One of the most conservative sectors in finance—the $1.8 billion retirement assets industry in the United States—can no longer avoid a problem: aging infrastructure. Blockchain technology, once considered experimental, has now evolved into a prerequisite for the industry's survival.

Where is the problem? Research data shows that multiple forces are driving modernization in this industry. New entrants are breaking traditional patterns, consumer demand for personalized solutions is increasing, and the high costs of decentralized system operations remain a challenge. These issues are nearly impossible to resolve with traditional architectures, outdated processes, and old-fashioned incentive mechanisms.

Interestingly, distributed technology is being viewed as an outlet to reshape data assets and welfare structures. Brokerage firms and fintech platforms are no longer satisfied with just trading functions; they are extending into clearing, settlement, and even the entire long-term savings chain. Coupled with frequent job hopping and remote part-time work becoming normal, relying on a single employer to manage retirement accounts no longer makes sense.

What if the current system is moved onto the blockchain? Digital wallets become tools to host and control tokenized assets. On-chain infrastructure, in a sense, is the new generation of financial operating systems, turning tokenized assets from a concept into tangible, usable results—and not the other way around. In other words, wallets come first, and tokenization follows. This is not just a technological upgrade but a paradigm shift for the entire industry.