How to Invest in Real-World Assets (RWAs): A Step-by-Step Guide
Buying a tokenized real-world asset can be as simple as buying any token on an exchange, or as involved as opening a fund account. It depends mostly on the asset class and on who you are. Here is the process, step by step.
Step 1: Pick the exposure you want
Decide what you’re actually trying to own:
- A dollar yield: tokenized treasuries or money market funds.
- Higher yield with credit risk: private credit.
- A store of value: tokenized gold.
- Equity exposure: tokenized stocks.
- Rental income: tokenized real estate.
Step 2: Check you’re eligible
Most tokenized funds and notes restrict who can hold them by country and investor status. Before anything else, read the issuer’s eligibility terms. See who can buy RWAs for how accreditation and Reg S rules work. Each asset page on this site lists eligibility in its key facts where the issuer publishes it.
Step 3: Choose how to buy
Mint from the issuer. You onboard (KYC), get your wallet approved, send stablecoins or dollars, and receive tokens. You get the asset at its net asset value and can redeem the same way. This is how most treasury funds work.
Buy on an exchange or DEX. Freely transferable tokens such as gold tokens trade on exchanges. You pay the market price, which can differ slightly from the asset value.
Use an issuer’s app. Some issuers, such as Franklin Templeton for BENJI, provide an app that handles custody for you.
Step 4: Sort out custody
- Self-custody: a wallet you control. For permissioned tokens, the wallet address must be approved by the issuer.
- Exchange or app custody: simpler, but adds the platform’s risk.
- Institutional custody: for larger amounts, a qualified custodian.
Step 5: Check before you commit
Run through the RWA risk checklist: what you own legally, who holds the asset, how it is audited, how redemption works and whether the issuer can freeze your tokens.
Step 6: Track it
Every product on RWA Tracker has a page with its current value, chains and history. The live table below shows the largest products right now. Nothing here is investment advice.
Largest tokenized assets right now
See all| # | Asset | Category | Issuer | Value | 7D | 30D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Figure HELOCFIGR_HELOC | Private credit | Figure | $24.4B mc | +5.2% | +6.0% |
| 2 |  Superstate USTBUSTB | Treasuries | Superstate | $753M mc | -0.5% | -3.7% |
| 3 | Treasuries | Superstate | $565M | +3.4% | -5.0% | |
| 4 |  Kinesis GoldKAU | Gold | Kinesis | $532M mc | +62.5% | +54.3% |
| 5 |  Figure YLDSYLDS | Bonds | Figure | $511M mc | +3.4% | -2.5% |
| 6 | Treasuries | Ethena | $489M | -0.7% | +1.3% | |
| 7 | Private credit | - | $414M | +11.3% | +47.9% | |
| 8 | Bonds | - | $397M | +2.1% | +15.9% | |
| 9 | Private credit | - | $338M | +55.7% | +20.1% | |
| 10 | Treasuries | Centrifuge | $333M | -0.2% | -58.3% | |
| 11 | Other | - | $293M | -1.3% | -1.9% | |
| 12 | Bonds | - | $252M | -5.7% | -2.3% | |
| 13 | Treasuries | - | $231M | +4.5% | +61.1% | |
| 14 |  Kinesis SilverKAG | Commodities | Kinesis | $224M mc | -5.9% | -10.7% |
| 15 |  Tradable NA Rent Financing Platform SSTNPC0000031 | Private credit | - | $203M mc | 0.0% | 0.0% |
FAQ
What is the easiest way to invest in RWAs?
For most people, buying a freely traded token such as a gold token (PAXG or XAUT) on a regulated exchange, or using a registered tokenized fund that's open to retail investors in their country.
Do I need a crypto wallet to invest in RWAs?
Usually yes, for tokens you mint directly from an issuer. Some issuers offer their own app with custody, and some exchanges let you hold RWA tokens in your exchange account.
Assets in this guide
Key terms
More guides
This guide is general information, not investment advice. Check an issuer's own documents before investing.