NYLIM was the latest entrant to the list of asset management giants making moves in tokenization, teaming up with Centrifuge (CFG) to bring one of its high-yield corporate bond strategies onchain.

For NYLIM, tokenization is less about launching blockchain versions of existing funds than improving how portfolios are assembled.

Sy said customized investment strategies often combine ETFs, bonds, private credit and other assets, creating operational complexity that makes personalization difficult to scale.

“The end goal is to embed the customization within the asset itself, rather than the customization sitting around the operations around the different assets,” he said.

Tokenization could also streamline transfer agency, settlement and other back-office processes, reducing costs that ultimately benefit investors.

“If you can bring that down by 10% or 20%, that’s a better outcome for our clients,” Sy said.

DeFi awaits

Sy said stablecoins have become the first practical bridge bringing traditional financial institutions onchain.

The stablecoin market has grown to over $300 billion, and its increasingly used for cross-brder payments

As banks, payment firms and fintech companies adopt stablecoins for cross-border payments and treasury management, many will eventually look for institutional-grade tokenized assets where those balances can earn yield instead of remaining in cash.

“Stablecoins were probably one of the biggest unlocks in the past two years,” Sy said. “Adopting stablecoins was the gateway to get them onchain.”