Tokenization as a Solution to Global Financial Inequality: How Onchain Markets Could Democratize Wealth Creation

Source: CryptoNewsNet Original Title: Coinbase Signals Next Financial Supercycle—Onchain Markets Poised to Reshape Global Wealth Creation Original Link: https://cryptonews.net/news/finance/32309713/ Global financial inequality increasingly reflects disparities in access rather than income alone. A major research institution released a new policy paper focused on how to close the capital access gap through a policy framework for a tokenized financial future that brings markets onchain.

According to the research, the ultimate goal is clear: a world where anyone, regardless of their economic background, can easily convert spare earnings into fractional ownership of productive global assets.

The paper examines how modern prosperity depends on both labor income and capital income, yet returns from asset ownership have outpaced wage growth for decades, creating a compounding divide. It argues that the most consequential fault line in the global economy is not simply between high earners and low earners, but between those who can access capital markets and those who cannot.

The research estimates that roughly 4 billion adults worldwide lack any meaningful exposure to equity or bond markets. Even in developed markets, ownership remains heavily concentrated among higher-income households, while barriers such as high minimum investment thresholds, complex onboarding requirements, and layered fees restrict participation. The analysis shifts the financial inclusion debate toward the unbrokered—describing people who may have access to bank accounts but lack practical avenues to invest in diversified portfolios of productive assets.

How Tokenization Addresses the Gap

The study presents tokenization on permissionless blockchains as a viable pathway to narrowing this capital chasm. By issuing equities, bonds, and funds as programmable tokens, markets could enable fractional ownership, lower entry points to incremental sums, and compress settlement timelines from days to near-instant execution. Efficiency gains represent only part of the opportunity, as broader participation could distribute wealth creation across regions and income levels.

The paper describes a simplified investment experience where traditional frictions fade:

“In this new landscape, the ability to invest should be as simple as sending a text message, empowering individuals to participate in the wealth creation that drives our global economy.”

Policy Framework Requirements

Policymakers feature prominently in this vision, with recommendations supporting blockchain neutrality, clear tokenization pathways, institutional participation, and recognition of self-custody to align innovation with consumer protection.

Key Takeaways

• The capital access gap affects approximately 4 billion adults lacking meaningful exposure to traditional capital markets
• Tokenization enables fractional ownership and dramatically lowers investment minimums through programmable blockchain-based assets
• Capital income from asset ownership has outpaced wage growth for decades, making market access increasingly critical for wealth building
• Clear regulatory frameworks and blockchain neutrality are essential for scaling onchain financial markets while protecting consumers