BlackRock Executive Frames Markets as Continuum as Tokenization Gains Traction
New York, United States – March 3, 2026. BlackRock Global Head of Market Development Samara Cohen outlined a unified view of public and private markets at Bloomberg Invest in New York on March 3, 2026, positioning tokenization as a critical bridge for investor access. The comments align with surging MENA adoption, where UAE on-chain real-world assets reached $17 billion by 2025.
Cohen, speaking with Bloomberg’s Tim Stenovec and Carol Massar, rejected traditional market silos in favor of an integrated framework.
“I think Lynn and I both agree… it’s actually more useful from an investor’s perspective to assess a public private continuum as opposed to kind of looking at as a public versus private markets.”
— Samara Cohen, Global Head of Market Development at BlackRock
Analysis: This continuum approach directly supports tokenization’s promise—applying public market infrastructure to historically illiquid private assets, a model gaining regulatory traction across Dubai and Riyadh.
Cohen credited exchange-traded funds as foundational infrastructure:
“ETFs have been the single most important innovation in financial markets in the past 25 years.”
— Samara Cohen, Global Head of Market Development at BlackRock
Analysis: Her emphasis on secondary liquidity requirements for ETF viability establishes the technical blueprint for tokenized asset success, particularly relevant as MENA digital assets approach a projected $600 billion by 2030.
The executive highlighted daily liquidity needs and secondary market depth as prerequisites for extending ETF mechanics to private holdings—challenges tokenization aims to solve through blockchain rails.
Why This Matters
Cohen’s framework directly reinforces MENA’s positioning as a tokenization laboratory. Dubai’s real estate tokenization initiatives and BlackRock’s Riyadh office presence create a natural testbed for the continuum model. Regional Layer 2 blockchain partnerships with BlackRock for asset tokenization now carry strategic validation from a senior executive overseeing $10 trillion-plus in assets.
The public-private continuum concept addresses a core MENA fintech challenge: reconciling Vision 2030 and D33 economic diversification mandates with institutional capital requirements for liquidity and transparency. BlackRock’s identification of tokenization as a 2026 global driver amplifies regional momentum, particularly for Dubai and Abu Dhabi positioning themselves as digital asset gateways.
What to watch next: Regulatory approvals for tokenized fund structures in DIFC and ADGM; BlackRock pilot programs leveraging MENA blockchain infrastructure; ETF product adaptations incorporating tokenized private assets.
Cohen’s remarks suggest 2026 marks an inflection point where blockchain infrastructure matures sufficiently to support institutional-grade continuum products. For MENA fintech hubs competing for capital flows, this validates infrastructure investments and accelerates the timeline for tokenized securities integration into conventional portfolios.
Sources: Bloomberg, YouTube, MENA Fintech Association
