Tokenization mirrors $20 trillion ETF boom as blockchain and AI converge, Ondo exec says

Tokenization is mirroring the explosive growth of the $20 trillion ETF market, and the next wave of demand will come from artificial intelligence, according to Ondo Finance executive John Hoffman.

Hoffman, a former Invesco and Grayscale executive who recently joined Ondo Finance as head of portfolio products, argued in a CoinDesk interview that the convergence of blockchain infrastructure and AI could become one of the biggest forces shaping capital markets over the coming decade. He stated that "the future of markets are onchain," predicting that AI agents will eventually become active participants, buying, selling and allocating capital through tokenized investment products.

For cryptocurrency and digital asset traders, this thesis highlights a growing intersection between traditional finance and decentralized technology. Tokenization — the process of representing real-world assets as digital tokens on a blockchain — has already attracted significant institutional interest, with major players like BlackRock and Fidelity exploring the space. The addition of AI agents as autonomous capital allocators could dramatically increase demand for tokenized assets, potentially driving liquidity and price discovery in onchain markets. Traders can monitor current pricing of tokenized assets and related tokens like ONDO on NowPrice's crypto page.

Looking ahead, the key question is how quickly regulatory frameworks will adapt to accommodate AI-driven trading and tokenized securities. Hoffman's comments suggest that the infrastructure is being built now, but widespread adoption may depend on clarity from regulators in major jurisdictions. The convergence of AI and blockchain remains a theme to watch for long-term positioning in digital assets.