Ondo Catalyst’s $250M Fund Accelerates RWA Tokenization Growth
Ondo Finance and Pantera Capital have launched a $250 million fund called Ondo Catalyst to support tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). This move highlights increasing industry focus on asset tokenization, particularly as U.S. regulatory conditions improve. The fund signals intensifying competition in tokenization markets, with special interest in tokenized stocks and ETFs.
Tokenization Market Heats Up
The partners plan to deploy $250 million through the new fund. Ondo’s Chief Strategy Officer Ian De Bode explained the capital will target equity positions and tokens in emerging projects. “We’re witnessing something of an arms race developing,” De Bode told Axios, describing the rapid market expansion.
Recent Tokenization Milestones
- Robinhood introduced a layer-2 blockchain enabling European trading of tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs
- Kraken revealed plans for international tokenized stock trading in May
- Coinbase seeks regulatory approval for tokenized equity offerings
Ondo Expands Blockchain Finance Initiatives
Ondo Finance continues advancing blockchain-based finance through its Global Markets Alliance. The group recently welcomed OKX Wallet as a member. Earlier this year, Ondo launched Ondo Global Markets to bridge traditional finance with blockchain technology.
Backing from Founders Fund
The project benefits from support by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, which is reportedly helping establish a crypto-friendly banking institution. This endorsement reflects strong institutional interest in RWA tokenization.
Regulatory Support for Tokenization
SEC Chair Paul Atkins has committed to fostering tokenization innovation. “Our focus now is advancing marketplace innovation,” Atkins told CNBC, marking a shift from previous enforcement-heavy approaches.
RWA Market Expansion
A joint report by RedStone, Gauntlet, and RWA.xyz shows the tokenized RWA market grew 380% since 2022, reaching $24 billion (excluding stablecoins). Private credit and U.S. government debt are driving this growth.
