Chainlink and Blockchain Association Launch ‘Tokenized in America’ to Spotlight US Blockchain Leadership

Chainlink Labs and the Blockchain Association have launched a bold initiative titled “Tokenized in America,” aimed at strengthening the United States’ position as a global leader in blockchain-based financial innovation. The campaign arrives at a critical moment as the U.S. faces increasing pressure to keep pace with rapid international developments in tokenization.

At its core, the campaign is both a research tool and an advocacy platform, highlighting the roles U.S. states are playing in advancing blockchain infrastructure and adoption. It seeks to offer a comprehensive, transparent view into the momentum building across all 50 states.

The First Nationwide Scorecard

By incorporating interactive tools and real-time mapping, the campaign provides a living snapshot of blockchain progress in the U.S. The map showcases which states are pushing forward on legislation, hiring blockchain professionals, or running pilot programs in finance, logistics, and public utilities.

The centerpiece of the initiative is a first-of-its-kind scorecard that evaluates each U.S. state across six key indicators:

• Government-led blockchain pilots
• Formation of pro-crypto task forces
• State legislative support for digital assets
• Blockchain workforce presence
• Strategic Bitcoin or digital asset reserve initiatives
• Membership in the North American Blockchain Association (NABA)

Based on these criteria, states are designated as Trailblazers, Accelerators, Initiators, or Explorers, depending on their level of activity and leadership in blockchain-related developments.

Each designation on the scorecard reflects a broader strategy. Trailblazer states are often the first to implement real-world blockchain use cases. Accelerators show strong policy support but may still be early in implementation. Initiators and Explorers highlight areas with room for growth, offering a roadmap for how states can catch up.

States like Texas, Arizona, and Utah lead the pack with Trailblazer status, demonstrating deep engagement in both policy development and ecosystem growth. Others, such as California, North Carolina, Wyoming, and New Hampshire, show strong performance across several key categories.

Bridging Federal Gaps with State-Level Innovation

While federal regulatory action remains sluggish and fragmented, states are moving ahead. According to Sarah Milby, Chief Policy Officer at the Blockchain Association, the scorecard gives policymakers a framework for taking "meaningful action" based on measurable progress.

Adam Minehardt, Head of Policy at Chainlink Labs, emphasized that state-level developments are no longer fringe efforts. “Tokenized in America is helping shine a light on the important role these states are playing when it comes to digital assets,” Minehardt noted.

The timing aligns with the broader political movement. The GENIUS Act is recently in talks in the U.S. Senate, and more states are launching blockchain pilot programs or exploring tokenization for government services and financial instruments.

Why Tokenization Matters More Than Ever

Tokenization—the process of representing real-world assets on a blockchain—is becoming a pillar of modern finance. A recent BNY Mellon study found that 97% of institutional investors believe tokenization will revolutionize asset management.

By bringing public services, financial instruments, and infrastructure onto secure blockchain rails, states can boost transparency, reduce friction, and attract long-term investment.

The “Tokenized in America” campaign underscores this by showcasing tangible examples. These include tokenized government bonds in New York, blockchain pilot programs in Texas and Utah, and enterprise-level implementations across insurance and logistics.

Education and Policy Communication Front and Center

The initiative isn’t just about rankings and reports—it serves as a comprehensive educational platform. With state-specific data, use cases, and policy updates, it’s designed to help lawmakers, regulators, and industry leaders make informed decisions.

A central aim of the campaign is to bridge the communication gap between innovators and policymakers. Many legislators are still unfamiliar with how tokenized assets work, how they’re governed, and what real-world problems they solve. “Tokenized in America” addresses that gap by offering a transparent, user-friendly way to explore the economic and technical potential of blockchain technology.

Just days earlier, Kamino—a leading DeFi protocol—integrated xStocks into its lending infrastructure, enabling users to borrow stablecoins against tokenized equities as collateral. Powered by Chainlink’s Data Streams, the integration launches a new xStocks market on Kamino Lend, starting with AAPLx, a tokenized version of Apple stock.

With this move, Kamino reportedly becomes the first major DeFi lending platform to accept tokenized equities as collateral.