Quick Takeaways:
- Standard Chartered anticipates that DeFi could gain $2 trillion by 2028.
- Stablecoins may hold $1 6 trillion in U. S. Treasuries as reserves.
- Ethereum is on to dominate DeFi as institutions follow blockchain.
Standard Chartered to Pick Up $2 Trillion DeFi Boom by 2028
Standard Chartered Bank forecasts that the DeFi market could see institutional blockchain integration.
According to Geoff Kendrick, Head of FX and Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, the 2025 stablecoin boom has already broken up traditional finance (TradFi) payment systems, laying the foundation for the next DeFi outgrowth cycle.
Stablecoins Reshape the Financial Landscape
Kendrick’s report highlights how stablecoins have become more than digital cash substitutes. They are now creating the on-chain liquidity needed for institutional DeFi expansion.
He noted that stablecoins have begun to “disrupt TradFi payment networks and savings,” while driving awareness and fostering on-chain lending and borrowing.
Kendrick projects the value of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) will jump from $35 billion today to $2 trillion by 2028, aligning with U.S. Treasury forecasts.
$1.6 Trillion in Treasuries Could Back Stablecoins
Kendrick also predicts stablecoin reserves will include about $1.6 trillion in U.S. Treasury bills, mirroring new T-bill issuance over the same period.
“Stablecoins could grow from $230 billion to $2 trillion by 2028, ” he said, noting that this trend will strengthen DeFi’s institutional foundation and amplify fluidity across orbital markets.
This view aligns with prior research from the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee (TBAC), suggesting that tokenization is turning into a central pillar of orbital financial transformation.
Ethereum Leads the Institutional Shift
As DeFi evolves, Ethereum continues to anchor blockchain-based finance. The Ethereum Foundation recently launched a dedicated Institutional Use Case page to guide traditional finance firms exploring DeFi infrastructure.
Kendrick emphasized Ethereum’s growing dominance: “TradFi is turning to Ethereum. Protocols like Aave will be major winners. The future of finance is here.”
Institutional DeFi Adoption Accelerates
Standard Chartered remains among the most bullish major banks on digital assets. The firm previously forecast Bitcoin would reach new highs amid regulatory normalization and rising liquidity.
Now, Kendrick’s latest note extends that optimism to DeFi, predicting that institutions will increasingly rely on blockchain for settlement, liquidity, and asset tokenization.
If his projections prove accurate, DeFi could transition from a niche experiment to a core component of global finance by the end of the decade.
Byte-Sized Alpha: Other US Crypto Headlines
- Bitcoin whales now control 45% of realized cap, a concentration concern.
- XRP nears a death cross. Can holders spark a rebound?
- TRUMP token eyes strong November amid rising retail optimism.
- SpaceX moves $31 million in Bitcoin. Musk’s crypto holdings are in focus.
- Binance.US rebuts Senator Murphy over “politicized” Trump crypto claims.
Disclaimer: The information in this clause is for educational design exclusively and does not constitute financial advice.
