecoins reached over US$24 billion by mid-2025, up sharply from 2022, reflecting early however accelerating adoption of tokenisation in capital markets and structured merchandise.

The report highlights that DeFi has grown into a worldwide channel for monetary exercise, with greater than 300 million energetic customers throughout 88 international locations as of the second quarter of 2025.

Development in Layer 2 networks equivalent to Arbitrum and Base has lowered transaction prices and broadened entry, whereas lending and staking protocols account for a big share of whole worth locked.

Survey respondents cited quicker and cheaper cross-border funds as a main good thing about digital belongings, and recognized tokenisation as a key driver of capital-market effectivity.

Many additionally pointed to programmable cash as an rising frontier for brand spanking new monetary providers and working fashions.

GFTN mentioned the findings will inform its 2026 coverage dialogues and capacity-building programmes geared toward serving to regulators and monetary establishments design extra resilient, innovation-ready digital asset frameworks.

Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO, GFTN mentioned,

“The query is now not whether or not digital belongings matter, however how they are often built-in responsibly into monetary methods in ways in which improve belief, resilience, and inclusion.

This report strikes past market hype to analyse the basics — regulation, infrastructure, and interoperability — that can outline the following section of worldwide finance.”

Anthony Thomas, Chief Technique & Development Officer, GFTN mentioned,

“This analysis provides sensible perception for policymakers and monetary establishments navigating the shift from experimentation to adoption.

It underscores the significance of worldwide coordination, accountable regulation, and technology-led collaboration to construct the monetary structure of the longer term.”

Featured picture: Edited by Fintech Information Singapore, based mostly on picture by Who’s Danny by way of Freepik