Surge in Tokenized Assets in South Africa

A variety of institutions across South Africa are exploring how to utilize blockchain technology for practical assets, given its numerous benefits.

For example, assets that were previously illiquid, expensive to trade, and mostly accessible only to large institutions can now be traded by a broader spectrum of investors. These assets can also be settled almost instantly and stored in digital wallets alongside other blockchain-based assets.

Tokenisation refers to the digital representation of real asset ownership through tokens on a blockchain.

Notable examples of tokenised real assets include government bonds, real estate, private equity interests, and money market funds.

The potential impact of tokenisation could be significant for local asset managers.

A fund that currently requires weeks to settle and demands a minimum investment of millions of rand could, in its tokenised form, settle within seconds and become accessible to a larger pool of investors.

A portfolio of government bonds could be used as collateral in real time, while private credit could be fractionalised and traded on digital platforms.

The efficiency advantages are already being recognized by global institutions, and the required infrastructure for local implementation is being developed.

Luno has introduced over 60 tokenised US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for South African investors, with more than 50,000 customers investing in tokenised stocks since the launch in August 2025.

The dialogue surrounding stablecoins is closely related to tokenisation, as digital cash is necessary to settle transactions involving tokenised assets.

This is what South Africa’s rand-backed stablecoin, ZARU, intends to achieve. Launched earlier this year through a consortium that includes Sanlam, Luno, EasyEquities, and Lesaka.

The market for tokenisation of real-world assets reached $33.91 billion in 2025, reflecting a 70% year-on-year increase.

Global market projections vary widely, from McKinsey’s cautious estimate of $4 trillion by 2030 to Standard Chartered’s optimistic forecast of $30 trillion by 2034.

Major financial institutions such as BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, JPMorgan, and Fidelity have already tokenised US Treasuries.

In April 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) emphasized tokenisation as a significant transformation in financial architecture.

Conference

Tokenisation will be a central theme among South Africa’s thought leaders and institutions at the Luno Institutional Digital Assets Conference (LIDAC26) on 11 June 2026 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

Confirmed speakers include Luno CEO James Lanigan, Sanlam Financial Markets CEO Jacques le Roux, Deputy Minister of Finance Ashor Sarupen, economist Adrian Saville, and independent economic strategist Refilwe Moloto.

Attendance is by application only, with limited spots available.

If you are interested in learning how institutions can benefit from tokenisation, apply here.

About Luno

Luno is a leading digital asset investment platform dedicated to enhancing the global financial ecosystem. Established in 2013, it has earned the trust of over 16 million users across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Luno has expanded beyond cryptocurrencies to provide a wide range of digital asset investments, including tokenised assets and bundles that combine crypto with shares in major global companies.

Luno offers individuals, professional traders, businesses, and institutions secure, accessible, and innovative avenues for investing in the digital economy.

• Luno is ISO27001 certified, demonstrating strong security measures across all operational areas.
• In 2025, Luno was rated the most secure crypto platform worldwide by Upguard, a third-party risk assessment service.
• Luno publishes a verified proof of reserve report monthly.
• Luno was ranked the top crypto exchange in both the 2025 and 2026 MyBroadband surveys, as well as in the February 2025 Analytico survey of South Africa’s preferred technology brands.

www.luno.com

Investing in crypto assets involves the risk of capital loss. Luno (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No. 53314) and a registered credit provider (NCRCP22123).

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