Real World Assets Tokenization and DeFi Resilience Highlighted by Standard Chartered Amid rsETH Incident

DeFi Faces rsETH Hack but Tokenized RWA Market Keeps Growing

Standard Chartered looked at a rsETH hack worth $292 million on KelpDAO. The bank sees the event as a chance to fix weak spots in DeFi and tokenization. They expect the token market for real world assets will reach $2 trillion by 2028. The event now pushes for changes that make DeFi work better.

How the rsETH Hack Unfolded and Its Effects

On April 18, 2026, hackers stole rsETH tokens using a forged LayerZero message. The thief then used these tokens on Aave, the biggest lending platform, to borrow real assets. This move led to a fast run on the platform:

• Aave lost $17 billion in deposits, which is 38% of its funds.
• Loans fell by $5.5 billion, a drop of 31%.
• The hack revealed a gap between assets and debts as different token types were mixed.

How the Industry Reacted and Fixed DeFi

A group led by Aave founder Stani Kulechov and a team that included Aave DAO, Arbitrum, and Consensys acted fast. They set aside over $300 million to rebuild Aave. The plans focused on steady returns and bringing back deposits. In March 2026, Aave V4 came out. This update cuts back on risky cross-chain links. A planned Ethereum Economic Zone may add more safety and spread control.

These changes move the industry from short repairs to a stronger base for tokenization.

Future for Tokenized Real World Assets

Standard Chartered stays hopeful about tokenized assets in DeFi. They expect:

• The token market will grow from $35 billion in late 2025 to $2 trillion by 2028.
• Growth will follow new proposals in DeFi banks and steady funds from stablecoins.
• Token use for funds, money-market tools, and other areas will grow as systems improve.

The rsETH hack showed risks in combining many token types in lending. The event now acts as a test that triggers stronger systems and better fixes.

Summary

The rsETH hack revealed gaps in DeFi lending and in tokenizing assets. Fast moves and new plans prove that the DeFi world can stay strong. Standard Chartered sees that this test pushes DeFi toward growth. With clear rules and better systems, the token market for real world assets can reach $2 trillion in the coming years.

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This article was generated by Hivebox AI in collaboration with nGRND.
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