Tokenized RWA deposits reach $7.4 billion as broader DeFi shrinks 15%
RWA & Tokenization ·
Deposits tied to tokenized real-world assets tripled year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, even as the wider DeFi sector contracted.
Tokenized RWA deposits climbed to $7.4 billion in Q2 2026, more than three times their year-earlier level, according to data cited by The Block. Over the same period, total DeFi deposits fell by about 15%, a divergence that CoinShares figures place at the center of the report.
The gap between the two figures points to a reallocation within the broader digital-asset market rather than uniform growth or contraction. While capital tied to tokenized real-world assets expanded sharply, funds parked in general DeFi protocols moved in the opposite direction, shrinking by roughly 15% during the same quarter.
The tripling of RWA deposits to $7.4 billion was corroborated across multiple accounts of the same CoinShares data, with four distinct sources covering the figures. Separate summaries of the report also framed the trend as a shift toward real-world asset strategies, echoing the pairing of a $7.4 billion RWA figure against a 15% decline in overall DeFi activity noted in a post shared via CoinMarketCap.
What remains unspecified in the available material is the composition of the $7.4 billion figure — which categories of tokenized real-world assets (such as treasuries, credit, or other instruments) drove the increase, and which segments of the broader DeFi market absorbed the 15% decline. CoinShares' full report, along with any breakdown by asset type or protocol, was not detailed in the material reviewed.
Also unclear is whether the 15% DeFi contraction reflects outflows, price depreciation of underlying tokens, or a mix of both, since deposit figures in DeFi can be sensitive to token valuations as well as net withdrawals. Further disclosures from CoinShares or additional reporting would be needed to clarify the drivers behind both the RWA surge and the broader DeFi decline heading into the following quarter.