Ripple’s Markus Infanger discusses the role of XRP ledgers in tokenization and institutional defi

With over 30 years of experience in global finance, Markus Infanger has witnessed multiple financial transformations.

However, his latest chapter (guiding Ripple’s institutional defi efforts) steals a clear window into how blockchain and tokenization are poised to redefine the future of money.

From trading desks to transformative technologies: Why did blockchain attract his attention?

Markus Infanger’s entry into Crypto was not an instant. “My journey into the world of cryptocurrency began in 2017 with one of the major bull cycles,” he explained.

At the time, he was deeply involved in the Forex market and was closely watching the movement of Fiat currency. This exposure sparked his interest in the emerging digital assets space.

He initially believed that blockchain would take decades to integrate into the financial system, but a crucial moment changed his outlook.

“I was approached by a headhunter for a conversation with Ripple,” he recalls. “The shift in focus was impressive. On the trading floor, it was always about maximizing revenue. At Ripple, it was about rethinking the global payment infrastructure.”

The fundamental change in the objectives from maximizing profits to problem solving persuaded him to join Ripple six and a half years ago.

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

Why institutions accept tokenization – and fast

Ripple’s recent report on BCG predicted that institutional tokenization could reach $18.9 trillion by 2033. Invanger attributes this momentum to some convergence trends.

“The blockchain has passed the early adoption phase,” he said. “We are now an early majority and are recognized as the fundamental technology for modernizing our finances.”

He sees tokenization as a bridge between legacy assets and blockchain systems. Legacy infrastructure built before the Internet suffers from inefficiency. Tokenization offers a streamlined, cost-effective alternative.

For financial institutions, this opportunity lies in turning cost centres into a strategic advantage.

“Operational inefficiency is a huge burden,” Infanger said. “Blockchain helps reduce friction and costs. The turning point when BlackRock entered the space last year examined the facility’s use cases.”

Real estate tokenization: Overcoming bureaucratic thieves

Money market products were initially expected to lead the tokenization, but real estate is beginning to become a central stage.

However, the sector faces infamous challenges due to manual processes involving notaries, registry and local authorities. Ripple has made progress in this area.

“The game changer was a partnership between Ctrl Alt and the land sector in Dubai,” Infanger said. “We have made it possible for DLDs to issue title certificates directly to the XRP ledger.

Therefore, this shift will allow UAE residents to access blockchain-based title deeds with reduced costs. However, harmonization of regulations remains a hurdle.

“The game changer was a partnership between Ctrl Alt and the land sector in Dubai,” Infanger said. “We have made it possible for DLDs to issue title certificates directly to the XRP ledger.

What’s next for tokenized assets?

Looking ahead, Infanger is seeing continuous growth in several asset classes. “Stubcoins are leading the fees. They are essentially tokenized currency, and their role in payments is expanding rapidly,” he said.

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

“These equipment allows for the generation of in-day yields and reduced credit risk. He also notes the surprising pace of real estate tokenization, as demonstrated in the initiatives of the Lands sector in Dubai, and believes there is a growing interest in tokenized private sector credit and fairness.

Scales to Defi via EVM integration

Ripple’s development of EVM-compatible sideshanes and partnerships with entities like wormholes demonstrate a broader push into the decentralized financial sector.

However, Infanger made it clear that this is not a pivot. It’s an expansion. “We believe that the future will be multi-chain. XRP ledger is already part of its ecosystem, and by integrating EVM Sidechain, we will improve programmerism and interoperability.”

He emphasized the importance of dealing with both permitted and unauthorized environments, especially as regulated finance and debt are beginning to converge.

“More interactions between distributed and regulated systems are expected, driven by technologies such as zero-knowledge proof.”

Builders, AI, and the future of XRP Ledger Defi

When asked what excited him within the XRP ecosystem, Infanger highlighted the new possibilities that emerged from EVM Sidechain.

“This opens the door to more expressive and sophisticated defi applications,” he said. “We’re particularly excited about how builders will utilize it.”

He also noted the growing interest in AI integration.

“The intersection of AI and finance, especially payments, is intensifying. AI may strengthen the way XRP ledgers are used and how broader ecosystems evolve.”

Why Ripple’s partnership with Guggenheim is important

The collaboration with Ripple with Guggenheim Partners represents a turning point in institutional adoption.

“Guggenheim is one of the biggest publishers of commercial paper,” says Infanger. “XRP ledgers allow us to issue these devices more efficiently and improve processes such as advance funding and trade financing.”

This partnership reflects the fact that blockchain is not just a speculative technology, but a tool to solve real financial problems.

“The impact on stable payments and collateral management is important. These collaborations will help modernize infrastructure and demonstrate the usefulness of institutional blockchain.”

Public Blockchain vs. Private: Why is Openness Important?

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

“Public blockchains like the XRP ledger offer unparalleled benefits of transparency, immutability and security.”

He painted in parallel with the early days of the Internet. “The openness of the internet has unleashed massive innovation. Public blockchains do the same in the financial system.”

Still, Infanger has admitted that private blockchains are there, especially in early-stage pilots, or where additional control is needed for sensitive data.

But because of scalable and unreliable infrastructure, public chains are where he believes he will have the most impact.

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

Markus Infanger from Post Ripple discussed the role of XRP Ledger in tokenization, and institutional defi first appeared in Beincrypto.