Tokenized Stocks Mania Grows as Market Cap Soars 220% in July

Interest in tokenized stocks surged sharply in July, with TSLA and SPY reaching $53.6 million in market cap – up 220% since June, Binance highlighted in its latest report.

On-chain addresses linked to these assets grew from just 1,600 to over 90,000 in one month. Trading activity on centralized exchanges dwarfs on-chain platforms by over 70 times, suggesting pent-up demand beyond what blockchain data reveals.

The market is still small but gaining momentum fast. Just 1% tokenization of global equities could push the sector to $1.3 trillion, more than eight times DeFi’s peak.

xStocks by Backed Finance emerged as a key player, capitalizing on Europe’s permissive rules but now eyeing the U.S. as regulatory clarity improves.

After months of Bitcoin dominance, the crypto market flipped in July — with altcoins surging ahead, Ethereum in particular breaking away from the pack. Fueled by regulatory clarity, new treasury allocations, and explosive interest in tokenized assets, digital markets posted their strongest month of 2025 yet.

Ethereum Outpaces the Market with 51% Jump

Ethereum stole the spotlight in July, rallying 51%, outpacing every other major digital asset. The spike followed a wave of inflows into spot ETH ETFs and unprecedented corporate treasury adoption. Over 24 companies reportedly added ETH to their balance sheets, lifting corporate holdings by more than 127% to over 2.7 million ETH.

Related: Coinbase Seeks SEC Approval to Launch Tokenized Stock Trading

The preference for direct ETH exposure over passive ETF structures grew stronger, supported by Ethereum’s deflationary model and staking yields. This institutional shift marked the most significant monthly increase in ETH treasury demand ever recorded.

While Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of $123,000, its dominance fell to 60.6%, down 5.2 percentage points. Altcoins gained nearly 10% in dominance, led by Ethereum’s rise but also supported by surging prices in coins like SUI, ADA, and DOGE, each posting gains between 30% and 35%.

Landmark Stablecoin Law

A defining moment came mid-July when the GENIUS Act was signed into US law, creating the first federal framework for fully reserved stablecoins. The legislation requires 1:1 fiat backing, monthly disclosures, and confines issuance to regulated financial firms.

The new law gave institutional players a green light. JPMorgan expanded its JPM-D deposit token pilot, Citi moved forward on tokenized cross-border settlements, and Visa reiterated plans to grow stablecoin support, especially in emerging markets and high-value transfers.

Decentralized finance also benefited from the bullish tide. Total Value Locked (TVL) rose 23.6% in July, driven primarily by Ethereum. Stablecoin activity expanded 5.1%, with USDT maintaining its lead over USDC. Tron, long a hub for stablecoin transactions, recovered strongly after a slow June.

Together, DeFi and stablecoins continued their recovery from early 2025 doldrums, lifted by favorable legislative changes and new institutional involvement.

Regulatory Risks Resurface

Despite July’s strong gains, late-month caution returned. The Trump administration reimposed tariffs, and the Federal Reserve maintained a wait-and-see stance on rate cuts. Meanwhile, analysts continue to assess the implications of the July 30 White House crypto report.

Even so, July showcased the growing maturity and institutional depth of the digital asset market. With Ethereum at the heart of treasury adoption, stablecoins integrating with traditional finance, and tokenized stocks gaining investor traction, blockchain finance appears to be entering a new phase, one marked not just by speculation, but by real-world utility.