Blockchain Moves Money: A New Finance Landscape

Amsterdam – Leaders from banks, payments and investment firms converged at the (un)Banked conference to discuss how digital money is transforming the financial landscape.

Shift in Focus – Rather than spotlighting the unbanked, the event highlighted individuals leveraging blockchain for faster and cheaper services.
On‑Chain Preference – A co‑founder of the host agency noted a growing trend: many now favor on‑chain solutions over traditional banks, prompting legacy finance to adapt.
Regulatory Foundation – European regulators set stringent standards for digital assets, providing a robust framework for launching stablecoin products.
Barriers to Change – A CEO warned that fear of change still hampers progress, despite the rapid development of new tools.
Stablecoin Enablement – A company assisting banks in trading stablecoins explained how it overcomes licensing, liquidity and technical hurdles, enabling institutions to offer these assets.
Market Demand – Strong demand exists for merchant settlements, business access and seamless swapping between fiat and crypto.
Winning Criteria – A payment firm executive emphasized that success hinges on delivering fast, cheap and simple money movement.
Customer Priorities – Users value convenience over underlying technology; whether a stablecoin or another solution, ease of use is paramount.
Neobank Evolution – A neobank founder showcased the journey from a crypto wallet to a full‑service bank, offering thousands of investment choices and portfolio advice.
Daily Banking Impact – This evolution signals the integration of digital assets into everyday banking.
Market Segmentation – An investor noted a shift: retail speculation contracts while institutional on‑chain capital expands.
Core Infrastructure – Large firms now treat crypto and tokenised assets as essential infrastructure, not mere experiments.
Industry Support – Sponsors include regulated crypto platform builders and research‑driven venture firms, underscoring robust industry backing.
Future Events – Upcoming meetings in London and Abu Dhabi indicate the topic’s continued relevance.

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