With over three decades of experience in global finance, Markus Infanger has witnessed multiple financial transformations. 

But his most recent chapter—leading Ripple’s institutional DeFi efforts—offers a clear window into how blockchain and tokenization are poised to redefine the future of money.

From Trading Desks to Transformative Tech: Why Blockchain Caught His Attention

Markus Infanger’s entry into crypto wasn’t instantaneous. “My journey into the world of cryptocurrencies began in 2017, during one of the major bull cycles,” he explained. 

At the time, he was deeply involved in the foreign exchange markets, closely watching fiat currency movements. This exposure sparked his interest in the emerging digital asset space.

Although he initially believed blockchain would take decades to integrate into the financial system, a pivotal moment shifted his outlook. 

“I was approached by a headhunter for a conversation with Ripple,” he recalled. “The shift in focus was striking. On trading floors, it was always about maximizing returns. At Ripple, it was about reimagining global payment infrastructure.”

That fundamental shift in purpose, from profit maximization to problem-solving, convinced him to join Ripple six and a half years ago. 

“It was a wake-up call. I realized I had never questioned the broader purpose of our work in traditional finance.”

Why Institutions are Embracing Tokenization—and Fast

Ripple’s recent report with BCG projected that institutional tokenization could reach $18.9 trillion by 2033. Infanger attributes this momentum to several converging trends.

“Blockchain has passed the early adopter phase,” he said. “We’re now in the early majority, where it’s being recognized as a foundational technology for modernizing finance.”

He sees tokenization as the bridge between legacy assets and blockchain systems. Legacy infrastructure, much of it built before the internet, is riddled with inefficiencies—settlements take days, costs are inconsistent, and issuance is slow. Tokenization offers a streamlined, cost-effective alternative.

For financial institutions, the opportunity lies in turning cost centers into strategic advantages. 

“Operational inefficiencies are a huge burden,” Infanger said. “Blockchain helps reduce friction and lower costs. The tipping point was last year when BlackRock entered the space—it validated the institutional use case.”

Real Estate Tokenization: Overcoming Bureaucratic Gridlock

While money market products were initially expected to lead tokenization, real estate is beginning to take center stage. 

However, the sector has faced notorious challenges due to manual processes involving notaries, registries, and municipal authorities. Ripple has made strides in this area. 

“A game-changer was our partnership with Ctrl Alt and the Dubai Land Department,” Infanger said. “We enabled the DLD to issue title deeds directly on the XRP Ledger—an industry first.”

So, this shift allows UAE residents to access blockchain-based title deeds at reduced costs. But regulatory harmonization remains a hurdle. 

“A game-changer was our partnership with Ctrl Alt and the Dubai Land Department,” Infanger said. “We enabled the DLD to issue title deeds directly on the XRP Ledger—an industry first.”

What’s Next for Tokenized Assets?

Looking ahead, Infanger sees continued growth across several asset classes. “Stablecoins are leading the charge—they’re essentially tokenized currencies, and their role in payments is expanding rapidly,” he said.

Ripple’s own stablecoin, RLUSD, launched late last year and has already gained traction. Beyond payments, tokenized money market products and high-quality liquid assets are gaining relevance in collateral management and treasury operations.

“These instruments allow intraday yield generation and credit risk reduction, which offer substantial operational value,” Infanger added. He also noted the surprising pace of real estate tokenization, as demonstrated by the Dubai Land Department initiative, and sees growing interest in tokenized private credit and equity.

Expanding into DeFi Through EVM Integration

Ripple’s development of an EVM-compatible sidechain and partnerships with entities like Wormhole indicate a broader push into the decentralized finance space.

But Infanger clarified that this isn’t a pivot—it’s an expansion. “We believe the future is multi-chain. The XRP Ledger is already part of that ecosystem, and integrating the EVM sidechain increases its programmability and interoperability.”

He emphasized the importance of accommodating both permissioned and permissionless environments, especially as regulated finance and DeFi begin to converge.

“We expect more interaction between decentralized and regulated systems, driven by technologies like zero-knowledge proofs.”

Builders, AI, and the Future of XRP Ledger DeFi

When asked what excites him within the XRP ecosystem, Infanger highlighted the new possibilities emerging from the EVM sidechain.

“This opens the door for more expressive and sophisticated DeFi applications,” he said. “We’re particularly excited about how builders will take advantage of that.”

He also noted rising interest in AI integration.

“The intersection of AI and finance—especially payments—is heating up. There’s potential for AI to enhance how the XRP Ledger is used and how the broader ecosystem evolves.”

Why Ripple’s Partnership with Guggenheim Matters

Ripple’s collaboration with Guggenheim Partners marks a turning point in institutional adoption. 

“Guggenheim is one of the largest issuers of commercial paper,” Infanger said. “With the XRP Ledger, they can issue these instruments more efficiently and improve processes like pre-funding and trade finance.”

The partnership reflects the fact that blockchain isn’t just a speculative technology—it’s a tool for solving real financial pain points. 

“The implications for stablecoin payments and collateral management are significant. These collaborations help modernize infrastructure and demonstrate blockchain’s utility for institutions.”

Public Blockchains vs. Private: Why Openness Matters

As the debate between public and private blockchains continues, Infanger remains a firm advocate for the former. 

“Public blockchains like the XRP Ledger offer unmatched advantages in transparency, immutability, and security.”

He drew a parallel to the internet’s early days. “The openness of the internet unlocked massive innovation. Public blockchains will do the same for financial systems.”

Still, Infanger acknowledged that private blockchains have their place, particularly in early-stage pilots or where sensitive data requires additional controls.

But for scalable, trustless infrastructure, public chains are where he believes the most impact will be made.

Overall, Markus Infanger’s perspective reflects a steady maturation of blockchain in institutional finance. From real-world use cases like tokenized title deeds in Dubai to new financial instruments built on public ledgers, Ripple continues to play a central role in driving meaningful adoption.

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