Aptos Hits $1.2B RWA as BlackRock Adds $500M via BUIDL Fund

The Aptos blockchain just scored a major institutional win. BlackRock’s Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) has deployed an additional $500 million in tokenized assets on Aptos. This pushes the network’s total real-world asset (RWA) value above $1.2 billion. This milestone places Aptos among the top three blockchains for RWA tokenization globally, trailing only Ethereum and ZKsync Era.

BlackRock Expands Its Tokenization Strategy

According to the crypto outlet Wu Blockchain, the expansion makes Aptos the second-most adopted network for BUIDL fund deployments, behind Ethereum. The BUIDL fund, launched in partnership with Securitize, focuses on low-risk, high-liquidity assets like U.S. Treasury bonds, cash and repurchase agreements.

BlackRock’s first deployment of BUIDL on Ethereum came in March 2024. This marks the asset manager’s entry into blockchain-based liquidity products. The firm later expanded to Aptos in November 2024, signaling growing trust in non-Ethereum ecosystems. With this latest $500 million addition, BlackRock is clearly betting on Aptos as a strong player in the tokenized finance landscape.

Aptos Climbs RWA Rankings

The new inflow of capital boosted Aptos’s total RWA value to over $1.2 billion. This is based on data shared by the official Aptos X post. This makes Aptos the third-largest chain in total tokenized assets. Ahead of major competitors like Polygon, Arbitrum and Avalanche. The latest rankings show Ethereum leading with $12.09 billion. Followed by ZKsync Era at $2.36 billion and Aptos close behind with $1.22 billion. Polygon and Arbitrum complete the top five with $1.13 billion and $904 million, respectively.

Aptos highlighted that institutions are “choosing Aptos, the chain to move what matters.” This positions itself as a preferred layer for RWA deployments. This focus on real-world utility could mark a turning point for the project. Which initially gained attention during the 2022–2023 Layer-1 race. But later faced slower adoption compared to Ethereum compatible chains.

Why RWAs Are Becoming the Next Big Thing

Real-world asset tokenization or RWA refers to the process of representing traditional assets like bonds or securities as digital tokens on a blockchain. For institutions, consequently, it offers faster settlement, improved transparency, and 24/7 liquidity. Ultimately, BlackRock’s growing involvement shows how traditional finance is merging with blockchain infrastructure.

Tokenized treasuries and money market funds have become one of the most active areas of on-chain finance, and therefore, it is attracting trillions in potential value over the next decade. Currently, Securitize, the platform powering BUIDL, continues to expand partnerships with other asset managers and DeFi protocols. In doing so, this makes it one of the most trusted tokenization providers globally.

What This Means for Aptos

For Aptos, this $500 million injection is more than just a headline; it’s validation. It demonstrates that major financial players are willing to diversify beyond Ethereum. Trusting newer blockchains with scalable and secure frameworks. The milestone also reinforces Aptos’s growing presence in institutional blockchain finance. With $1.2 billion in RWAs and increasing adoption from traditional firms. Aptos is positioning itself as a serious contender in the next phase of blockchain evolution. Where tokenized assets become a mainstream part of global finance.