The rise of instant settlements in crypto finance

Instant settlement is moving from nice to have to a core requirement for institutional crypto. As trading runs 24/7, liquidity needs to move at the same pace. Traditional banking rails were not built for that reality, with inflexible operating hours, high costs, and value limits that force larger flows onto slower routes. 

In this report, we look back on five years of BLINC and what it tells us about where institutional infrastructure is heading. As of December 2025, BLINC has processed over $250 billion in transactions, connected more than 400 institutional clients, and created almost 80,000 potential bilateral settlement connections. 

We also set out why instant settlement matters for resilience, not just speed. The ability to deploy fiat liquidity quickly helps reduce operational and cash flow risk, particularly during periods of volatility, while supporting a simpler client experience even as complexity increases behind the scenes. 

Download: The rise of instant settlements in crypto finance