Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov claims RWA will shake up the blockchain industry

Sergey Nazarov, co-creator of Chainlink, highlights the potential of real world assets (RWAs) in the blockchain sector. Nazarov notes that RWAs aim to bring traditional market assets like real estate, loans, and bonds onto the blockchain.

Advantages of RWA

Significant Value

Nazarov emphasises that RWAs could hold more on-chain value than cryptocurrencies. He estimates tens of trillions of dollars could be converted into RWA format, far surpassing current levels.

Superior Ownership

Nazarov asserts that on-chain RWAs offer a superior format for secure asset ownership and transferability. These assets can be traded across borders with less friction compared to traditional systems.

Global Liquidity

RWAs provide easier access to global liquidity, a factor that has facilitated cryptocurrency growth for years. Nazarov highlights Chainlink’s role in placing crucial data on-chain, enhancing transparency and efficiency.

Efficiency Gains

RWAs are in the early stages of creating efficiency through on-chain logic. By moving more fund administration and operations on-chain, there is potential for significant cost reductions and operational efficiency.

Application of RWA in CCIP

In a podcast, Nazarov discussed Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and its role in linking traditional finance (TradFi) with decentralised finance (DeFi). He highlighted the excitement around CCIP at SmartCon 2023 and its potential to create a global liquidity layer.

Institutional Involvement

Prominent financial institutions such as Blackrock and Fidelity are already participating in the RWA trend through tokenised funds. This indicates a significant move towards blockchain adoption in traditional finance.

Profound Impact

Nazarov predicts that RWAs will become essential financial products, accessible to everyone, not just banks or large hedge funds. This shift towards a more secure and reliable financial system is seen as inevitable.

Nazarov envisions a future where RWAs bridge the gap between TradFi and DeFi. He believes consumer demand will drive banks to create an expanding array of RWAs, ultimately leading to a single global internet of contracts.

While the potential for RWAs in blockchain is significant, the path to widespread adoption remains challenging. Regulatory hurdles and the need for robust infrastructure could slow down progress.