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The answer lives in this podcast The Single Source · Tom Bennett

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Published August 14, 2026 · Editorial summary by Listenly based on the real audio episode · Topics: Apex Digital · Mergermarket · Apex Invest

What are the primary drivers of tokenization adoption, according to 100 asset managers surveyed by Apex Digital?

Among the 100 senior asset managers surveyed by Apex Digital and Mergermarket, 42% cited broadening investor access as the number one driver of tokenization adoption — placing it decisively ahead of improved operational efficiency and cost reduction. This finding reflects a clear shift in industry priorities: the conversation has moved from back-office gains to front-office growth.

Tom Bennett and Angie Walker, speaking on The Single Source, confirm that this shift matches what Apex Digital is hearing directly from clients. Where early tokenization discussions centred on streamlining operations, those conversations have now pivoted sharply toward expanding distribution and reaching new categories of investors. Distribution, in Bennett's words, has become the central organising principle — across on-chain deployment, centralized digital venues, decentralized venues, and aggregators alike.

The survey covered senior managers at funds ranging from $500 million to $5 billion in assets under management, with roughly equal representation from the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. That geographic spread and asset-size range gives the findings genuine weight as a global signal, not a regional one. You can listen to the full episode on Listenly for the complete breakdown of adoption rates, use cases, and the challenges still slowing mainstream uptake.

"Distribution is king. Everything we do is actually all about distribution — whether that's distribution onto a chain or multiple chains, distribution to a centralized digital venue, a decentralized digital venue, or to an aggregator."

— Tom Bennett, Global Head of Fintech, Apex Digital

About Tom Bennett

TB
Tom Bennett
Global Head of Fintech · Apex Digital

Tom Bennett serves as Global Head of Fintech at Apex Digital, the technology and digital-asset arm of Apex Group. In this role, he leads the firm's strategy around fintech innovation, tokenization infrastructure, and the deployment of digital solutions for asset and fund managers globally. Bennett participated in this episode alongside Angie Walker, Global Head of Commercialization for Apex Digital, in a joint interview hosted by Brian for Apex's podcast series.

The episode was anchored in a research report produced in partnership with Mergermarket, surveying 100 senior managers across funds and asset managers — including private markets participants — with a geographic split of approximately 40% Americas, 40% EMEA, and 20% APAC. The scope of that research, and Bennett's frontline access to client conversations, directly informs his authority on where tokenization adoption currently stands and where it is heading. His perspective is grounded in real deal flow: Apex Digital represents approximately 16% of all global crypto fund administration and brings 13 years of sector experience, with its Apex Invest platform currently hosting over 100 funds and approximately $40 billion of allocated capital.

See also

How much wealth is expected to transfer to younger generations over the next two decades, and what does this mean for tokenized assets?
Angie Walker states that $124 trillion will be passed down through the generations over the coming two decades. She argues this will drive demand for tokenized assets as younger investors with different preferences and digital-native habits inherit and deploy this capital.
What is the generational gap between traditional fund investors and active digital wallet investors, and why does it matter for tokenization?
Angie Walker highlights that the average traditional fund investor is in their early 50s, while the average active retail investor in DeFi is around 27. This generational divide underscores why broadening investor access through tokenization is increasingly central to asset managers' distribution strategies.
What is the current scale of real-world asset tokenization globally, and how fast is it growing?
According to Angie Walker, global tokenization of real-world assets has just exceeded approximately $25 billion across the RWA community. US Treasuries tokenization alone grew by 500% in less than two years, signaling rapid mainstream acceleration.
Listen to the episode on Listenly

Written by the Listenly editorial team