• Real-world assets (RWAs) have hit a major milestone, surpassing $10 billion in total value locked (TVL), according to DefiLlama. 
• Meanwhile, the broader crypto market is still struggling, experiencing a 1.40% decrease in overall market capitalization. 

Real-world assets (RWAs) have been on an incredible growth trajectory in recent months. Even though the crypto market hasn’t delivered the bull run that many investors hoped for, RWAs have been quietly and consistently expanding. And despite the current lackluster performance of the wider crypto market, real-world assets are bucking the trend, reaching new all-time highs. 

This surge has propelled the real-world asset category to a significant $10 billion milestone, as reported by DefiLlama. Specifically, at the time of this report, RWAs boast a total value locked (TVL) of $10.194 billion, showing a slight dip of 0.35% in the last 24 hours but a healthy 3.89% increase over the past week. 

Leading the charge are Maker RWA, BlackRock’s BUIDL, Ethena USDtb, Ondo Finance, and Usual, which together account for the lion’s share of the total value locked. Impressively, Maker RWA, BlackRock BUIDL, and Ethena USDtb have each individually surpassed $1 billion in TVL. Notably, USDtb has experienced explosive growth, surging by an astounding 1,177% in the last month alone. 

Real-World Assets: Shining Bright as Cryptocurrencies Stumble 

While RWAs are celebrating record highs, the broader crypto market continues to show weakness. The overall crypto market cap currently stands at $2.75 trillion, having decreased by 1.40% in the last day, and the crypto fear and greed index reflects a ‘fearful’ sentiment at 27. 

Bitcoin is currently trading around $83,437, down by 2.21% in the last 24 hours at the time of writing. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, has retreated back to the $1,900 price range after briefly hitting the $2,000 mark yesterday. This market downturn is likely disappointing for investors who were expecting a strong bull run in 2025. 

Following Donald Trump’s re-election in the US, the crypto market briefly experienced a mini bull run towards the end of 2024. Fueled by Trump’s pro-crypto stance and anticipated favorable regulatory policies, many in the crypto space had hoped for sustained gains into 2025. However, while the broader crypto market stagnates, real-world assets are thriving, driven by practical real-world applications and the power of blockchain technology. 

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