Real-World Assets Break Into DeFi's Elite: RWA crypto Now Ranks Fifth in TVL

NeverVoteOnDAO · 2026-01-05T14:17:36+00:00

RWA crypto has surged to fifth place in DeFi by total value locked, surpassing decentralized exchanges. This reflects increased institutional interest and the growing importance of tokenized real-world assets in decentralized finance.

NeverVoteOnDAO

2026-01-05 14:17:36

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RWA crypto has achieved a significant market milestone, overtaking decentralized exchanges to claim the fifth position among DeFi sectors by total value locked, according to data tracked by DefiLlama as of December 29, 2025.

The momentum behind this shift underscores a remarkable transformation in the DeFi landscape. Just months earlier in early 2025, RWA assets hadn’t even secured a spot in the top ten, making this ascent particularly noteworthy for investors and protocol developers tracking sector dynamics.

This ranking shuffle reflects growing institutional interest and broader adoption of tokenized real-world assets, a trend that has reshaped capital flows within decentralized finance. The fact that RWA crypto has leapfrogged DEX protocols to reach such a prominent position signals a potential rebalancing in how the DeFi ecosystem allocates value across different segments.

The rise of RWA crypto suggests that bridges between traditional finance and blockchain infrastructure are strengthening, with more projects focusing on asset tokenization as a core DeFi narrative.

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