Ondo Finance Surges on Tokenization Hype, $160M in on-chain Assets Locked

Ondo Finance (ONDO) has posted strong gains—up about 20% this past week—as interest in tokenized traditional assets grows. The platform now hosts over $160 million in tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs, with more than 100 assets available via its Global Markets offering. Much of that includes products from Ondo’s yield vehicles like USDY and OUSG.

Sep 12, 2025 - 16:40
Ondo Finance Surges on Tokenization Hype, $160M in on-chain Assets Locked

Market Context

Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA)—stocks, ETFs, U.S. Treasuries—is increasingly viewed as a major trend in DeFi and TradFi convergence. Investors are seeking exposure to equities and fixed-income instruments but with blockchain advantages. Ondo’s growth aligns with rising institutional interest (e.g. BlackRock) and growing expectations that regulatory frameworks will gradually enable more tokenized asset products.


Technical Details with Attribution

  • Asset Base & Volume: Ondo’s Global Markets now supports tokenized versions of over 100 U.S.-listed stocks & ETFs—including names like Nvidia, Google, Tesla—that together represent more than $160 million in assets.
  • Total Value Locked (TVL): According to DeFiLlama and related sources, Ondo’s TVL has climbed to approximately $1.5-$1.57 billion. Key contributors include its yield product USDY (>$500 million AUM) and the Ondo Short-Term US Treasuries Fund (OUSG) with over $724 million under management.
  • Partnerships & Institutional Signals: A portion of OUSG’s assets—roughly $95 million—has moved into BlackRock’s tokenized fund BUIDL. Ondo currently holds about $110 million in BUIDL tokens. This link with BlackRock bolsters credibility and suggests institutional trust in Ondo’s model.

Analyst Perspectives

Analysts recognize Ondo’s strong early traction and believe its integrations (e.g. with BlackRock’s BUIDL) and breadth of tokenized assets give it potential for further growth. However, they caution that sustaining momentum will depend on regulatory clarity (especially for tokenized assets), liquidity persistence, technical scalability, and how well user demand holds up under market stress.


Global Impact Note

Ondo’s rapid rise and institutional linkages could accelerate the broader adoption of tokenized RWAs worldwide. If successful, the model may lead to more regulated, blockchain-based asset products, enabling global investors to access tokenized stocks, ETFs, and fixed income with more ease. This could influence how asset managers, custodians, and exchanges evolve in response to demand for digital tradability and transparency.