Opening Bell: The 2026 RWA Outlook

​Opening Bell: The 2026 RWA Outlook, hosted by Chad Oda and The RWA Desk, brings together leading institutions and protocol builders for the first high-signal RWA conversation of the year. This session delivers a prescriptive discussion on the infrastructure, standards, and market structure required to scale tokenized assets in 2026.

​Panel: The 2026 RWA Playbook: What Must Be Built Next
The panel will outline a clear roadmap for the year ahead, including what institutions need to deploy at scale, what blockchains must deliver to support real-world issuance, and which asset classes are positioned for breakout growth.

​Panelists will provide concrete guidance on institutional requirements, interoperability standards, compliance-ready market rails, and the evolution of credit, fund, and stablecoin-backed products moving on-chain.

​Confirmed Speakers

​Michael Winnike, Managing Director and Head of Strategy and Market Solutions, DTCC

​Craig Birchall, Head of Lending & Financing, Americas, FalconX

​Joris Delanoue, CEO, Fairmint and General Director, Canton Foundation

​Ryan Zega, Head of Structured Finance at Aptos Labs

​This event is designed for builders, asset managers, protocols, and investors seeking actionable direction, not commentary, as RWAs move from pilots to production in 2026.

🍕 catered pizza from Champion Pizza
🍸 an open bar throughout the evening

Sponsored by Aptos, Fairmint, FalconX, and Mercury.

Interested in sponsoring, please email us at: sponsors@rwadesk.xyz