Real-World Assets Tokenization in Sports Industry: Valuation, Opportunities, and Challenges
Research Article
Open Access
CC BY

Real-World Assets Tokenization in Sports Industry: Valuation, Opportunities, and Challenges

Mincan Wu 1*
1 Concord College
*Corresponding author: wumc163@163.com
Published on 14 October 2025
Journal Cover
AEMPS Vol.225
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-385-7
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-386-4
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Abstract

Driven by media rights, international fans and diversified revenue sources, the global sports industry is running in a major financial transformation. This article explores the potential of tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) supported by blockchain technology to completely transform sports financing and valuation. Although RWA tokenization has advantages such as enhancing liquidity, reducing transaction costs, improving transparency and global accessibility, it also faces key challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, legal enforceability and interoperability issues. Traditional valuation methods, which based on revenue, market and assets. Despite they are still widespread, but they have limitations in dealing with intangible assets and cross-border transactions. This study concludes with RWA tokenization with its transformative potential, integrating RWA tokenization into the sports industry requires further research, a standardized framework, and regulatory coordination to achieve widespread adoption.

Keywords:

Real Word Assets (RWA), Sports Industry Financing, Blockchain Technology, Stablecoin Tokenization, Sports Industry Valuation

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Wu,M. (2025). Real-World Assets Tokenization in Sports Industry: Valuation, Opportunities, and Challenges. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,225,45-51.

References

[1]. Tokenising Real-World Assets - Transforming Real Estate and Beyond. (2024). ResearchGate.

[2]. Pawlak, Z., & Smoleń, A. (2009). Valuation Methods of Sports Companies. Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research, 46(1). https: //doi.org/10.2478/v10141-009-0021-1

[3]. Vine, D. (2004). The Value of Sports Franchises. Wharton Undergraduate Research Scholars.

[4]. Hill, D. (2025). The market value of football players: A new methodology. Loughborough University Research Repository.

[5]. Peeters, S. B., & Szymanski, J. S. (2008). Sports Franchise Valuation: A Case Study of the English Premier League.

[6]. Reis, R., Telles, S., & Teixeira, M. C. (2023). Measuring the Legacies of Sports Mega Events: A Systematic Review. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(4). https: //doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2023.04125

[7]. Przemysław Paczoski. (2025, June 30). What are Real-World Assets (RWA)? Complete 2025 Guide to Tokenized Finance | 23stud.io. https: //www.23stud.io/blog/real-world-assets-rwa-complete-guide-2025

[8]. Xia, N., Zhao, X., Yang, Y., Li, Y., & Li, Y. (2025). Exploration on Real World Assets and Tokenization. ArXiv.org. https: //arxiv.org/abs/2503.01111

[9]. Chainlink. (2024). Real-World Assets (RWAs) Explained. Chain.link. https: //chain.link/education-hub/real-world-assets-rwas-explained

[10]. Word Economic Forum. (2025). Asset Tokenization in Financial Markets: The Next Generation of Value Exchange (pp. 1–63). https: //reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Asset_Tokenization_in_Financial_Markets_2025.pdf

[11]. Watsky, C., Liu, M., Ly, N., Orr, K., Seira, A., Vida, Z., & Wu, L. (2024). Tokenized Assets on Public Blockchains: How Transparent is the Blockchain? FEDS Notes. https: //doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.3444

[12]. Akerlof, G. A. (1978). The market for “lemons”: Quality uncertainty and the market mechanism. In Uncertainty in economics (pp. 235-251). Academic Press.

[13]. Baltais, M., Sondore, E., Putniņša, T. J., & Karlsen, J. R. (2024). Economic impact potential of real-world asset tokenization. UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney.

[14]. D’Angelo, J., Smith, J., Coy, T., & Bhargava, P. (2025, April 24). Digital dividends: How tokenized real estate could revolutionize asset management. Deloitte Insights.

[15]. Cohen, L., & McCulloch, W. (2016). The effects of financial intermediaries on the speed of transactions in capital markets. Journal of Financial Markets, 35, 45–58.

[16]. Meyer, S., & Lavoie, D. (2017). The impact of time zones on global financial markets and cross-border transactions. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money, 49, 116–135.

[17]. Soni, U., Fines, O., & Sun, J. (2025). An Investment Perspective on Tokenization—Part I: A Primer on the Use of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to Tokenize Real-World and Financial Assets. CFA Institute.

[18]. Allen, H. J. (2024). Testimony of Hilary J. Allen, House Financial Services Committee Hearing on “Next Generation Infrastructure: How Tokenization of Real-World Assets Will Facilitate Efficient Markets.” SSRN. https: //doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4861646

[19]. Cui, H. (2024). Investigating Security and Privacy Issues in Real-World Asset Tokenization. Monash.edu.

[20]. Tanveer, U., Ishaq, S., & Hoang, T. G. (2025). Tokenized assets in a decentralized economy: Balancing efficiency, value, and risks. International Journal of Production Economics, 282(282), 109554.

[21]. Consultancy-me.com. (2024, July 23). Tokenizing real-world sports assets could drive foreign investments. Consultancy-Me.com.

[22]. Rascher, D. A. (2018). The Use of Price-to-Revenue Ratios in Valuing Sports Franchises. SSRN Electronic Journal.

[23]. Stokel-Walker, C. (2017, March 20). The Hyperledger Project is aiming to save healthcare and shipping billions of dollars. WIRED.

[24]. Zoniqx. (2024). How Asset Tokenization Cuts Costs and Boosts Returns. Zoniqx.com.

[25]. Chang, Y., Iakovou, E., & Shi, W. (2020). Blockchain in Global Supply Chains and Cross Border trade. International Journal of Production Research, 58(7), 1–18.

[26]. Sriram, A. (2024, July 30). California DMV puts 42 million car titles on blockchain to fight fraud. Reuters.

[27]. Kumar, S., Suresh, R., Liu, D., Kronfellner, B., & Kaul, A. (2022). Relevance of on-chain asset tokenization in “crypto winter.” Addx.

[28]. UNODC. (2024). Transnational Organized Crime and the Convergence of Cyber-Enabled Fraud. https: //www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2024/TOC_Convergence_Report_2024.pdf

[29]. Katigbak, M. (2023, February 14). How Long Does Closing on a House Take? FastExpert.

References

[1]. Tokenising Real-World Assets - Transforming Real Estate and Beyond. (2024). ResearchGate.

[2]. Pawlak, Z., & Smoleń, A. (2009). Valuation Methods of Sports Companies. Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research, 46(1). https: //doi.org/10.2478/v10141-009-0021-1

[3]. Vine, D. (2004). The Value of Sports Franchises. Wharton Undergraduate Research Scholars.

[4]. Hill, D. (2025). The market value of football players: A new methodology. Loughborough University Research Repository.

[5]. Peeters, S. B., & Szymanski, J. S. (2008). Sports Franchise Valuation: A Case Study of the English Premier League.

[6]. Reis, R., Telles, S., & Teixeira, M. C. (2023). Measuring the Legacies of Sports Mega Events: A Systematic Review. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(4). https: //doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2023.04125

[7]. Przemysław Paczoski. (2025, June 30). What are Real-World Assets (RWA)? Complete 2025 Guide to Tokenized Finance | 23stud.io. https: //www.23stud.io/blog/real-world-assets-rwa-complete-guide-2025

[8]. Xia, N., Zhao, X., Yang, Y., Li, Y., & Li, Y. (2025). Exploration on Real World Assets and Tokenization. ArXiv.org. https: //arxiv.org/abs/2503.01111

[9]. Chainlink. (2024). Real-World Assets (RWAs) Explained. Chain.link. https: //chain.link/education-hub/real-world-assets-rwas-explained

[10]. Word Economic Forum. (2025). Asset Tokenization in Financial Markets: The Next Generation of Value Exchange (pp. 1–63). https: //reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Asset_Tokenization_in_Financial_Markets_2025.pdf

[11]. Watsky, C., Liu, M., Ly, N., Orr, K., Seira, A., Vida, Z., & Wu, L. (2024). Tokenized Assets on Public Blockchains: How Transparent is the Blockchain? FEDS Notes. https: //doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.3444

[12]. Akerlof, G. A. (1978). The market for “lemons”: Quality uncertainty and the market mechanism. In Uncertainty in economics (pp. 235-251). Academic Press.

[13]. Baltais, M., Sondore, E., Putniņša, T. J., & Karlsen, J. R. (2024). Economic impact potential of real-world asset tokenization. UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney.

[14]. D’Angelo, J., Smith, J., Coy, T., & Bhargava, P. (2025, April 24). Digital dividends: How tokenized real estate could revolutionize asset management. Deloitte Insights.

[15]. Cohen, L., & McCulloch, W. (2016). The effects of financial intermediaries on the speed of transactions in capital markets. Journal of Financial Markets, 35, 45–58.

[16]. Meyer, S., & Lavoie, D. (2017). The impact of time zones on global financial markets and cross-border transactions. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money, 49, 116–135.

[17]. Soni, U., Fines, O., & Sun, J. (2025). An Investment Perspective on Tokenization—Part I: A Primer on the Use of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to Tokenize Real-World and Financial Assets. CFA Institute.

[18]. Allen, H. J. (2024). Testimony of Hilary J. Allen, House Financial Services Committee Hearing on “Next Generation Infrastructure: How Tokenization of Real-World Assets Will Facilitate Efficient Markets.” SSRN. https: //doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4861646

[19]. Cui, H. (2024). Investigating Security and Privacy Issues in Real-World Asset Tokenization. Monash.edu.

[20]. Tanveer, U., Ishaq, S., & Hoang, T. G. (2025). Tokenized assets in a decentralized economy: Balancing efficiency, value, and risks. International Journal of Production Economics, 282(282), 109554.

[21]. Consultancy-me.com. (2024, July 23). Tokenizing real-world sports assets could drive foreign investments. Consultancy-Me.com.

[22]. Rascher, D. A. (2018). The Use of Price-to-Revenue Ratios in Valuing Sports Franchises. SSRN Electronic Journal.

[23]. Stokel-Walker, C. (2017, March 20). The Hyperledger Project is aiming to save healthcare and shipping billions of dollars. WIRED.

[24]. Zoniqx. (2024). How Asset Tokenization Cuts Costs and Boosts Returns. Zoniqx.com.

[25]. Chang, Y., Iakovou, E., & Shi, W. (2020). Blockchain in Global Supply Chains and Cross Border trade. International Journal of Production Research, 58(7), 1–18.

[26]. Sriram, A. (2024, July 30). California DMV puts 42 million car titles on blockchain to fight fraud. Reuters.

[27]. Kumar, S., Suresh, R., Liu, D., Kronfellner, B., & Kaul, A. (2022). Relevance of on-chain asset tokenization in “crypto winter.” Addx.

[28]. UNODC. (2024). Transnational Organized Crime and the Convergence of Cyber-Enabled Fraud. https: //www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2024/TOC_Convergence_Report_2024.pdf

[29]. Katigbak, M. (2023, February 14). How Long Does Closing on a House Take? FastExpert.

Cite this article

Wu,M. (2025). Real-World Assets Tokenization in Sports Industry: Valuation, Opportunities, and Challenges. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,225,45-51.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEMGD 2025 Symposium: Resilient Business Strategies in Global Markets

ISBN: 978-1-80590-385-7(Print) / 978-1-80590-386-4(Online)
Editor: Florian Marcel Nuţă Nuţă, Li Chai
Conference website: https://2025.icemgd.org/CAU.html
Conference date: 20 September 2025
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.225
ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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