Rising Copper Demand: A Catalyst for Tokenization Growth in 2026

As gold and silver continue to reach unprecedented highs, smaller metals like copper are also starting to attract investments. Blockchain technology could facilitate this shift, allowing more capital to enter the cryptocurrency market via tokenization.

Key Takeaways

Forecast for Copper: Total global copper demand could reach 42 million tons by 2040, while supply is expected to peak around 2030 and then decline.
Supply-Demand Gap: The structural imbalance between supply and demand for copper may lead to increased prices.
Rising Demand Drivers: The AI boom and global electrification are key drivers pushing copper demand higher.
Tokenization Growth: Interest in tokenized copper and related assets is beginning to grow among crypto investors, with significant market movements observed in early 2023.
Future Opportunities: Tokenization trends are expected to continue gaining momentum, creating new avenues for investment and trading in the cryptocurrency sector.

Several signs indicate that copper might soon experience a rally similar to that of silver, which could lead to significant growth for tokenized copper by 2026.

Increased Copper Demand Forecasted for the Coming Years

Toto Finance, an institutional platform focused on commodity tokenization, predicts that global copper demand could soar to around 42 million tons by the year 2040. At the same time, supply is anticipated to peak around 2030, after which it is expected to decline.

Copper Demand vs Supply (2025–2040). Source: Toto Finance

According to Toto Finance’s chart on “Copper Demand vs Supply (2025–2040),” demand will consistently rise, nearing 40 million tons by 2040. Meanwhile, the supply curve is projected to peak at approximately 28-30 million tons in 2030, then sharply decline. This creates an ever-widening gap between supply and demand.

This scenario reflects a long-term structural imbalance rather than a temporary phenomenon, positioning copper as a strategic resource. Toto Finance argues that tokenization will emerge as an innovative approach to access, own, and enhance the liquidity of copper, transforming it into a more tradable digital asset.

“This isn’t a cycle; it’s a structural gap. As copper becomes increasingly strategic, tokenization will be pivotal in transforming how we access, own, and liquidate copper assets,” predicted Toto Finance.

Many analysts believe we have entered a period of copper scarcity that is likely to worsen over time. Mike Investing suggests that within the next 18 years, the amount of copper mined will equal that extracted over the last 10,000 years. He anticipates that copper prices may rise by 2 to 5 times in the next 14 months.

10,000 years of #Copper will be mined over the next 18 years.

The copper shortage has officially begun and will continue to worsen.

Breaking through 20-year price resistance, copper prices are about to soar.

This could easily yield a 2-5x return within the next 14 months.

Save this for later… pic.twitter.com/N87gA7jBzK — Mike Investing (@MrMikeInvesting)

A significant factor driving the rising demand for copper is the boom in artificial intelligence and the expansion of global power grids. Katusa Research highlights that the need for copper in AI infrastructure and electrification is making this metal increasingly rare.

New data centers alone are expected to demand about 400,000 metric tons of copper annually through 2035. Moreover, electric vehicles consume three times more copper compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

Advancements in modern defense systems and drones are further contributing to increased demand for electronics, pushing global copper supply to dangerously low levels.

New mining projects can take up to 17 years to reach production. At the same time, ore quality is declining, and major mines are closing, compounding the supply-demand imbalance.

Currently, crypto investors' exposure to tokenized copper and related real-world assets (RWAs) is relatively minimal. However, there has been a noticeable uptick in trading demand for tokenized gold and silver recently.

Initial signs are emerging. For instance, Ondo’s tokenized version of the Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPXON) experienced significant growth, reaching a $3 million market cap shortly after its launch in January.

Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPXON) Market Cap. Source: Coingeko

Similarly, Remora Markets, which trades tokenized stocks on the Solana blockchain, reported impressive revenue growth reaching $110 million, driven by increased demand for tokenized NASDAQ stocks and metals-related assets.

Copper rStock (CPERr) AUM Over Time. Source: Dune

The total asset value of Copper rStock (CPERr) on Remora Markets surged during the last week of January. While the figures are still relatively small, they could signal early interest from crypto investors looking to gain exposure to metal assets such as copper.

Tokenization is predicted to be a growing trend, especially by 2026. This may open doors for new startup ventures and create fresh opportunities for traders in the cryptocurrency space.