TradFi perps up 10x in 2026, capturing 28% of crypto futures volume: Binance

Traditional finance (TradFi) perpetual contracts continue to outperform standard tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) in terms of investor interest. According to Binance Research, TradFi perpetuals linked to major U.S. stocks such as Tesla (TSLA) and Apple (AAPL) accounted for 28.3% of total crypto futures trading volume in July, highlighting their growing popularity among traders.

Since the beginning of 2026, trading activity in TradFi perpetuals has expanded dramatically, climbing from $80 billion to $691 billion, representing nearly a tenfold increase. During the same period, overall crypto futures trading volume across leading exchanges declined slightly from $2.95 trillion to $2.44 trillion. As a result, TradFi perpetuals now represent roughly 28% of the entire crypto futures market.

Binance Research attributes this rapid growth to two primary factors: capital shifting toward tokenized traditional assets and increasing demand for hedging strategies. The report also notes that this trend aligns with broader market narratives in 2026, where products such as prediction markets and perpetual futures continue to attract traders seeking leveraged exposure and speculative opportunities.

Tokenized Stocks Continue to Expand Despite Slower Growth

While TradFi perpetuals have experienced explosive growth, tokenized stocks have recorded a more moderate pace of adoption. The tokenized RWA sector posted a 3.2% month-over-month increase, indicating steady but comparatively slower momentum.

Even so, the tokenized stock market has expanded significantly over the past seven months, growing from approximately $700 million to $2.3 billion, representing more than a threefold increase. In addition, the number of tokenized stock holders has surpassed one million for the first time, reflecting rising adoption of blockchain-based investment products.

Younger Investors Lean Toward Unleveraged Tokenized Assets

Binance Research also found notable differences in investor behavior across generations. Rather than favoring leveraged products, Gen Z investors appear more interested in standard tokenized stocks, with leveraged tokenized ETFs accounting for only 5.9% of their total trading activity.

In comparison, millennials and older investors allocate a larger share of their trading volumes—around 7% to 8%—to leveraged tokenized ETFs, suggesting a greater willingness to take on additional risk.

Tokenization Growth Has Yet to Lift Blockchain Tokens

Despite the continued expansion of tokenized assets, the anticipated boost to the native tokens of blockchain networks supporting tokenization has not yet materialized.

BNB Chain remains one of the leading ecosystems for tokenized ETFs, but its native token BNB has declined by 32% in 2026. Likewise, Solana, another prominent blockchain in the tokenization space, has seen its native token SOL fall by 42% this year. These trends suggest that while tokenized financial products are gaining traction, increased ecosystem usage has not yet translated into stronger token valuations.

Key Takeaways

TradFi perpetual contracts have emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments within crypto markets, capturing 28% of crypto futures trading volume as investors seek leveraged exposure to traditional financial assets. At the same time, tokenized stocks continue to gain adoption, particularly among younger investors who favor direct, unleveraged investment products. Although blockchain-based tokenization continues to expand, its impact on the market value of native blockchain tokens remains limited for now.

Voice Of Osiz

The rapid rise of TradFi perpetuals highlights a major shift in how investors are leveraging blockchain-powered financial markets. As traditional assets become more accessible through crypto infrastructure, the demand for innovative trading solutions and tokenized finance is expected to accelerate. At Osiz, we see this as a strong indicator of the growing convergence between traditional finance and blockchain technology. While native token prices may not yet reflect this momentum, the underlying adoption of tokenized financial products continues to strengthen the industry's long-term outlook. Businesses that invest early in scalable crypto trading platforms and tokenization solutions will be better positioned to capitalize on this evolving financial ecosystem. The future of digital finance lies in bridging traditional markets with decentralized innovation.

Source: Ambcrypto.com