Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, says the financial world is on the verge of a major transformation, predicting that almost all global transactions will eventually take place on blockchain networks.
Key points to remember:
- Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, predicts that almost all global transactions will eventually be settled on blockchain networks.
- Winters said the transition to digital currency would require years of collaboration.
- The bank is expanding its blockchain projects, including a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin and tokenization pilot.
Speaking at Hong Kong FinTech Week on Monday, Winters said blockchain-based digital currency and settlements will define the next era of global finance.
“Our belief, which I think is shared by Hong Kong leaders, is that virtually all transactions will eventually be settled on blockchains and all money will be digital,” he said.
Blockchain change will require a “complete rewiring” of global finance
Winters added that this change will require years of experimentation and collaboration between governments, regulators and the private sector.
“Think about what that means: a complete overhaul of the financial system,” he said.
Standard Chartered, headquartered in London and listed in London and Hong Kong, is one of the most active traditional banks in the field of blockchain technology.
The bank operates digital asset custody services, trading platforms and tokenization initiatives.
Winters praised Hong Kong’s pioneering role in regulation and innovation, highlighting the city’s leadership in digital finance alongside Financial Secretary Paul Chan.
The remarks come as Hong Kong strives to become Asia’s center for crypto and digital assets, with a licensing regime for exchanges and pilots in tokenization, an area in which Standard Chartered is directly involved.
Tokenized assets, such as digital representations of bonds, stocks or commodities, can be recorded and traded on blockchains.
Standard Chartered is also developing a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin in partnership with Animoca Brands and HKT under the city’s new regulatory framework.
Winters said he saw the project as a key step toward building a new digital payments infrastructure for international trade.
The head of Standard Chartered joins a growing chorus of top financial executives betting on tokenization.
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev recently called tokenization a “freight train” headed to traditional markets within five years, while BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said earlier this year that tokenized securities would eventually encompass “every asset class,” reshaping global investing.
Standard Chartered’s SC Ventures to launch $250 million digital assets fund
As reported, SC Ventures, the venture capital arm of Standard Chartered, plans to launch a $250 million fund in 2026 focused on digital assets and financial services innovation, with backing from investors in the Middle East.
Speaking at the Money 20/20 fintech conference in Riyadh, Gautam Jain, operating member of SC Ventures, said the fund will target blockchain, tokenization and other regulated digital asset opportunities as the company deepens its fintech footprint.
Alongside this initiative, SC Ventures aims to create a $100 million African fund and is considering the launch of its first venture debt fund.
Founded in 2018, SC Ventures has aggressively expanded across regions, including launching operations in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, and plans to establish a domestic fund there focused on minority stakes and new ventures by 2026.
In early 2025, Standard Chartered obtained a Luxembourg license to provide custody of cryptocurrencies under the EU MiCA.
This came after the bank launched crypto custody services in the UAE after obtaining a DFSA license in Dubai.
Standard Chartered CEO predicts a “complete rewiring” of finance as blockchain adoption accelerates. It appeared first on Cryptonews.
