PUBLISHER: Stratistics Market Research Consulting | PRODUCT CODE: 1889445
PUBLISHER: Stratistics Market Research Consulting | PRODUCT CODE: 1889445
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global On-Chain Royalty Financing Market is accounted for $1.1 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $2.6 billion by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period. On-Chain Royalty Financing is a blockchain-based mechanism that enables creators, investors, or rights holders to tokenize future royalty streams and secure funding upfront. By embedding royalty agreements into smart contracts, payments are automatically distributed to stakeholders whenever revenue is generated, ensuring transparency, immutability, and efficiency. This model democratizes access to capital, reduces reliance on intermediaries, and provides investors with fractional ownership of predictable cash flows. It is increasingly applied in music, film, gaming, and intellectual property markets to unlock liquidity.
According to a Berklee College of Music analysis, blockchain-based smart contracts are enabling musicians to receive upfront funding by selling a percentage of future streaming royalties, creating a new asset class for investors.
Expanding use of blockchain in finance
The growing adoption of blockchain in financial services is fueling the rise of on-chain royalty financing. Blockchain ensures transparent, immutable, and real-time royalty tracking, reducing disputes and administrative overhead. Smart contracts automate revenue distribution, enhancing trust among creators, investors, and platforms. As decentralized finance (DeFi) gains traction, blockchain-based royalty models are becoming viable alternatives to traditional intermediaries. This shift empowers content creators with direct access to capital and revenue streams, while offering investors fractional ownership and liquidity in creative assets.
Uncertain regulatory landscape for tokenization
The lack of clear regulatory frameworks for tokenized assets poses a major restraint on market growth. Jurisdictions vary in how they classify and govern digital tokens, creating compliance uncertainty for platforms and investors. Regulatory ambiguity affects the issuance, trading, and taxation of royalty-backed tokens, deterring institutional participation. Additionally, evolving securities laws and anti-money laundering requirements increase operational complexity. Until global standards emerge, market participants must navigate fragmented legal environments, which may slow adoption and limit cross-border scalability.
Rising demand for decentralized financing
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is unlocking new opportunities for creators to raise capital without traditional gatekeepers. On-chain royalty financing allows artists, musicians, and content owners to tokenize future earnings and access funding directly from global investors. This model democratizes access to capital, enhances liquidity, and fosters community-driven ownership. As DeFi infrastructure matures and user adoption grows, platforms offering royalty-backed tokens and NFT-based revenue streams are poised to thrive. The convergence of creator economy and decentralized finance presents a high-growth frontier.
Smart contract exploitation vulnerabilities
Smart contracts underpinning on-chain royalty systems are vulnerable to coding flaws and malicious exploits. Security breaches can lead to unauthorized fund transfers, data manipulation, or permanent asset loss. High-profile DeFi hacks have raised concerns about the reliability of decentralized protocols. Without rigorous auditing, bug bounties, and real-time monitoring, platforms risk reputational damage and user attrition. As the market scales, ensuring smart contract security will be critical to maintaining trust and safeguarding investor and creator interests.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation across creative industries, driving interest in alternative financing models. With live events and traditional revenue streams disrupted, artists and content creators turned to blockchain-based platforms for monetization. On-chain royalty financing emerged as a resilient solution, enabling creators to tokenize future earnings and engage directly with fans and investors. The pandemic also increased investor appetite for digital assets and passive income opportunities. This shift laid the groundwork for sustained growth in decentralized royalty ecosystems.
The music royalties segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period
The music royalties segment is projected to be the largest in the on-chain royalty financing market. Fueled by global streaming platforms and rising artist adoption of blockchain, it enables musicians to tokenize future earnings and access upfront capital. Smart contracts automate royalty distribution, enhancing transparency and reducing intermediaries. This segment benefits from high transaction volumes, predictable revenue streams, and growing investor interest in fractional ownership of music rights, making it the dominant category during the forecast period.
The tokenized royalty financing segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period
Over the forecast period, the tokenized royalty financing segment is predicted to witness the highest growth rate. It involves converting royalty streams into blockchain-based tokens, allowing fractional ownership, liquidity, and automated payouts via smart contracts. This model attracts creators and investors by simplifying royalty monetization and enabling secondary market trading. Its scalability across music, film, and digital art sectors, combined with reduced reliance on traditional financing, positions it as the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period.
During the forecast period, the Asia Pacific region is expected to hold the largest market share, fueled by its booming creator economy, rapid blockchain adoption, and supportive regulatory experimentation. Countries like South Korea, Japan, and Singapore are fostering innovation in digital assets and decentralized finance. The region's tech-savvy population and vibrant entertainment industries create fertile ground for on-chain royalty platforms. Strategic partnerships between blockchain startups, music labels, and gaming companies are accelerating deployment. Government interest in Web3 and tokenization further strengthens Asia Pacific's leadership.
Over the forecast period, the North America region is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR driven by its mature blockchain ecosystem, strong investor base, and early adoption of NFT-based royalties. The U.S. is home to leading platforms, venture capital firms, and regulatory discourse shaping the future of tokenized finance. Artists and creators are leveraging on-chain tools to bypass intermediaries and monetize IP directly. As legal clarity improves and institutional interest grows, North America will remain a hotspot for innovation and investment in royalty financing.
Key players in the market
Some of the key players in On-Chain Royalty Financing Market include Royalty Pharma, Healthcare Royalty Partners, Blackstone Life Sciences, Franco-Nevada Corporation, Wheaton Precious Metals, Osisko Gold Royalties, Royal Gold, Sandstorm Gold, Duke Royalty, Oliver Wyman, Sutro Biopharma, Northleaf Capital, Deloitte, Blue Owl Capital, Brookfield Asset Management, KKR, Apollo Global Management and Anglo Pacific Group.
In October 2025, Royalty Pharma and KKR launched a joint venture to tokenize a $500 million portfolio of biopharma royalties on a private blockchain, increasing liquidity and transparency for institutional investors.
In September 2025, Blackstone Life Sciences partnered with Deloitte to create a new regulatory framework for securitizing drug royalties as on-chain digital assets, aiming to standardize the market and attract pension funds.
In August 2025, Franco-Nevada Corporation announced its first foray into digital assets, acquiring a tokenized stake in a Sutro Biopharma oncology drug's future revenue stream through a smart contract-managed deal.
Note: Tables for North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East & Africa Regions are also represented in the same manner as above.