Financial market infrastructure is often invisible to investors, yet it powers every trade, settlement, and ownership record across capital markets. As technology evolves, tokenization is emerging as a new way to represent and transfer financial assets, raising questions about how markets may operate in the future.

In this episode of The Bid, Oscar Pulido speaks with Rob Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer at BlackRock. They discuss what tokenization means in practice, how it differs from cryptocurrencies, and why digital assets are drawing increased attention from investors, institutions, and policymakers.

The conversation explores how tokenization could improve access, efficiency, and connectivity across financial markets. Rob also shares his perspective on the coexistence of traditional financial systems and digital assets, the role of digital wallets, and the regulatory developments that could shape adoption in the years ahead.

Key insights:

· How tokenization creates digital representations of financial assets

· Why tokenization differs from cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin

· How digital wallets could expand access to capital markets

· Why traditional finance and digital assets may coexist

· What role blockchain technology plays in financial infrastructure

· How regulation could influence the future of tokenized markets

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Key moments in this episode:

00:00 Tokenization Success Metrics

00:33 Markets Plumbing Shift

01:56 Welcome and Guest Intro

03:25 Defining Tokens and Wallets

06:07 Global Access and Wallet Growth

08:49 Traditional Finance Complexity

11:45 Bridging TradFi and Digital

13:45 Crypto vs Tokenization

16:57 Phone as Portfolio Hub

18:11 Op-Ed and Tech Evolution

22:09 Digital Assets in Portfolios

23:33 What Must Happen Next

25:08 Keep It Simple for Users

26:46 Closing Thoughts and Wrap

27:54 Outro and Disclosures

Tokenization, Digital assets, Financial market infrastructure, Capital markets, Blockchain technology, Digital wallets, Investing innovation, Financial technology

This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.

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