The last decade brought crypto, which fundamentally changed how we think about money and settlement. Now, the next great shift—tokenization—is upon us.
Digital wallets, which are already routine for many of us, are paving the way. Bank of America recently reported that by 2026, more than 5.3 billion people will use digital wallets—over half of the global population. That sheer scale is why I see wallets not just as a payment convenience, but as the infrastructure layer for tokenized assets, including commodities and equities.
From everyday payments to tokenized value
The pandemic accelerated a shift that had been building for years. Consumers who once resisted digital payments began using wallets. Now, nearly 90% of smartphone owners send or receive money through wallet-enabled apps, according to Bank of America.
Tokenization sits at the core of this technology. Digital wallets transmit secure aliases, or tokens, instead of sensitive account numbers. That same process, which today makes paying for coffee safer, will soon support tokenized assets—whether that’s a share of stock, gold, a carbon credit, or a royalty or stream.
In other words, digital wallets are teaching billions of people how to interact with tokenized value, and are becoming the user interface for the tokenized economy. Here are four major ways tokenization will transform investments and industries.
