Ondo and Pantera Fuel $250M RWA Push as SEC Warms Up to Tokenization

Ondo Finance and Pantera Capital have announced a $250 million fund to boost real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. The initiative, Ondo Catalyst, will target equity and token investments in emerging blockchain finance ventures. This strategic move underscores rising investor confidence in tokenized assets and favorable U.S. regulatory shifts.

Ondo Finance Invests in Real-World Assets

The $250 million fund will invest in real-world assets like private credit and government debt through tokenized channels. Ondo Finance stated that the initiative will focus on acquiring stakes in early-stage projects within the space. Ian De Bode, Ondo’s chief strategy officer, confirmed this strategy in a statement to Axios.

Both Pantera and Ondo Finance are aligning with regulatory developments that favor blockchain-based market innovation. They plan to allocate capital methodically to scale access to tokenized financial instruments. Exchanges are also expanding their offerings in response to growing global demand.

1/ We’re excited to share that OKX Wallet (@wallet) is joining the Ondo Global Markets Alliance and that OKX users will be able to access Ondo’s tokenized stocks, ETFs, and more when we launch later this summer. pic.twitter.com/uE2zGhcvWb

— Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance) July 3, 2025

Companies such as Kraken, Coinbase, and Robinhood are entering the space with new tokenized stock and ETF trading features. Robinhood introduced a layer-2 blockchain for European clients to trade tokenized U.S. equities. Kraken followed by announcing tokenized U.S. stock trading services for international users.

Institutional Backing and Strategic Partnerships Strengthen Push

Ondo Finance recently launched Ondo Global Markets to onboard traditional financial assets onto the blockchain. The firm has also formed the Global Markets Alliance with other crypto leaders to speed up onchain finance adoption. OKX Wallet joined the alliance this week, expanding the initiative’s ecosystem.

Founders Fund, led by Peter Thiel, continues to support Ondo Finance through strategic investments in infrastructure and banking. The firm is reportedly aiding efforts to establish a crypto-friendly bank that aligns with the tokenization agenda. Ondo’s institutional ties strengthen its capacity to scale blockchain-based financial services.

 

According to De Bode, “We are seeing a bit of an arms race right now” in tokenization innovation. He emphasized the rising interest from platforms aiming to diversify with tokenized financial products. Exchanges and venture funds are leading this shift with consistent capital inflows.

Regulation and Market Data Support Tokenization Growth

SEC Chair Paul Atkins signaled a shift in regulatory posture, stating the agency now promotes innovation in tokenized financial markets. He told CNBC the commission seeks to create regulatory pathways that allow market participants to build compliant blockchain systems. This change comes after years of “regulation through enforcement.”

A June report from RedStone, Gauntlet, and RWA.xyz revealed that tokenized RWAs grew 380% since 2022, hitting $24 billion. The report excluded stablecoins, which have a collective market cap exceeding $250 billion. It highlighted U.S. government debt and private credit as the main drivers of this growth.

Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said, “Tokenization of traditional assets will redefine access and liquidity in global markets.” He noted that tokenized ETFs could soon become a mainstream financial product. Analysts expect institutions to adopt tokenized strategies at a faster pace given favorable conditions.

Summary

Ondo Finance and Pantera Capital have launched a $250 million fund, Ondo Catalyst, to expand real-world asset tokenization. The fund will focus on equity and token investments in blockchain finance ventures. With regulatory backing and strong institutional support, the initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of onchain financial markets and reshape access to traditional asset classes through tokenization.

FAQs

What is the Ondo Catalyst fund?

The Ondo Catalyst fund is a $250 million investment initiative by Ondo Finance and Pantera Capital for real-world assets.

What types of assets will the fund target?

The fund will focus on tokenized private credit, U.S. government debt, and equity in emerging financial blockchain projects.

Why is tokenization gaining momentum?

Tokenization offers improved access, liquidity, and efficiency in trading traditional financial assets like stocks and bonds.

How are exchanges responding to tokenization?

Major exchanges like Kraken and Robinhood are launching services for tokenized stock and ETF trading for international users.

What role does regulation play in this market?

Regulatory clarity from the SEC is encouraging innovation and allowing platforms to launch compliant tokenized financial products.

Glossary of Key Terms

Ondo Finance – A DeFi protocol focused on bringing traditional assets onto blockchain networks.

Tokenization – The process of converting real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain.

RWA (Real-World Assets) – Financial assets like private credit or government debt that are represented on blockchain platforms.

Layer-2 Blockchain – A secondary framework built on top of a blockchain to increase transaction speed and reduce costs.

Global Markets Alliance – A coalition formed by Ondo Finance and other firms to advance blockchain-based financial systems.

References:

Cryptoslate

Axios

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