In a recent clip from The Rollup podcast, shared by @EtanBoss on X, Centrifuge CEO Bhaji Illuminati (better known as @itsbhaji) gave an engaging intro to herself and hyped up the upcoming RWA Summit. If you're into blockchain and how real-world stuff like stocks and assets are getting tokenized on-chain, this is worth a watch. Let's break it down.

Who is Bhaji Illuminati and What's the Buzz About RWAs?

First off, Real World Assets (RWAs) are basically traditional assets—like equities, real estate, or bonds—that get digitized and put on the blockchain. This makes them easier to trade, more accessible, and potentially supercharges liquidity in DeFi (Decentralized Finance). Bhaji, with her background in traditional finance, jumped into crypto around 2021 and has seen the RWA space explode.

In the clip, she shares how the industry has grown from a niche group in 2021 to a bustling scene today. "It's been really cool to see the most growth happening in RWAs," she says, noting how last year they started bringing in big tradfi (traditional finance) players, and now it's like a full-blown convergence.

Highlights from the RWA Summit Lineup

Bhaji's most excited about the discussions at the RWA Summit 2025 in Brooklyn, happening September 16-17 at The William Vale. This invite-only event is pulling in 350 top minds from capital markets and crypto to hash out the future of tokenized assets.

Key shoutouts from the clip:

• Robert Leshner (CEO, Superstate)​ teaming up on stage with a Robinhood rep to compare DeFi-native vs. CeFi (Centralized Finance) approaches to tokenized equities.
• The Winklevoss brothers (Tyler and Cameron from Gemini)​ diving into their work on bringing assets on-chain.

And that's just the tip. The full speaker list is stacked with heavy hitters like Christine Moy from Apollo, David E. Rutter from R3, and many more from firms such as BitGo, Dinari, and Janus Henderson. One panel that's got everyone talking is "US Tokenized Equities: The Biggest Opportunity in RWA?" moderated by Michael Bucella of Neoclassic Capital.

Why This Matters for Blockchain Enthusiasts

If you're a blockchain practitioner or just dipping your toes into crypto, events like this show how RWAs could bridge the gap between meme tokens' wild energy and serious institutional money. While meme coins thrive on community and hype, RWAs bring real utility by tokenizing assets that could integrate with DeFi protocols, potentially creating new opportunities for yield or trading strategies.

Bhaji emphasizes the interesting telecom between different players— from asset managers to DeFi builders. She believes tokenization is the way forward, and hearing diverse views (even if they don't all agree with Centrifuge's approach) makes for killer conversations.

Community Reactions and What's Next

The thread on X sparked some buzz, with users like @samuelonweb3 noting the "stacked lineup" and pondering if DeFi or CeFi will win the tokenized rails race. If you're in NYC, snag an invite if you can—it's a prime spot for networking and insights.

Check out the full clip in the original thread on X to hear Bhaji in her own words. For more on the summit, head to the official site.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on how blockchain tech like RWAs intersects with the meme token world and beyond.