Author: 0xJeff, Steak Studio; Translator: Jinse Finance Xiaozou
Tokenization has always been a concept that fascinates me. It may seem straightforward, but whenever something appears in tokenized form, attention immediately shifts to it.
This article summarizes some of the tokenization trends we've seen so far, how they work, and what might happen next:
1. Tokenization of Assets
The initial tokenization trend.
Bitcoin created the first decentralized, secure, and transparent ledger system, paving the way for the digital representation of assets.
Then, Ethereum emerged in 2015, introducing smart contracts that made assets programmable—whether real estate, artwork, or DeFi.
The current FDV of ETH is $470 billion. This is the scale of impact that tokenization has on assets.
2. Tokenization of Art (NFTs)
The rise of NFTs has brought tokenization into the art world.
In 2017, projects like CryptoPunks and CryptoKitties sparked the NFT craze.
By 2021, with NFTs becoming the preferred method to represent digital art and collectibles, NFT transaction volume reached $13 billion.
Many collectibles, such as CryptoPunks, BAYC, Art Blocks, etc., cost millions of dollars at their peak in 2021.
3. Tokenization of Earnings
Another major shift is the tokenization of earnings.
Pendle was the first to propose the idea of tokenizing future earnings in 2021.
It created a market where fixed and variable incomes can be traded, adding flexibility and liquidity to DeFi.
In 2023, Pendle truly took off with LSTs (liquid staking tokens) and the points market in early 2024.
Today, the FDV of PENDLE tokens is $1.6 billion.
4. Tokenization of AI Agents
Now we see the tokenization of AI agents.
Virtuals has launched a platform where you can create AI agents and tokenize them, effectively guiding their development costs.
The narrative of AI agents began in October 2024, with Virtuals creating a market for agent ownership.
Fast forward to now: the FDV of Virtual tokens has reached $2.5 billion.
5. Trend Discovery
In all these categories—assets, art, earnings, AI agents—the patterns are clear: pioneers in each category tend to experience rapid adoption and significant price action.
So, the biggest question is: what is the next step for tokenization?
Here are some thoughts I'm observing:
6. Data Tokenization
Vana is exploring DataDAOs and Data Liquidity Pools (DLPs).
Users can contribute data to these data pools, retain ownership, and receive rewards based on the quality of their contributions.
Essentially, it transforms data into a fluid, tradable asset.
The VANA token will be issued on December 16 (listed on Binance). But be careful, as the exact FDV is still unclear, but the idea of tokenizing data ownership could be a very grand concept.
7. Tokenization of Attention
Kaito AI is dedicated to the tokenization of attention in Web3. They have demonstrated the ability to generate and capture more attention through their platform's mindshare dashboard and the recent Yap-to-Earn.
Their 'Yapper Leaderboard' incentivizes thought leaders to 'yap' more, earning 'Yap' points, ultimately leading to a KAITO token airdrop.
Basically, Yap = Attention = KAITO Token.
This is an interesting game about how Web3 is redefining user engagement.
8. Tokenization of AI Apps
This feels like a natural extension of the AI agent trend.
With tools like Replit and the rise of the agent ecosystem, we are one step closer to personalized software creation.
Tokenized AI apps can allow users to guide development and own a share of the app's revenue.
Competitors in the field:
ALCHEMIST AI and Myshell are the main competitors. Both platforms allow developers to create revenue-generating AI applications, providing practical and scalable use cases.
Myshell goes a step further by allowing investors to directly invest in these applications and share in the future earnings. This model not only supports development but also aligns the incentives between creators and investors.
9. Final Thoughts
Tokenization trends always bring about new waves of innovation and adoption. But what fascinates people about tokenization trends isn't just the technology—it's how they bring people together and shift attention to new opportunities.
What is the next big trend in tokenization? I'm not sure, but these ideas are worth our attention.
