MoonPay Launches Institutional Platform for Tokenized Assets and DeFi Access

MoonPay, a leading cryptocurrency payments firm, announced the launch of MoonPay Trade, a new platform designed to provide banks, fintechs and enterprises with direct access to tokenized assets, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and stablecoin liquidity across more than 200 blockchains through a single integration.

The platform marks a significant expansion for MoonPay beyond its core cryptocurrency payment services into broader financial infrastructure. MoonPay Trade will serve as the execution arm for MoonPay Institutional, the company's division focused on regulated financial firms, which is led by former acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham.

"Every major financial institution is building a tokenized asset strategy," Pham said in a statement, noting that the platform enables institutions to access onchain markets "with full compliance."

The Technology Behind the Platform

MoonPay Trade is built on Decent.xyz, a cross-chain routing startup that MoonPay acquired for a "high eight-figure" sum, according to a person familiar with the transaction. The acquisition strengthens MoonPay's ability to facilitate seamless transactions across multiple blockchain networks.

The platform supports tokenized fund subscriptions, collateral transfers and integrations with DeFi lending protocols including Morpho, Aave and Maple Finance. These protocols allow users to earn yield or borrow against digital assets directly on blockchain rails.

A Rapidly Growing Market

The expansion comes as tokenization gains significant momentum across traditional finance. Tokenized real-world assets—including blockchain-based versions of stocks, bonds and funds—now exceed $33 billion in market value, tripling over the past year, according to data from RWA.xyz. Boston Consulting Group projects this market could grow to $18.9 trillion by 2033.

Major asset managers have already entered the space. BlackRock, Franklin Templeton and JPMorgan have introduced tokenized funds on public blockchains, while stablecoins increasingly serve as settlement rails for payments and trading activity.

Acquisition Strategy

MoonPay has been pursuing an aggressive acquisition strategy to build out its financial infrastructure capabilities. Earlier this month, the company acquired DFlow, a Solana trading infrastructure provider that processed more than $12 billion in trading volume during the first quarter of this year.

The firm has also purchased security startup Sodot this year, following last year's acquisitions of payments processors Meso and Helio. These moves collectively position MoonPay to capture growing institutional demand for blockchain-based financial products beyond simple cryptocurrency purchases.

Coinasity's Take

MoonPay's strategic pivot toward institutional DeFi and tokenized assets reflects a broader trend of traditional finance embracing blockchain technology. The company's acquisition of Decent.xyz and partnerships with major DeFi protocols signal that compliance-ready onchain financial services are becoming a reality for regulated institutions. As tokenized assets continue their trajectory toward the projected $18.9 trillion market by 2033, platforms like MoonPay Trade could become critical infrastructure bridging conventional banking and decentralized finance.