RWA Surpasses DeFi as Top Web3 Sector for Founders in 2026 Report

A new report from Proof of Talk shows that Real-world assets (RWA) and tokenization have surpassed Decentralized Finance (DeFi) as the primary sector for Web3 founders in 2026. The report, 'The State of Web3 Capital 2026', analyzed more than 200 startup applications to Proof of Pitch 2026 and a survey of 13 active Web3 venture funds.

RWA and tokenization were the focus for 29% of applicants, with DeFi following at 23%, and Decentralized AI at 11%. This marks a reversal from previous cycles, where DeFi dominated founder attention. Founders now concentrate on bringing financial assets, credit markets, and payments on-chain.

Investors also echoed this trend, with RWA and tokenization being the most selected sectors, chosen by 12 of the 13 surveyed funds at 92%. 'Tokenization is no longer theoretical,' said Joe Bruzzesi, General Partner at Raptor Digital. 'Stablecoins proved it at a record $322 billion in circulation, and RWAs followed.'