Asset tokenization is reshaping crypto markets faster than prediction markets. Let me break down why.

Prediction markets captured attention quickly last year. Trading events, real-time odds, instant settlement—users got hooked. Volume flooded in almost overnight. The appeal was straightforward: quick feedback loops, visible action.

Meanwhile, real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure took a different path entirely. Regulatory approvals came first, not liquidity. Test phases happened behind closed doors. Balance sheets remained off-chain longer than expected. But here's what changed: as infrastructure matured and compliance frameworks solidified, RWA protocols began capturing institutional capital at scale.

The key difference? Prediction markets thrive on engagement and novelty. RWAs scale on fundamentals. One chases momentum, the other builds foundation. Right now, RWAs are where the structural adoption happens—tokenized commodities, securities, real estate. That's not as flashy as betting on event outcomes, but it's where the real money flows.

The long game favors RWAs. Prediction markets will evolve too, but they're entertainment-layer crypto. RWAs are infrastructure.