RBA Projects A$24 billion Annual Boost from Real‑World Asset Tokenisation
Australia’s central bank sees tokenised finance as a “strategic priority” and plans a new sandbox to test infrastructure that could deliver up to A$16.7 billion a year to the economy.
Sydney – 26 March 2026 – In a speech to industry participants on Wednesday, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Assistant Governor Brad Jones outlined findings from the bank’s “Project Acacia” research programme, estimating that the tokenisation of real‑world assets (RWA) could add roughly A$24 billion (US$16.7 billion) to Australia’s gross domestic product each year. The projection, Jones said, could rise further if novel markets emerge.
The RBA’s analysis builds on a previous wholesale central‑bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot and examines whether tokenised securities, invoices, property titles and other tangible assets can improve the efficiency of Australia’s wholesale financial markets. The study was conducted in partnership with the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre and a consortium of industry groups.
From Concept to Sandbox
Jones announced that the RBA intends to collaborate with regulators, market participants and technology providers to launch a “digital financial market infrastructure (DFMI) sandbox”. The environment would allow participants to experiment with tokenised money, asset ledgers and new settlement mechanisms in a staged, risk‑controlled setting.
Key focus areas identified for the sandbox include:
- Interaction between wholesale CBDC, bank‑deposit tokens and stable‑coins.
- Integration of tokenised asset ledgers with the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS).
By providing a protected testing ground, the RBA hopes to smooth the transition from proof‑of‑concept to production‑grade solutions, potentially linking tokenised assets with a future Australian CBDC.
Market Momentum
Data from the analytics platform RWA.xyz shows that on‑chain value of tokenised real‑world assets, excluding stable‑coins, hit a record A$27.5 billion last week. This figure represents a 234 % increase over the previous 12 months, a growth trajectory that has continued despite a broader downturn in cryptocurrency markets.
The surge aligns with global forecasts. McKinsey & Company projects that the total value of tokenised assets worldwide could approach US$2 trillion by 2030. In Australia, securities regulator ASIC chief Joe Longo has previously urged the sector to “seize the opportunity” or risk falling behind international peers.
Analyst Perspective
The RBA’s estimates suggest that tokenisation could generate a sizable incremental contribution to the Australian economy through several channels:
- Reduced Settlement Friction – Automated, blockchain‑based settlement can cut processing times and lower counter‑party risk.
- Expanded Access to Capital – Tokenised assets can be fractionalised, enabling broader investor participation, especially from retail and smaller institutional players.
- Enhanced Transparency – Immutable ledgers provide audit trails that may reduce compliance costs and improve regulatory oversight.
However, experts caution that the projected gains hinge on the development of supportive legal frameworks, interoperability standards and robust cyber‑security measures. The sandbox approach aims to address these concerns by allowing regulators to observe real‑world experiments before codifying policy.
Key Takeaways
- Economic Impact: The RBA forecasts up to A$24 billion in annual economic benefits from RWA tokenisation, with potential upside as new market segments develop.
- Infrastructure Roadmap: A dedicated DFMI sandbox will enable systematic testing of tokenised assets, CBDC interactions, and ledger integration with existing payment systems.
- Market Growth: On‑chain RWA value has more than doubled in the past year, reaching a peak of A$27.5 billion.
- Global Context: International projections place tokenised asset markets near US$2 trillion by 2030, underscoring the strategic relevance for Australia.
- Regulatory Signal: Both the RBA and ASIC are signalling strong institutional support, encouraging industry players to accelerate development while adhering to emerging compliance standards.
As the sandbox rolls out and more pilots move toward production, Australia could become a leading testbed for tokenised finance, potentially reshaping the country’s financial ecosystem and delivering the projected economic uplift.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/australian-central-bank-backs-rwa-tokenisation-explores-digital-finance-sandbox?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
