TOKEN2049: Stablecoins, AI and the Future of Institutional Finance

TOKEN2049 Singapore once again proved why it’s the most influential gathering for the digital asset economy. This year’s event made one thing clear: the future of finance will be defined by trusted infrastructure that bridges traditional and digital markets.

From stablecoin adoption and AI-driven payments to treasury digitisation, tokenisation, and global regulation, the conference showcased how rapidly innovation is moving — and why institutions now demand compliance, scalability, and interoperability.

BCB Group was proud to be part of the conversations shaping the next era of global finance. Here are our key takeaways.

Stablecoins Take Centre Stage in the Trillion-Dollar Payments Shift

Stablecoins have moved from being a niche trading instrument to becoming a core settlement rail for cross-border payments. Sessions such as “Stablecoins and the Trillion-Dollar Payments Shift” underlined the magnitude of this transformation.

Institutions now want more than speed and cost efficiency — they want regulated, enterprise-grade rails. This is where BCB’s BLINC network plays a critical role, offering 24/7 settlement, fiat-to-stablecoin interoperability, and robust compliance frameworks.

AI + Stablecoins: The Next Frontier in Payments

A striking theme at TOKEN2049 was the fusion of AI and payments. Sessions such as “Boosting AI Agent Payments with Stablecoins” and “AI, Crypto & Autonomous Capital” explored how autonomous systems will increasingly manage flows of value.

BCB sees this as an opportunity to help clients leverage automation for faster, smarter, and lower-cost operations.

“AI-driven economies need programmable, round-the-clock money. Stablecoins are the natural fit — and BCB provides the trusted infrastructure to support that future.” – Oliver Tonkin, CEO BCB Group

 The Rise of Digital-Asset Treasuries

Traditional corporates are no longer sitting on the sidelines. Sessions like “The Rise of Digital Asset Treasuries” highlighted how treasury functions are beginning to diversify into digital assets to improve liquidity and operational efficiency.

For these treasurers, success hinges on trust, compliance, and seamless integration with existing banking processes.

Tokenisation: The Next Leap for Capital Markets

The debate has moved beyond whether tokenisation will happen to how quickly it will scale. But success depends on institutional-grade settlement, custody, and compliance.

BCB’s infrastructure — developed to move and safeguard value across fiat, stablecoin, and crypto rails — is uniquely suited to support tokenised asset settlement.

Regulation as a Catalyst, Not a Brake

Regulation was another recurring theme. Far from slowing growth, clearer frameworks in Europe (MiCA), the UAE (VARA/CBUAE), and evolving U.S. policy are unlocking the next wave of institutional adoption.

BCB’s regulatory-first approach has been validated by its fast-track MiCA progress in Europe and the ongoing strengthening of its  global regulatory footprint   and licensing applications in the UAE — giving institutions confidence in our long-term reliability.

Fintech as a Bridge to Mainstream Adoption

Multiple sessions underscored the role of fintechs in bringing digital assets to mainstream customers. Fintechs succeed on user experience — they partner with BCB for the compliant, scalable infrastructure that sits behind the scenes.

The Road Ahead: BCB’s Vision

The conversations at TOKEN2049 confirmed our conviction that the future of finance will be instant, programmable, compliant, and globally connected.

BCB’s role is to be the trusted bridge between traditional finance and the digital-asset economy — powering payments, stablecoins, treasury management, tokenised settlement, and fintech integration.

The winners of the next phase will be those that combine innovation with trust and regulatory credibility.