A few years ago, I was hiring for a blockchain company that had just landed a massive real-world asset tokenization (RWAT) project. They had the tech. They had the vision. But when it came to finding people who actually knew how to bridge blockchain with traditional finance? That was another story.
One candidate, an ex-banker, crushed the strategy questions but had zero grasp of smart contracts. Another, a hardcore blockchain developer, was brilliant but had never dealt with institutional clients. Neither could truly execute in this new frontier.
That’s when I realised: RWAT isn’t just about technology—it’s about talent. And not just any talent. You need people who can operate in both worlds: the crypto-native and the traditional finance pro. Without them, even the best projects stall.
So, what does it take to build a real-world asset tokenization team that actually delivers? Let’s break it down.
The Hybrid Skill Set Is Non-Negotiable
RWAT sits at the intersection of blockchain, finance, and regulation. That means you need professionals who speak all three languages.
- Blockchain Engineers need to understand financial instruments. Writing smart contracts is one thing, but ensuring they comply with securities regulations? That’s a different ball game.
- Finance Experts must grasp tokenomics and DeFi mechanisms. It’s no longer enough to know bond markets—how does fractional ownership work on-chain?
- Regulatory Navigators should have experience in both crypto and traditional compliance frameworks. You can’t just throw a “utility token” label on everything and hope regulators look the other way.
This kind of talent is rare. In my experience, the best candidates often come from unexpected backgrounds—like fintech professionals who’ve dabbled in DeFi, or lawyers who got deep into Web3. The key is finding people who want to bridge the gap, not just those who tolerate it.
The “Crypto Bro” Era Is Over
Let’s be real: crypto’s early hiring culture was… chaotic. A few years back, I interviewed a guy for a tokenization startup. His CV was solid, but when I asked about risk mitigation in asset-backed tokens, he said:
“We don’t really need that. The tech is trustless.”
🚩 Red flag.
RWAT isn’t DeFi degens flipping JPEGs—it’s bringing real-world value onto blockchain rails. That means institutional investors, regulated markets, and compliance-first thinking. The move fast, break things mentality? It doesn’t cut it anymore.
Companies that succeed in this space are hiring professionals who understand both innovation and risk. If your team is all-in on crypto but clueless about financial due diligence, you’ll struggle. Likewise, if your finance team dismisses blockchain as a fad, your project will never scale.
Balance is key.
Hiring Globally, But Thinking Locally
One of the biggest hiring mistakes I see? Assuming that RWAT talent is one-size-fits-all.
Tokenizing real-world assets isn’t just about how you do it, but where. Regulations, asset classes, and investor expectations change dramatically depending on the market. A tokenized real estate fund in Dubai faces different compliance challenges than a tokenized carbon credit platform in Europe.
That’s why local expertise is crucial. If you’re expanding into Asia, hire someone who understands MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) regulations. If you’re tackling tokenized securities in the U.S., you need someone who’s navigated the SEC’s evolving stance.
The best teams I’ve built had a mix of global blockchain expertise and local financial know-how. That’s the sweet spot.
Lead With Vision—But Deliver With Execution
A major RWAT company once asked me why they were struggling to hire top talent. They had great funding, an innovative platform, and a sleek pitch deck. But when I asked about their roadmap, I got vague answers.
“We’re building the infrastructure for tokenized real estate.”
“We’re making assets more liquid.”
Cool, but how?
Here’s the hard truth: top-tier professionals don’t join companies for hype. They want to see execution. If you’re hiring, you need to answer:
- What specific problem are you solving?
- What real assets are you working with?
- How will your tokenized product comply with regulations?
I’ve seen teams lose rockstar candidates simply because they couldn’t articulate a clear go-to-market strategy. If you’re serious about hiring, you need more than vision—you need a roadmap people can believe in.
The RWAT Talent Arms Race
Real-world asset tokenization isn’t a side project—it’s the next evolution of finance. But without the right talent, even the most promising RWAT projects will stay stuck in pilot mode.
What’s working? Hiring hybrid professionals, ditching the old-school crypto mentality, thinking locally while building globally, and leading with execution over hype.
What’s not? Assuming that great tech alone is enough to drive adoption. It’s not. You need people who can bridge the gap between blockchain and traditional markets.
The companies that win in RWAT will be the ones that invest in real-world talent—because at the end of the day, tokenising an asset is easy. Building a business around it? That takes the right people.
