Coinbase Eyes Tokenized Shares — $30 Trillion Opportunity Awaits 

Jesse Pollak, a Base developer, revealed the plan in a January 3rd social media post, hinting at a potentially transformative step for the crypto industry. Pollak remarked, “Every asset in the world will be on Base,” showcasing a bold vision for digital financial ecosystems.

Source: Jesse Pollack on X

While tokenized COIN shares are already accessible to non-U.S. users via platforms like Backed, U.S. investors might have to wait longer. Pollak emphasized the company’s exploratory approach as it seeks regulatory clarity within the U.S., stating,

“We need regulatory clarity and improvements that embrace on-chain as an open platform to unlock this for everyone.”

However, the challenges ahead are daunting. Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has brought over 100 enforcement actions against crypto companies, creating an environment of heightened scrutiny.

COIN’s recent performance has been a rollercoaster. On November 11, the stock soared over 20%, breaking past the $300 mark for the first time since 2021. This surge was linked to Donald Trump’s presidential election victory, with many believing his administration might bring a more favorable stance toward cryptocurrency regulation.

Michael Miller, an equities researcher at Morningstar, noted in November that Coinbase stands to benefit from the election results. The company has faced significant regulatory challenges from the SEC and is currently engaged in a legal battle with the agency.

“We see Coinbase as a beneficiary of the election results as the firm has been struggling with regulatory pressure from the SEC, with the firm actively fighting the agency in court,” said Miller.

Yet, the road to regulatory harmony remains bumpy. Despite steps to transition from enforcement-based regulation to a legislative framework, Citi noted in a December report that the U.S. lags behind other jurisdictions in crafting comprehensive crypto policies.

2025 price predictions for COIN, and other assets such as Ripple’s XRP and even meme coins such as Dogecoin are positive. For savvy investors looking at which crypto to buy now, many options are worth considering for their portfolio.

The price potential of tokenized assets is immense. Colin Butler, Polygon’s global head of institutional capital, forecasts a $30 trillion global market opportunity for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Tokenized securities, a subset of RWAs, play a pivotal role in this rapidly growing sector.

Even conservative estimates predict substantial growth. Citigroup anticipates tokenized digital securities could reach a value of $4 trillion to $5 trillion by 2030. Similarly, the Global Financial Markets Association (GFMA) and Boston Consulting Group project that tokenized illiquid assets may total $16 trillion within the same period.

Source: RWA

Butler emphasized the transformative impact of tokenization on high-net-worth individuals. Individuals with net worths between $1 million and $30 million own $100 trillion. Tokenization has the potential to unlock liquidity in asset classes once considered out of reach for many investors.

“There are $300 trillion in global assets, half of which — $100 trillion — are owned by individuals with net worths between $1 million and $30 million,” Butler said.

Wall Street giants are not sitting idle. Goldman Sachs plans to roll out three tokenization products later this year, signaling a strong institutional push toward the sector. The demand is clear, with clients expressing growing interest in tokenized offerings.

Protocols like Propy in real estate and KlimaDAO in digital carbon markets are also leading the charge. These platforms have seen a surge in user activity as tokenized assets gain traction across both public and private blockchains.

The broader implications of tokenization are transformative. By bringing liquidity and accessibility to historically illiquid asset classes, tokenization is poised to redefine portfolio allocations. Butler predicts a future where private bankers might recommend clients allocate up to 20% of their portfolios to tokenized assets, compared to negligible percentages today.