What happened? Standard Chartered’s CEO says nearly all global transactions will eventually settle on blockchains.
Standard Chartered’s Bill Winters told a fintech conference that digital money and blockchain-based settlements will define the next era of global finance. The bank is actively expanding blockchain work, including a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin, tokenization pilots, custody services and a planned $250M digital asset fund. He warned the change will take years of experimentation and close collaboration between governments, regulators and the private sector.
Who does this affect? Banks, corporations, investors, regulators and fintechs around the world.
Traditional banks face pressure to build or partner on blockchain infrastructure while fintechs and crypto firms see new opportunities for growth. Corporates and trade finance users could benefit from faster, more transparent cross-border payments and tokenized assets. Regulators and financial hubs like Hong Kong will play a big role in shaping how quickly markets adopt these changes and who gets to operate the new rails.
Why does this matter? It could reshape markets by speeding up settlements, creating new liquid assets and shifting revenue and risk models.
Faster, blockchain-based settlement can cut counterparty risk and free up capital, improving market efficiency and lowering costs for traders and businesses. Tokenization could unlock liquidity in illiquid assets and create new investment products, attracting more capital and changing how asset managers and custodians operate. That means firms building compliant infrastructure and stablecoins stand to win market share, while incumbents who lag may lose fees and influence.