Gold leads the wave of real asset tokenization (RWA): Why the market size surged 50%

The tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is experiencing a breakthrough growth phase, solidifying its position as one of the most promising niches in the cryptocurrency market in 2026. The story revolves around gold – a traditional safe-haven asset that has now found its perfect “stage” on the blockchain.
The rapid growth of the on-chain gold market According to the latest data, the market size of tokenized commodities has seen an incredible leap. In less than six weeks, the total market capitalization has increased by over 50%, officially surpassing $6 billion. Most of this increase comes from both large and small investors moving gold onto the blockchain to leverage its flexibility and 24/7 trading capabilities.
The story is that gold is currently the most successful tokenized asset, far ahead of other commodities in both growth rate and community acceptance.
The giants’ game: XAUt and PAXG Although the market is expanding rapidly, power is highly concentrated within a small group of leading products.
Market dominance: The two leading products, Tether Gold and PAX Gold, currently hold over 95% of the global market share.
Leading position: Almost all of the growth and liquidity in the current tokenized commodities market are driven by gold.
The involvement of major players like Tether in this sector demonstrates strong confidence in the future of RWA.
The story is that instead of storing bulky physical gold and paying high custody fees, investors can now own gold with extremely low divisibility and instant liquidity on trading platforms.
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