The distinction between traditional finance and cryptocurrency is rapidly dissolving, with tokenization emerging as a defining theme in the digital asset space. According to Edwin Mata, CEO and founder of tokenization platform Brickken, Wall Street will operate entirely on blockchain technology by 2030. Speaking with CoinDesk, Mata noted that industry terminology like “Web3” is becoming obsolete as major financial institutions embrace the underlying technology for core functions including settlement and payment systems.
“The merger between Wall Street and technology is imminent,” Mata stated in an interview. “We’re moving toward a future where blockchain terminology fades into fintech.”
While institutional adoption of real-world asset tokenization continues to accelerate—exemplified by initiatives such as BlackRock’s BUIDL fund—Mata warns that Europe risks falling behind due to excessive regulation. This shift toward blockchain-native infrastructure was underscored by Bullish’s recent $4.2 billion acquisition of transfer agent Equiniti, which will enable direct on-chain share issuance and recordkeeping, eliminating the need for synthetic digital wrappers.
Mata envisions the next phase of tokenization being automated through artificial intelligence rather than human intervention. Barcelona-based Brickken, which has facilitated $500 million in tokenized assets, is integrating AI agents to streamline asset onboarding and liquidity provisioning across its 200 client base.
“Human decision-making will give way to AI systems that automatically identify optimal financial yields,” Mata explained. “The future decision-maker will be AI, not us.”
Critics argue that the European Union’s MiCA framework inadvertently advantages established banks while creating prohibitive barriers for startups. Mata points to licensing processes that can stretch nine months without revenue generation, effectively eliminating smaller competitors. This regulatory burden may drive innovative firms to jurisdictions like the UAE and Southeast Asia.
Mata believes the United States will maintain its leadership position in crypto innovation, given control of the world’s largest capital market. He characterized ongoing regulatory debates in Washington as temporary noise in the broader adoption curve.
These perspectives align with broader industry concerns. France-based Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet echoed similar criticisms, telling CoinDesk that the EU’s regulatory approach has unintentionally reshaped the Web3 landscape in ways that benefit traditional financial institutions over emerging crypto ventures.