🔥Future of Ownership: Real-World Asset Tokenization What a strong conversation at DC Startup & Tech Week on October 20. Moderating this panel reinforced something important: real-world asset tokenization only creates real value when the data, the legal structure, and the institutional trust catch up to the technology. Grateful to the panelists who brought clarity and practical insight: Matthew Schneider (CEO, Building Inc.) focused on the infrastructure gap. Tokenization doesn’t create trust or liquidity, it exposes the lack of durable, verifiable data underneath the asset. For physical assets like real estate or infrastructure, digital twins, lifecycle records, and clear data standards have to exist before a token can represent enforceable ownership and reliable value. The biggest practical gaps today are still in that data layer. Ani Popiashvili (Global Leader on Tokenization, World Bank) shared what institutions and development banks are actually looking for before they scale tokenized assets. Drawing from work on tokenized bonds, Project Promissa, and digital public infrastructure, she highlighted the real potential for better market efficiency and access to capital, especially in emerging markets, while also naming what’s still holding adoption back (standards, regulatory clarity, and operational readiness). And our Track Leader: Gilberto “Gil” Nazario (Founder, Web3DC) who supports everyday people and local ecosystems who can actually participate in this shift. The through-line from the room: the next 24 months will separate projects that simply put assets on-chain from those that make ownership clearer, more liquid, and more trustworthy for businesses, investors, and regular people. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation. This is the work that matters. Connect with everyone and expand your network. @DCstartupweek @Web3DC @ani_popiashvili @mattschneid3r @ongeniusroom