ADI Foundation and Settlemint Launch ADGM Tokenization Rail for $30.9B RWAs

May 14, 2026 — ADI Foundation and Settlemint have launched a partnership to build an integrated digital securities infrastructure on the ADI Chain within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) regulatory framework. The collaboration aims to streamline the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), which currently represent approximately $30.92 billion in on-chain value, according to RWA.xyz data.

Immediate Details & Direct Quotes

The new infrastructure combines ADI Foundation’s compliance-ready Layer-2 blockchain with Settlemint’s digital asset lifecycle platform (DALP). The integrated system handles the entire lifespan of a digital security, from initial token creation and on-chain recording to post-trade servicing and management.

“This partnership proves that regulated, multi-asset tokenization at national scale on public blockchains is not just feasible, but live,” said Matthew Van Niekerk, co-founder and president of Settlemint.

The platform utilizes Settlemint’s implementation of the ERC-3643 standard, a protocol specifically designed for security tokens to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. While initially focusing on equity tokenization, the infrastructure is built to support other tokenized securities and financial instruments pending regulatory approval.

“The future of investment and trading will not only be digitized, but also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” said Andrey Lazorenko, CEO of ADI Foundation. “Our partnership brings together market infrastructure, institutional-grade blockchain, and a digital asset lifecycle platform to tokenize equities and trade them on secondary platforms.”

Market Context & Reaction

The announcement comes as institutional interest in real-world assets (RWAs) on-chain continues to accelerate. As of May 2026, tokenized U.S. Treasuries account for roughly $15.20 billion of the $30.92 billion total on-chain RWA market, according to RWA.xyz data.

Market analysts expect this trend to scale significantly. A 2026 analysis by BCG projects the digital asset market could surge from $0.6 trillion in 2025 to $18.9 trillion by 2033, signaling massive institutional adoption ahead.

Van Niekerk characterized the partnership as a “blueprint” for the broader financial industry, noting that the infrastructure is intended to be a model that central securities depositories (CSDs), exchanges, and clearing houses can adopt to integrate digital assets into existing operations.

The launch addresses a primary hurdle for institutional investors: the difficulty of coordinating issuance, trading, settlement, and custody across fragmented jurisdictions. By providing an integrated architecture, the partners aim to offer a unified pathway for institutions to move traditional assets onto the blockchain.

Background & Historical Context

The ADI Foundation and Settlemint partnership represents a significant milestone in the evolution of digital securities infrastructure under regulated frameworks. The ADGM regulatory framework, established in 2026, provides the legal foundation for this initiative.

This development follows broader trends in the Middle East’s crypto and blockchain adoption. DMCC recently partnered with Crypto.com to advance commodities tokenization in Dubai, exploring blockchain-enabled infrastructure for real-world asset tokenization across commodity markets.

Saudi Arabia has also launched national blockchain infrastructure for real estate tokenization, signaling growing regional momentum for institutional-grade digital asset solutions.

The ERC-3643 standard implementation is particularly notable, as it provides a compliance-focused protocol for security tokens, addressing regulatory concerns that have historically hindered institutional participation in tokenized markets.

What This Means

For institutional investors, this infrastructure provides a clear regulatory pathway to tokenize and trade traditional assets on blockchain networks, potentially reducing costs and settlement times while increasing market accessibility.

The 24/7 trading capability mentioned by Lazorenko could fundamentally change equity market dynamics, enabling round-the-clock trading that aligns with global investor demands.

Settlemint’s blueprint approach suggests other exchanges and CSDs may adopt similar models, potentially accelerating the $18.9 trillion digital asset market projection by 2033.

Investors should monitor regulatory developments in ADGM and other jurisdictions, as approval for additional tokenized financial instruments could significantly expand addressable market opportunities. As always, conduct your own research before engaging with new tokenization platforms or digital securities offerings.

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