John Mullin, CEO of Mantra Chain, isn't shy about his vision for the future: "Everything will be tokenized," he declares on the latest episode of Cointelegraph's Hashing It Out podcast. But this ambitious prediction comes with a hefty dose of reality.

Mullin dives deep into the world of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, a technology poised to revolutionize how we invest and own things. He acknowledges the echoes of the 2018-2019 security token offering (STO) boom, but emphasizes the key difference: institutions are finally taking notice.

Unlike the hype-driven frenzy of STOs, RWA tokenization is attracting serious players thanks to its ability to navigate the regulatory hurdles that previously held back the technology.

However, Mullin isn't painting a picture of a tokenized utopia. He warns that simply slapping a digital token on an asset isn't enough. True utility lies in bridging the gap between the blockchain and real-world ownership. Imagine stock certificates or property deeds existing seamlessly on-chain, complete with transferable rights and legal recognition.

The challenge, of course, is the intricate web of regulations that vary by asset class and jurisdiction. This complexity makes RWA tokenization a demanding yet potentially game-changing industry.

Despite the hurdles, Mullin remains optimistic. He sees RWA tokenization as the bridge that unlocks institutional investment in the Web3 space. By offering familiar, real-world assets in a digital format, RWA tokenization bypasses the volatility and unknowns associated with DeFi investments, making it a more palatable option for institutional giants.

In essence, Mullin argues that Web2 brought the world online, but Web3 is taking things a step further – it's bringing the world on-chain. Whether it's stocks, real estate, or even a rare baseball card, the future could see a tokenized version readily accessible to investors across the globe. But with this exciting prospect comes the responsibility to navigate complex regulations and ensure these tokens truly represent ownership in the real world.