Centrifuge is a leading real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform that provides open infrastructure for onchain asset management, enabling asset managers, institutions, and investors to tokenize, manage, and distribute RWAs like funds, credit, treasuries, structured vehicles, and institutional collateral pools. Founded in 2017, it bridges traditional finance (TradFi) with decentralized finance (DeFi) by bringing predictable cash-flow assets onchain, with over 1,768 assets tokenized and a total value locked (TVL) exceeding $1.3 billion as of early 2026.
The platform works by offering automated, modular infrastructure for tokenization: users can self-serve or use white-glove services to convert real-world assets into digital tokens, streamline origination, reporting, and lifecycle management, and connect them to DeFi for global liquidity and yield. Key components include the RWA Market (built with Aave and Morpho), which allows lending and borrowing against tokenized RWAs for enhanced liquidity, and Centrifuge V3, a multichain upgrade (launched in 2025) powered by Wormhole for seamless cross-chain operations across Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and more.
Key Features:
• Compliance and Institutional Focus: Built-in tools for transparency, security, and regulatory adherence, attracting institutions with features like onchain verifiable performance data and automated portfolio operations.
• Multichain Interoperability: Unified liquidity and chain abstraction via Wormhole, enabling asset management across networks without silos.
• DeFi Integrations: Deep connections with protocols like Aave (for collateral and markets), MakerDAO (RWA as DAI collateral), and others for diversified funding and yield products.
• Whitelabel Service: Launched in late 2025, this modular platform lets fintechs and institutions create tokenized products quickly, as seen with Daylight’s energy asset tokenization.
• deRWA Expansion: In 2025, extended to networks like Stellar with products like deJTRSY (tokenized US Treasuries) and deJAAA (AAA-rated CLOs), starting with $20M in liquidity.
The native CFG token powers the ecosystem through governance, staking for security, fee payments, and potential deflation via burns, positioning it as a high-beta play in the RWA boom. As of early 2026, Centrifuge’s ecosystem includes partnerships with Janus Henderson, BlockTower, ParaFi, Resolv (recent $100M deJAAA integration on Aave), Pharos (onchain distribution), and Caesar (first onchain equity issuance). Recent highlights: $100M JAAA strategy deployment on Aave in Feb 2026, and recognition in a 158-page report by Europe’s largest asset manager (€2T AUM) on RWA tokenization.
Compared to Ondo Finance (specialized in Treasuries and high TVL yields) and MANTRA Chain (broad, compliance-first L1 for diverse RWAs), Centrifuge excels in multichain infrastructure and predictable cash-flow assets like private credit, making it a pioneer in scaling tokenized fixed income for institutional adoption.