Viewpoint: The next stage of tokenization will be "personalized portfolios," rather than just improving settlement efficiency
According to CoinDesk, Thomas Sy, head of multi-asset solutions at New York Life Investment Management (NYLIM), stated that the core application of the next phase of tokenization will be to achieve "personalized portfolio construction," rather than merely enhancing settlement efficiency or extending trading hours.NYLIM manages approximately $807 billion, with about $11 billion overseen by Sy's team. He pointed out that blockchain technology is expected to enable asset management institutions to customize complex portfolio strategies for different investors on a large scale, a capability that is currently difficult to achieve within the traditional financial system.Sy indicated that the core of asset management will shift towards "highly customized" solutions in the future, and blockchain is the only technological path that can achieve this goal at scale. He believes that tokenization is not just about putting ETFs, bonds, or private credit on-chain, but more importantly, about reconstructing the way portfolios are built.He also noted that current asset portfolios typically involve a mixed allocation of ETFs, bonds, and private assets, but due to operational complexities, personalized strategies are difficult to scale. Tokenization is expected to "embed customization logic into the assets themselves," reducing operational costs and enhancing efficiency.In addition, Sy stated that stablecoins have become a key entry point for traditional finance to enter the blockchain space, with the current scale of stablecoins exceeding $300 billion, being used for cross-border payments and fund management. He believes this trend will gradually drive institutional demand for on-chain income-generating assets.In the area of decentralized finance (DeFi), NYLIM is still researching related applications, but Sy emphasized that institutional participation still requires more mature infrastructure, including the improvement of tokenized collateral, clearing mechanisms, and the prime brokerage service system.