Bloc3’s Post

🌟 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗿𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 🌟 Greetings, finance and digital assets enthusiasts! After a long period of work under the project name Crypto Helvetica, we are proud to launch our new brand today and unveil what we are building. Ready to venture into the evolving world of digital asset banking? Meet 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, the next step into the dynamic integration of digital assets and traditional banking. Yes, we are building a bank. Not just any bank, but a bank with digital assets at its core. Over the past 18 months, we've developed cutting-edge technology, assembled a team of professionals, and applied for a banking license in Liechtenstein earlier this year. We are now finalizing operational readiness to commence business upon approval. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲? 🚀 In today's fast-paced digital age, the financial sector is undergoing a transformative change. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are no longer just buzzwords but are integral to our financial strategies. At Celsion Finance, we aim to bridge the best of both worlds - combining the reliability of traditional banking with the innovation and flexibility of decentralised finance. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 🎯 Our mission is clear: to simplify and demystify the management of digital assets. We cater to both seasoned crypto veterans and newcomers, ensuring access to a secure, user-friendly platform. Our services will be designed around safety, security and compliance, providing a trustworthy environment for all your financial endeavors. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀 🛤 Celsion Finance is building more than a financial institution; it's part of a broader movement towards an inclusive, technology-driven financial ecosystem. As we push the boundaries of what's possible in digital asset banking, we welcome your feedback and participation. Eager to find out how we’re blending traditional and digital finance to deliver better financial solutions? Follow us and visit our blog for more insights. https://lnkd.in/evtxs_dX

TheFinRate - Rating Service Provider for Global Financial Businesses - Transak🔥🔥. Transak: Revolutionizing Fiat-to-Crypto Transactions Worldwide💯 Exciting developments are underway in the realm of cryptocurrencies, and at the forefront of this revolution stands Transak. If you haven't yet encountered this innovative platform, you're in for a treat. Transak is not just another cryptocurrency gateway; it's a game-changer in the way we engage with digital assets. Unlocking Accessibility One of the standout features of Transak is its commitment to accessibility. With support for over 170 cryptocurrencies across more than 75 blockchains, it's a one-stop destination for users looking to navigate the diverse landscape of digital currencies. Whether you're a seasoned crypto investor or just dipping your toes into the world of blockchain technology, Transak's user-friendly interface and comprehensive support ensure a seamless experience for all.✅ Global Reach Transak isn't bound by geographical limitations. Operating in 169 countries, it transcends borders to empower users worldwide. No matter where you are on the map, Transak is there to facilitate your fiat-to-crypto transactions. This global availability opens up new avenues for financial inclusion and economic empowerment, fostering a truly interconnected digital economy.😍 Diverse Payment Methods Flexibility is key when it comes to financial transactions, and Transak understands this implicitly. Offering multiple payment methods, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and popular payment platforms, it caters to diverse user preferences. Whether you prefer traditional banking channels or embrace the convenience of digital wallets, Transak has you covered.🔥 Security and Compliance In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies, security is paramount. Transak prioritizes the safety of its users' assets with robust security measures and adherence to regulatory standards. By implementing industry best practices and partnering with trusted financial authorities, Transak provides a secure and compliant environment for all transactions, instilling confidence in users and stakeholders alike.👍 Explore More Curious to learn more about Transak and its groundbreaking solutions? Visit the official website here to dive deeper into the world of fiat-to-crypto transactions. Stay updated on the latest developments, explore the extensive range of supported cryptocurrencies, and experience the future of digital finance firsthand.🙌 Website: transak.com Mail: support@transak.com Follow TheFinRate - Rating Service Provider for Global Financial Businesses- for the latest updates l✌️ Join TheFinRate - Rating Service Provider for Global Financial Businesses - Today: https://thefinrate.com. transak.com

Major financial institutions are embracing tokenisation, and it's more than just a token effort. In March this year, Citi published a report in which they predicted that “tokenization expected to grow by a factor of 80x in private markets and reach up to $4 trillion in value by 2030.” This week, the banking giant put their (tokenised) money where their mouth is, by launching Citi Token Services for institutional customers. The new service enables institutions to tokenise their deposits, drastically improving efficiencies in global money movement. Smart contracts enable cross-border payments, liquidity, and automated trade finance solutions on a 24/7 basis. One of blockchain's strengths has always been its borderless nature and peer-to-peer execution. When businesses are dealing with international value transfer, this factor can be a significant improvement over legacy banking systems and intermediaries. In a Citi Token Services pilot scheme run with shipping conglomerate Maersk Group, they found that they could "reduce transaction processing times from days to minutes". Shahmir Khaliq, Citi's Global Head of Services, commented that "Digital asset technologies have the potential to upgrade the regulated financial system by applying new technologies to existing legal instruments and well-established regulatory frameworks. The development of Citi Token Services is part of our journey to deliver real-time, always-on, next generation transaction banking services to our institutional clients". So far, Citi is taking a measured approach in its execution, deciding to run on a permissioned self-developed blockchain. As their press release stated, "Citi continues to develop digital asset solutions, in line with its goals and risk appetite”. For the initiative to receive a mass adoption though it will need to be run on commonly accepted permissionless rails, not a closely held restricted internal chain.   Having said that, even the implementation in its current form - albeit limited to a certain number of endorsed institutional participants - offers massive improvements over legacy financial systems and serves as a great testing ground. Last week Franklin Templeton's CEO Jenny Johnson declared that "Tokenisation will ultimately displace ETFs and mutual funds as a wrapper of investment advice". This week, Citi's Ryan Rugg describes tokenisation as "a new tool to manage global liquidity on a just-in-time, programmable basis", drastically reducing friction and gaps in the service window. Don't be surprised if next week, another major institution comes out delivering another new application within the tokenisation drive. #blockchain #tokenisation #finance

👑 Europe, the king of crypto banking 🔍 The recently published 2024 crypto banking report by Coincub was one of my most fascinating reads of April, full of valuable insights regarding the latest trends on the crypto-related offerings of financial institutions. Here are my top 8 bits and pieces from the report (download here: https://coincub.com/) 1️⃣ Europe leads the way, as it is home to 63 out of the 134 crypto banks and crypto-friendly banks worldwide. That represents a 47% share of the market, made all the more significant by the continent’s less impressive performance with regards to adapting other groundbreaking technologies. 2️⃣ The US sits comfortably at the top with 25 crypto banks, with the UK coming second with 17. Others in the leading pack include Switzerland (a major player in the world of crypto-focused financial entities and crypto regulation), Japan, Germany, Canada, and South Korea. 3️⃣ The majority of crypto-friendly banks are traditional financial institutions (63) and fintechs and digital banks (50), with much fewer players having a core focus on crypto services (21). While the report labels all of these companies crypto banks, the majority would be better described as being open to crypto, or crypto-friendly at best. 4️⃣ AMINA Bank is the world leader in crypto banking, with the Swiss group previously known as SEBA Bank providing an extensive range of services to individuals, corporates and institutions alike. Their Crypto-as-a-service offering and crypto-backed lending products stand out in particular. 5️⃣ The key indicators of more developed crypto banking spaces include an established financial market with advanced infrastructure, developed regulations, a beneficial taxation regime, and the openness of retail clients. In my view, few countries have all of these today, but that is unlikely to stay true for long. 6️⃣ The most commonly offered crypto banking services include crypto trading, stablecoins, custody, tokenization services, staking, and crypto ETFs. Trading & custody remain the #1 point of entry for new players looking to enter the arena. 7️⃣ While crypto ETFs are already here with massive inflows occurring lately, tokenization could be the next huge trend. That is also signaled by the launch of BlackRock's BUIDL, a new tokenized fund operating on the Ethereum blockchain (many others are exploring the potential of tokenization, more to come on that in a later post). 8️⃣ Crucially, as crypto gets closer to the traditional financial system, services connecting the two sectors for the investment community’s benefit will be seen as exceedingly valuable (e.g., institutional-grade crypto trading and custody, tokenization services). Source: Coincub

Take a look at the summary of the Coincub's 2024 crypto banking report by our colleague, Botond Batorfi.

How DeFi is Revolutionizing Traditional Banking in 2023 The rise of decentralised finance (DeFi) has led to many interesting new financial ideas. In this article, we will examine how DeFi revolutionised traditional banking in 2023. DeFi Vs. CeFi People who aren’t experts in centralized finance (CeFi) may find the ecosystem confusing because customers sometimes need to learn the rules or agreements that guide goods and financial assets.  Decentralized Finance (DeFi), conversely, is making a name for itself as an ecosystem that promises transparency and control.  This is possible […] How DeFi is Revolutionizing Traditional Banking in 2023 #DeFi #DigitalAssetAcademy #DecentralizedFinance

💡 Financial systems are about to take a turn towards an innovative revolution. Our latest feature dives into the power of tokenization and its potential in shaping the future of cross-border payments. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eRS4G7_r IsSettled, led by visionary founders Maxim Yakimov and Pavel Yakimov, is pioneering this advancement in the financial sector. Based out of New York, this game-changing startup is unifying banks and corporates with an API-based global network, tokenization system, and transaction ledger. 💰 Imagine a world where ISO 20022, CBDC, FX, payments, clearing, and settlements take place in real-time, 24x7x365. That's the world IsSettled is building. 🌍 Their mission: to create an architects an efficient channel for financial institutions and corporations to exchange financial information directly, conduct mutual settlements with counterparties, and provide access to cross-liquidity—all in real-time and available 24x7x365. 🙌 Join us in exploring this evolution in the finance industry as we deep dive into how tokenization is shaping the paradigms of fintech. #Finance #Fintech #Tokenization #CrossBorderPayments #ISO20022 #CBDC #FX #Payments #Clearing #RealTimeSettlements #IsSettled #DigitalCurrency #Innovation #Finmag Get to know more about IsSettled - Twitter: https://lnkd.in/eszqr6K5 LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/ectyE4xC

Once more, tokenization has captured the attention of traditional institutions. HSBC conducted a trial of tokenized deposits to facilitate the movement of funds between multiple accounts for a corporate client. The test utilized Ant Group's blockchain platform, the parent company of China's AliPay, and was carried out within the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) Fintech Supervisory Sandbox. HSBC has previously engaged in tokenized deposit tests, including participation in the Regulated Liability Network trials conducted in both the UK and the US. The bank has also been involved in various trials related to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The use of tokenized deposits is nothing new. Tokenized deposits are commonly employed for corporate treasury management, especially by large companies with subsidiaries spread globally that require efficient money transfers between them. The use of tokenized deposits allows for real-time transactions, even outside regular banking hours. As an example, Siemens utilizes JP Morgan's JPM Coin platform for a similar purpose, highlighting the practical applications of tokenized deposits in the corporate financial landscape. Check out our blog on Exploring TradFi’s Journey into Tokenization https://lnkd.in/gMPUmjxW https://lnkd.in/gsWHVb4q

Digital Bank Daily Stand-up: March 2, 2023 (News, trends and thoughts about #digitalbanking #fintech and #banktech ) - Revolut's #userbase has grown to 27 million, exceeding the population of #Australia. - As mentioned in my earlier Stand-up, there were high hopes that Revolut could become profitable and obtain a UK #bankinglicence. - However, these plans are now uncertain due to the company's unclear reporting of its revenues. - Over the past few years, Revolut has been expanding its offerings beyond #banking, such as offering #cryptocurrency trading and #wealth services. - However, the #ITsystems and #accounting practices of this #challengerbank have not kept pace. What's really holding them back? Culture? Strategy? What do you think? #startup #neobank #neobanking #challengerbanks #mobilebanking #payments #remittance #remittances #ukfintech

The number of banks or financial firms providing Crypto banking services is rapidly increasing, led by Europe and followed by North America with 30 banks, Asia with 24 banks, and South and Central America with 13 banks. The map below, based on our data collection and analysis, shows the geography of crypto banking in 2024. The map indicates that the number of banks or financial firms providing cryptocurrency banking services is rapidly increasing, led by Europe and followed by North America with 30 banks, Asia with 24 banks, and South and Central America with 13 banks. Here are the main takeaways from the report: ► Unprecedented Market Growth: Bitcoin's surge past the $70,000 mark in 2024 signals robust health and growing investor confidence in the cryptocurrency market, underpinned by an expanding landscape of crypto bankingG ► Global Leadership in Crypto Banking: Europe emerges as the global leader in crypto banking, followed by North America, Asia, and South and Central America, highlighting a rapid increase in financial firms integrating cryptocurrency servicesG ► Top Performers: Amina Bank (formerly SEBA Bank) leads the global crypto banking sector, with notable mentions for Kraken Bank and Bakkt for their exceptional innovation and services. ► ETF Milestone: The US's approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs marks a significant legitimization step, attracting a diverse investor base and hinting at a new era of institutional-grade investment for banks. ► Adoption of Stablecoins and Tokenization: Major banks and financial institutions are increasingly adopting stablecoins and exploring tokenization, signaling a shift towards more innovative and secure banking solutions. ► Blockchain and DeFi Integration: Financial institutions show a growing interest in blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) products, aiming to leverage these technologies for enhanced customer services and operational efficiency. ► Diverse Participation: The report illustrates a healthy mix of traditional, fintech, and crypto-focused banks engaging in crypto banking services, fostering an inclusive financial ecosystem. ► Employment Trends: The rise of cryptocurrencies is creating new job opportunities, especially in blockchain development, digital currency offerings, and cyber-security. ► Market Size and Distribution: The varying sizes of firms in the digital asset space, from nano to mega-cap, highlighting the diversity and potential for growth across the board. ► Service Evolution: Crypto banks are broadening their service offerings, from crypto trading and custody to tokenization and staking, indicating a move towards a more comprehensive crypto banking model. Download the complete Coincub's crypto banking report 2024 for more info: https://lnkd.in/eZTr4A4J