Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA)—the process of converting claims on traditional assets such as stocks, real estate, commoditiesbonds or funds in digital tokens on decentralized networks—is positioned as one of the most relevant trends in the Latin American financial ecosystem in 2026.
According to Francesco, who is co-founder and head of research at Castle Labs (and prefers to withhold his last name), one of the main advantages of this process is accessibility.
“We believe that one of the main advantages of tokenization is accessibility. This is especially true for the global population who currently face obstacles in accessing these assets in traditional markets. In particular, the US stock market could benefit from global exposure by users retail which was not possible before,” Francesco explained in comments shared with CriptoNoticias.
He added that, although it is not always possible to establish a direct causal relationship between the adoption of cryptocurrencies and that of tokenized assets, in many countries in the region cryptoassets are used daily mainly due to inflation problems and distrust in fiat currenciesmore than as a way to invest in traditional stocks.
Francesco emphasizes that this greater accessibility will turn these assets into “a viable investment alternative” for millions of Latin Americans who were previously excluded from global markets. However, the challenges are significant and it is reiterated that the causality between cryptocurrency adoption and tokenization of traditional assets is not fully proven.
Historically, trading in stocks and other sophisticated financial instruments has been limited to large centers such as the United States and Europe. Tokenization opens the possibility of democratizing these assets in emerging markets such as Latin Americawhere the adoption of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies is particularly advanced, as reported by CriptoNoticias.
In the region, tokenization represents a powerful driver of financial inclusion. Pablo Gómez, CEO of RWA Metlabs, has pointed out to this medium that Latin America has “two great opportunities” with tokenization: modernizing its financial infrastructure and attracting international capital through greater trust, liquidity and transparency.
“It is an enabler of trust. And without trust, there is no capital,” said Gómez. Countries like Argentina lead with concrete regulatory advances. The National Securities Commission (CNV) has progressively expanded its Tokenization Regime through resolutions such as 1069, 1081 and 1137, allowing the digital representation of a larger universe of negotiable securities (shares, corporate bonds, trusts and more) under automatic authorization regimes.
He sandbox Regulatory was extended until the end of 2027, giving greater certainty to issuers and investors. In Brazil, the B3 exchange explores tokenization platforms for 24/7 trading of real assets, while banks and fintechs They advance in real estate and agricultural projects.
In Colombia and Mexico, initiatives to tokenize public debt and agricultural land are being discussed, and in Costa Rica, regenerative finance projects that tokenize environmental conservation stand out.
More benefits and barriers of tokenization
Beyond accessibility, financial inclusion or the modernization of infrastructure, the Benefits include fractional ownership (allowing investment from small amounts), greater liquidity by operating 24/7, reduction in intermediation costs and greater transparency thanks to decentralized networks known as “blockchain technology”, but which is actually an original technology of Bitcoin as a system.
Currently, barriers remain such as variable regulatory maturity by country, custody issues, financial education, and volatility or security risks. Experts cited by CriptoNoticias such as Juan Carlos Reyes, president of the National Commission for Digital Assets (CNAD) of El Salvador, agree that the region has a “historic opportunity to lead,” but only if it manages to balance innovation with investor protection and coherent regulatory frameworks.
According to Franceso and Pablo Gómez, the tokenization market in Latin America grew notably in 2025 and is expected to continue expanding in 2026, although it still represents a fraction of the global volume.
The combination of high cryptocurrency penetration, the need for alternatives to inflation, and regulatory advances positions the region as fertile ground for RWAs.
According to experts, tokenization could strengthen Latin America’s financial integration into global markets, boosting efficiency and economic development in a region that already leads in cryptocurrency adoption.