Tokenized Stock Lending Will Outpace Crypto Assets by 2027
Aave CEO Stani Kulechov projects that tokenized stocks will become the dominant collateral for DeFi lending by 2027.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Investing
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Stani Kulechov announced that Aave has enabled users on Base to borrow USDC against tokenized stocks. He forecasts that lending backed by tokenized stocks will surpass native crypto-asset lending by 2027.
Why it matters
DeFi projects shifted toward real-world assets after native crypto yields approached zero. Using tokenized stocks as collateral allows investors to leverage traditional financial assets within decentralized protocols.
Tokenized stock loans carry interest rates of 5%, significantly higher than the 0.5% typical of traditional bank deposits. Smart-contract protocols currently offer a 95% reduction in operating costs compared to institutional banking.
The players
Stani Kulechov
He is the founder and CEO of Aave, a prominent decentralized finance protocol.
Aave
It is a decentralized finance platform that enables users to lend and borrow various cryptocurrencies.
Base
It is an Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain network developed to host decentralized applications.
Ethena
It is a crypto project known for its USDe supply, which reached $15 billion.
The details
Aave's new market on Base facilitates USDC borrowing by using tokenized stocks as collateral, aiming to integrate real-world financial stability into the crypto ecosystem. This development follows Aave's historical performance, where it reached peak liquidity of $76 billion last year.
Timeline
The crypto bear market occurred throughout 2022 and 2023.
Aave reached peak liquidity of $76 billion last year.
Stani Kulechov spoke at TOKEN2049 Singapore on October 7, 2026.
TOKEN2049 Singapore ran from October 7-8, 2026.
Tokenized stock lending is projected to surpass native crypto lending in 2027.
Market Dynamics
The adoption of real-world assets into DeFi protocols mirrors the ongoing convergence between traditional finance and blockchain infrastructure. This shift marks a departure from reliance on purely native crypto volatility to generate platform yield.
Retail investors gain the ability to leverage traditional stock assets for USDC loans, potentially unlocking liquidity without liquidating equity positions. This model offers a 5% interest rate, contrasting with the lower returns found in standard bank savings accounts.
The takeaway
Integrating traditional assets into DeFi provides a more stable collateral base for borrowers compared to volatile native crypto assets. Investors looking to diversify should monitor how smart-contract efficiency continues to lower borrowing costs relative to legacy banking systems.
Further reading
For more on the evolution of digital asset portfolios, visit the Investing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
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