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Tether has announced a strategic partnership with KraneShares and Bitfinex Securities to develop tokenized securities infrastructure, positioning the trio to capture a share of what's projected to become a nearly $10 trillion market by 2030.
The collaboration brings together Hadron by Tether's asset tokenization platform, KraneShares' ETF expertise and distribution channels, and Bitfinex Securities' regulated trading infrastructure to create on-chain versions of traditional financial products.
"More than $700 trillion in global financial assets exist today, with over $10 trillion expected to be tokenized by 2030," said Gabor Gurbacs, advisor at Tether, in a statement on Thursday. "We are building the infrastructure that will connect those markets to a more efficient and accessible future."
KraneShares, which manages the largest U.S.-listed China-focused ETF, will work with the partners to explore tokenized exchange-traded products and develop accessible market infrastructure. CEO Jonathan Krane indicated the firm expects a complete business transformation around tokenization within several years.
"We believe our business in the next three to four years will be 100% tokenized, and this strategic agreement represents an important step toward that future," Krane said.
Tokenization allows traditional assets like stocks, bonds, funds, and real estate to be represented as blockchain tokens, potentially enabling fractional ownership, 24/7 trading, faster settlement, and reduced intermediary costs compared to conventional market infrastructure.
The global tokenized securities market is projected to expand from approximately $30 billion in 2025 to nearly $10 trillion by 2030, reflecting accelerating institutional adoption of blockchain-based capital formation, Tether noted, citing a McKinsey study.
Hadron by Tether provides the technological infrastructure for tokenized asset issuance and management. Bitfinex Securities operates a licensed platform under El Salvador's National Commission of Digital Assets (CNAD), offering regulatory compliance and secondary market liquidity for tokenized securities.
"Credible secondary markets are essential to realizing the full potential of tokenized assets," said Jesse Knutson, head of operations at Bitfinex Securities. "When investors can trade confidently and regulators have clarity, new classes of capital become accessible."
The partnership will focus on evaluating institutional demand, validating tokenized product structures, and integrating real-world assets into blockchain systems. The effort builds on El Salvador's digital asset regulatory framework, which has positioned the Central American nation as an early mover in crypto-friendly legislation.
"This collaboration reflects Tether and Bitfinex Securities' commitment to supporting the evolution of capital markets," said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. "Working with KraneShares enables us to connect traditional investment products with next-generation financial infrastructure."
The announcement comes as institutional interest in real-world asset tokenization accelerates globally. Major financial institutions including Franklin Templeton, UBS, and BlackRock have launched tokenized fund products, while regulators in jurisdictions from Hong Kong to Europe establish frameworks for onchain securities.
