Web3 minds were focused on tokenized RWAs, stablecoins, Bitcoin and AI this week.
Tokenized RWA interest surging
“The steady growth that we’ve seen in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), even as the wider crypto market cap has plummeted by $1 trillion, is one of the clearest signs yet of the transition the digital asset sector and the wider economy is undergoing right now.
“As fears over tighter liquidity cause investors to retreat from speculative assets, we’ve seen a flight from altcoins and Bitcoin. But, unlike previous cycles, where crypto-native assets sold off across the board, RWAs have consistently bucked the trend.
“The divergence suggests capital isn’t simply leaving the ecosystem, but rather rotating toward yield-bearing, cash-flow-backed instruments. This is typical during liquidity regime shifts, but we’re seeing it clearly in crypto for the first time.
“The active on-chain market cap of tokenized RWAs is up some 36% this year, and at least half of this is sitting in tokenized T-bills, bonds, and MMFs. This makes the debate around stablecoin yields even more pertinent as investor exposure to on-chain dollars grows.
“On top of this, as capital rotates away from higher-risk assets, we’re already seeing commodities like natural gas begin to benefit. If this rotation toward real assets continues, we could begin to see tokenization expand beyond financial instruments and gold, which has largely dominated the tokenized commodities sector.”
– Nic Puckrin, investment analyst and co-founder of Coin Bureau
Small business visibility in an AI world
“While AI lets customers move through the buyer journey more quickly, human touchpoints are still the key to driving brand loyalty. Long-term engagement will continue to come from what AI can’t provide: personalized experiences, unique offerings, and live customer support that give shoppers a reason to come back.
“By blending tailored recommendations with human connection, retailers can create meaningful shopping moments that build relationships with consumers. It’s the human touch combined with advanced technology that makes the difference.”
“AI is changing the way people shop from the very beginning. Shoppers are using it to compare prices, get product recommendations, and plan what to buy long before they even visit a retailer’s site.
“That means brands can easily be overlooked if they’re not showing up in those early moments. Giving AI clear context about who a product is for, why it matters, and what problems it solves is becoming essential to stay visible.
“As AI plays a bigger role in guiding purchase decisions, brands need a solid data foundation to make sure their products are seen. For small businesses, structured product data with clear attributes and real-world use cases helps AI systems recommend their offerings. Retailers without a clear agentic commerce strategy and AI-ready data risk losing visibility in this next era of shopping.”
– Kurv CEO Afshin Yazdian
Bitcoin
“With Bitcoin at $67k and crypto market sentiment at all-time lows, it’s hard to believe that we could see huge downside from here. I think the range is now set at $50-95k for several weeks. At that point we will see the effects of market legislation plus significant incremental market liquidity. This will likely mean all-time highs and beyond in the next 18 months. Patience and a reasonable time preference will be rewarded.”
– Abra CEO Bill Barhydt
“Bitcoin hasn’t reached its bear market bottom yet. Historically, these have aligned with the 200-week moving average or on-chain signals, which point to a level somewhere between $58,000 and $55,000, which is the average acquisition price of all coins.
“But it’s not just about technical levels – it’s liquidity that will determine when this bottom arrives. Right now, the liquidity backdrop isn’t conducive to a meaningful rebound.
“Yesterday’s slightly hawkish FOMC minutes thwarted nearly all hopes of a March rate cut. Meanwhile, the dollar looks supported for the time being, while 10-year Treasury yields remain firmly above 4%. This simply isn’t the environment for a structural rally.
“On-chain positioning also points to continued sell-side pressure, with Bitcoin’s spot cumulative volume delta (CVD) at its lowest level since 2023. A recovery in CVD toward neutral would signal that buyers are regaining control.
“We are seeing some early signs of accumulation – both from long-term holders and even some evidence of retail investors buying the dip. However, previous cycles have typically seen deeper capitulation. So there’s likely more pain to come unless we see a clear liquidity shift in the form of falling rates, a weaker dollar, or significant ETF inflows.”
– Puckrin
Stablecoins
“Stablecoins are moving out of being niche, into being practical and being used every day to pay for things and to get paid. Demand outpaces access. Customers want to use stablecoins, but the way they integrate or access and use those stablecoins is not through their traditional banking and fintech apps. So this really is the gap that these banks and fintechs can close.
“I speak to enterprise leaders every week, and they’re all asking the same thing: how do we actually use stablecoins? What does it mean for cross-border payments and for payroll?”
– Chris Harmse, co-founder and CBO of BVNK