Solana's DeFi Ecosystem Expands with Major RWA Vault Launches from RockawayX and R3 Integration

Solana's blockchain is witnessing significant advancement in on-chain finance with two major developments focused on Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization and yield generation. RockawayX has announced the launch of RWA vaults on the Solana blockchain, collaborating with established DeFi protocols Kamino, Exponent Finance, and Midas RWA. This program is designed to tokenize investments in traditional assets like U.S. treasuries and mortgages, enabling users to generate yield backed by the actual economy.

The vaults leverage Solana's core strengths—composable DeFi rails, low fees, and fast execution—to bridge legacy finance with on-chain liquidity. This launch is seen as a milestone indicating growing institutional trust in Solana as a settlement layer for professional-grade financial products. The design is modular, with Kamino handling liquidity and lending, Exponent Finance optimizing capital efficiency, and Midas RWA structuring compliant tokenized asset exposure, all aiming to enhance security, transparency, and user experience.

This move is part of a broader RWA momentum building on Solana in 2025. Earlier this year, Figure introduced PRIME tokens on Kamino for home equity line of credit yield, and Plume established institutional RWA capital vaults. RockawayX, which also operates a $125 million Solana-focused fund, is expanding this framework further.

In a parallel and complementary development, enterprise blockchain firm R3 has announced plans to launch a Corda protocol to support a Solana-curated yield vault offering managed RWA yield. The protocol is scheduled for release in the first half of 2026 and follows R3's previously announced collaboration with the Solana Foundation. R3 cites the current on-chain RWA market of over $399 billion, which is expected to grow as traditional finance (TradFi) adopts blockchain technology and regulations mature.

The Corda protocol aims to address liquidity challenges by providing DeFi investors with infrastructure to access diversified RWA yield. R3 will leverage Solana's Token-2022 standards and built-in privacy and compliance features. David Rutter, Founder of R3, stated: "Macro uncertainty and recent market events mean that onchain investors are increasingly looking for alternative sources of diversified yield... Yield vaults will be the future of investment funds, connecting institutional issuance to demand while providing DeFi with access to reliable, differentiated yield."