BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Says Tokenization Is at an Early-Internet Stage
According to Larry Fink’s annual shareholder letter, tokenization could make investing as simple as sending payments by using digital wallets and improving issuance, trading, and market access.
Fact Check
The claim is directly supported by the text of Larry Fink's official 2026 Chairman's Letter. The letter uses the specific comparison of investing to 'sending a payment' and mentions the benefits for issuance, trading, and access. Multiple news sources also confirm his comparison of tokenization to the early stages of the internet (specifically 1996).
Summary
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said in his annual shareholder letter that tokenization could make investing as simple as sending payments, pointing to digital wallets on phones used by half the world’s population. He said tokenization could improve financial infrastructure by upgrading how assets are issued, traded, and accessed. The remarks build on his earlier comparison of tokenization to the early internet and present it as a way to broaden participation in financial markets through blockchain-based digital ownership.
Terms & Concepts
- Tokenization: The process of turning financial or real-world assets into digital tokens, typically on blockchain infrastructure.
- Digital wallet: A software or hardware tool used to store digital assets and access blockchain-based financial services.