Tokenization Will Open Global Markets to Everyone, Says OKX Exec — Here’s How
The future of finance is being rewritten by blockchain, and at the heart of it is tokenization. OKX’s Chief Marketing Officer Haider Rafique believes this technology will change how markets work by making them more transparent, accessible, and open 24/7.
In a recent interview, he explained why traditional financial markets are outdated and how tokenization is set to revolutionize global trading.
If you’ve ever tried to trade stocks, you know that markets have strict hours. In the U.S., the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) opens at 9:30 AM and closes at 4:00 PM. Pre-market and after-hours trading exist, but they’re limited. And on weekends? The markets are completely shut down.
For traders and investors worldwide, this system is frustrating. What if a major event happens on a Saturday? You can’t react until Monday morning. Rafique calls this model “archaic” and believes blockchain is the solution.
“With blockchain, there are no opening or closing bells. Markets stay open 24/7, just like the internet,” he said.
What Is Tokenization?
Tokenization is the process of turning real-world assets — stocks, real estate, art, businesses, or even music — into digital tokens that live on the blockchain. Instead of needing a bank, a broker, or other intermediaries to verify ownership, everything is transparent and secure on the blockchain.
For example, imagine owning a luxury apartment in New York. Instead of needing millions of dollars to buy it outright, tokenization allows you to purchase a fraction of it. This makes investing in real estate more accessible, like buying shares in a company.
A New Way to Trade Stocks and Real Estate
Let’s say you want to invest in Apple stock, but instead of going through a brokerage like Robinhood or Charles Schwab, you buy a tokenized version of Apple shares on a blockchain-based exchange. You don’t have to worry about middlemen, trading fees, or market hours — you can buy or sell at any time, from anywhere.
Now, apply the same concept to real estate. Instead of spending years saving up for a down payment on a rental property, you could buy a fraction of a property and earn rental income based on your ownership share.
Rafique believes this shift will give everyone, no matter where they live, access to investment opportunities that were once limited to wealthy individuals and institutions.
“As an investor, I’m most interested in when we open the global markets to everyone, anyone, and all the time,” he said.
How Tokenization Helps Small Businesses
Big corporations have no problem raising money. They can go public and sell shares to investors. Small businesses, on the other hand, struggle.
Rafique gives the example of a local coffee shop in Los Angeles. Right now, if the owner wants to expand, they either have to take out a loan or franchise the business. Tokenization changes this.
“If I make the best coffee in Los Angeles and I want to grow my brand, I don’t need to go through banks or big institutions. I can tokenize my business and let my customers become investors,” he said.
Imagine if every loyal customer could own a small piece of their favorite coffee shop, helping fund its expansion while earning returns on their investment. This is what tokenization makes possible.
Blockchain Brings Ultimate Transparency
One of the biggest problems with traditional finance is the lack of transparency. Public companies release earnings reports only every few months, making it hard for investors to see what’s really happening inside a company.
“With blockchains, we get to see everything in real time,” Rafique explained.
This transparency removes the need for trust in financial transactions. When you invest in tokenized assets, you don’t have to rely on reports — you can verify everything yourself on the blockchain.
The Internet Evolved — So Will Finance
Rafique compares blockchain to the evolution of the internet.
Phase 1 was when the internet served as a platform where people could only read published content. Phase 2 allowed users to contribute and interact through blogs and social media. Phase 3, which is happening today, is where blockchain enables the ability to program value directly into the web, allowing for digital ownership and secure transactions.
This means digital ownership is now possible. Whether it’s buying a tokenized stock, investing in real estate, or owning a fraction of a luxury handbag, blockchain makes these transactions secure and verifiable.
Even billionaires like Bill Ackman see the potential. “When does tokenization of equities occur?” Rafique asked. “The fact that traditional markets close is an outdated way of thinking about open markets.”
What’s Holding Tokenization Back?
Despite its advantages, tokenization faces challenges. Governments need clear rules on how tokenized assets should be treated. Some regulators still classify them as securities, creating legal complications.
Blockchain needs to handle massive transaction volumes for global adoption. Right now, networks like Ethereum and Solana are working on scaling solutions.
Most people still don’t understand tokenization or how it works. Investors and businesses need education before mass adoption happens.
The Future of Tokenized Markets
Despite these hurdles, Rafique believes tokenization will become the standard for global markets.
“We’re not just talking about crypto here,” he said. “This is about changing the way finance works at a fundamental level.”
The ability to trade assets at any time, from anywhere, without intermediaries will reshape industries. Just as the internet democratized access to information, blockchain is democratizing access to investments.
If successful, tokenization will level the playing field, allowing anyone with an internet connection to participate in financial markets. Whether it’s stocks, real estate, small businesses, or even luxury goods, everything will be accessible — and that changes everything.
TokenFi is easing the tokenization process from start to finish and helping users tokenize any asset except securities from scratch. Our RWA Tokenization Module will help users streamline their tokenization journey and bring assets on-chain without writing a single line of code.
