The race to bring traditional financial assets on-chain is accelerating, and one of crypto’s most influential builders just made a bold prediction. Jesse Pollak, the creator of Base — Coinbase’s Layer-2 network built on Ethereum — believes we are entering a tokenization supercycle, with equities and non-dollar stablecoins leading the charge.
Speaking with The Block, Pollak revealed that Coinbase’s recently launched tokenized stocks on Base have already generated between $70 million and $100 million in daily trading volume, just six weeks after launch. If those numbers hold, they signal a turning point for how the world thinks about owning stocks, bonds, and other traditional assets.
What Is a Tokenization Supercycle?
Before diving deeper, let’s break down the key terms for anyone new to crypto.
Tokenization is the process of converting a real-world asset — like a share of stock, a piece of real estate, or a government bond — into a digital token that lives on a blockchain. Think of it like creating a digital receipt that proves you own something, and that receipt can be sent anywhere in the world in seconds, 24/7, without needing a traditional broker.
A supercycle, in financial terms, refers to a long-lasting period of growth that surpasses typical market cycles. When applied to tokenization, it suggests that the move toward on-chain assets is not a passing trend but a fundamental shift in how finance will operate.
Pollak’s prediction is that this shift will primarily be driven by two forces: tokenized equities and stablecoins denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Tokenized Stocks on Base: A Quick Recap
Coinbase officially launched tokenized stocks on Base in late August. Within just six weeks, the platform was processing tens of millions of dollars in daily volume. While the lineup currently includes a limited number of U.S. equities, the rapid adoption suggests strong demand from crypto-native users who want easier access to traditional markets.
This is a big deal because tokenized stocks offer several advantages over traditional brokerage accounts:
- 24/7 trading — no need to wait for the stock market to open
- Global access — anyone with a crypto wallet can participate
- Composability — tokens can be used in DeFi protocols, used as collateral, or traded peer-to-peer
- Lower barriers — fractional ownership makes it easier for smaller investors to gain exposure
For those interested in exploring the broader tokenization trend, securing your assets properly is essential. A hardware wallet like Ledger offers strong protection for your private keys, ensuring your tokenized holdings stay safe from online threats.
Why Non-Dollar Stablecoins Matter
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of a traditional currency, usually the U.S. dollar. Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) dominate this market today. But Pollak argues that stablecoins backed by other currencies — like the euro, the British pound, the Japanese yen, or emerging-market currencies — will play a critical role in the next phase of adoption.
Why? Because most of the world doesn’t operate in dollars. A European user may not want exposure to USD inflation or U.S. monetary policy. By offering stablecoins pegged to local currencies, blockchain networks like Base can serve a truly global audience, enabling seamless cross-border payments, remittances, and savings.
Imagine a small business in Brazil being able to receive payment in a Brazilian real-backed stablecoin, instantly converted and settled on-chain, without paying the hefty fees of traditional banking corridors. That’s the future Pollak envisions.
The Bigger Picture: Institutions Are Watching
Pollak’s bullish outlook aligns with broader sentiment among major financial players. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has been actively expanding its tokenized product offerings, including its BUIDL tokenized treasury fund. Banks, brokerages, and payment providers are also exploring how to integrate tokenized assets into their existing infrastructure.
Even central banks are paying attention. The rise of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) — government-issued digital money — is partly a response to the growing popularity of stablecoins. By 2030, it’s estimated that trillions of dollars worth of assets could be tokenized, representing one of the largest wealth migrations in modern history.
For users looking to get positioned early, getting started on a trusted exchange is a smart move. Platforms like Kraken or Bitvavo (popular across Europe) offer easy on-ramps to buy the cryptocurrencies you need to interact with these emerging on-chain markets.
What This Means for Everyday Crypto Users
You don’t need to be a Wall Street trader to benefit from the tokenization supercycle. Here’s what you should take away:
1. Diversification Is Getting Easier
Tokenized stocks and bonds mean you can hold a diversified portfolio of traditional assets directly from your crypto wallet, without needing multiple brokerage accounts across different countries.
2. DeFi Is Becoming More Useful
Tokenized real-world assets can be used as collateral in decentralized lending protocols, opening up new yield opportunities that weren’t possible before.
3. Global Finance Is Being Rebuilt
Whether you’re in New York or Nairobi, the underlying infrastructure for sending, receiving, and owning assets is becoming more open, more efficient, and more accessible.
Final Thoughts: The Supercycle Is Just Beginning
Jesse Pollak’s vision of a tokenization supercycle isn’t just optimistic hype — it’s backed by real numbers. With $70–100 million in daily tokenized stock volume on Base alone, the foundation is already being laid. As equities and non-dollar stablecoins continue to gain traction, the line between traditional finance and crypto will blur even further.
For investors, builders, and curious newcomers alike, this is a moment to pay attention. The financial system is being rebuilt on public blockchains, and Base is positioning itself at the center of that transformation. Whether you’re looking to trade tokenized stocks, hold euro-backed stablecoins, or simply understand where the industry is heading, the next few years promise to be some of the most exciting in the history of money.
Stay informed, secure your assets with a reliable hardware wallet, and choose reputable platforms to access this new world of finance. The tokenization supercycle has begun — and the opportunities are just starting to unfold.
