PULSE • INDUSTRY ROUND-UP
BCB GROUP has marked five years of its proprietary instant payment network, BLINC, which has evolved from an internal concept into infrastructure trusted by institutional clients. BLINC, launched in July 2020, was designed to remove reliance on conventional payment rails such as SEPA and SWIFT, enabling faster and more efficient settlement for BCB Group’s clients. Last year saw the launch of BLINC Magazine, providing clients and the wider market with regular insights ranging from regulatory developments to broader industry trends. Over its lifespan, BLINC has gained increasing recognition across BCB celebrates BLINC milestone
Institutional custody: from consolidation to convergence
transformative improvements to our institutional offering,” said a spokesperson for Bitstamp, BLINC’s launch partner. “Real-time settlement has significantly reduced operational risk and strengthened treasury management, enabling us to deliver the speed and reliability required by professional traders.” Jonathan Milks, Chief Executive Officer at Stillman Digital, added that BLINC has “transformed our ability to move funds and process settlements for client counterparties,” citing improved speed, transparency and scalability. The network now supports
respondents maintained interest in investing in tokenised assets. “Traditional custodians have never not looked at digital assets, some have made more noise than others, but they have all been operating” in the space, Mortensen said. He explained that the development of digital custody solutions, from a traditional standpoint, was previously being developed behind-the-scenes. However, as the industry sees a “shift from retail to institutional investors,” digital custody solutions are being increasingly offered.
of digital and traditional finance, transforming the landscape for all. STABLECOINS ACCELERATING CHANGE The panel also noted the impact of stablecoins. “Institutions are going to see a huge leap in the adoption of stablecoins, from fintechs to corporations and institutions,” said Walker. She highlighted how stablecoins can support custodians in their growth, noting that as the movement of stablecoins proliferates, they help link digital custodians and expand the broader digital custody ecosystem. This type of consolidation, driven by the adoption of stablecoins and other strategic initiatives, is not just about merging firms, but about building interconnected networks and capabilities that position custodians to serve a broader, more integrated market. BCB Group reflects these developments through offerings such as its BCB Crypto Account, which allows clients to create multiple sub-accounts, each denominated in a different crypto or fiat currency. This capability supports a unified, seamless experience, bridging traditional and digital assets in a single platform, a practical example of convergence in action within the custody space. The panel concluded with a shared perspective: while the balance between consolidation and convergence may differ depending on the use case, one thing is clear: custody is undergoing a pivotal transformation driven by digitisation. As traditional and digital finance continue to intersect, the industry is moving toward a more integrated, seamless, and client-centric future, where technology, regulation, and innovation collectively define the institutions best positioned for what’s next. BCB Group is pioneering this shift with a proactive, regulation-first approach, fostering confidence as the industry moves from consolidation to convergence.
CUSTODY is entering a phase of redefinition. The accelerating digitisation of the global financial ecosystem has forced every sector to adapt, and custody, both traditional
and digital, is no exception. Custody has unexpectedly
become the bridge, and in many ways the catalyst for digitalisation, drawing traditional and decentralised finance into closer alignment. Traditional custody and digital asset custody remain distinct in their processes and infrastructure. Yet, as institutions push for the transparency, programmability, and liquidity enabled by distributed ledger technology, a new strategic question has emerged: is the digital asset custody industry
settlements in USD, GBP, EUR, CHF, JPY, AUD, NZD and SGD,
financial markets, supported by a growing network of partnerships that have extended its global reach. “Our integration with BCB Group’s BLINC Network has delivered centred on the efficient movement of funds across borders,” said Squire. “Access to the BLINC network gives clients direct connectivity to liquidity and FX providers, which has become a key differentiator. Crypto-friendly accounts were the initial draw, but as banks have eased risk appetites, that advantage has increasingly become commoditised.” For remittance firms, cost and reliability are critical. Operating on thin margins, providers are highly sensitive to transaction fees, settlement delays and failed payments.
with BCB Group positioning BLINC as a core component of its long-term strategy as institutional adoption of digital assets continues to expand. Even small inefficiencies can tie up capital, disrupt cashflow and erode competitiveness. Faster settlement reduces the amount of capital firms need to hold, improving returns and operational flexibility. BLINC has been designed to address these pressures by enabling real-time, 24/7/365 settlement across jurisdictions, reducing reliance on slower payment rails and minimising operational risk. The network allows institutions to move funds internally with greater speed and transparency, supporting treasury management and improving predictability for cross-border flows. With institutional demand for stablecoin-enabled payments continuing to grow, BCB Group sees remittance as a natural extension of its infrastructure offering. As the market moves beyond early adoption, networks such as BLINC are positioning themselves as the backbone for the next phase of cross-border payments.
BCB’s place amongst the growth of remittance
From Mortensen’s perspective, custody falls under convergence, as traditional custodians have been working on digital assets quietly, and are now bringing those capabilities forward as institutional demand grows. Momeni echoed this sentiment, offering the reason that custody is falling under a period of convergence is because “clients are seeking a unified experience.” “For clients, when they look at their platform, they simply don’t see a distinction between digital currencies, tokens, and traditional currencies, " said Momeni. “In their view, these are all just assets. And once everything sits within a single operating system, it effectively becomes the same asset type they’ve always worked with, only a better version, offering improved collateral management, greater visibility, and more transparency." BCB Group recognises this client demand for seamless interaction across asset types. By using Metaco’s flagship platform to deliver a unified experience, the firm is aligning with its core vision: seamless integration
consolidating, or converging? This question framed a key
discussion at the Future of Finance: Annual Custody Event, where Mori Momeni, Head of Product for digital asset operations at BCB Group, shared her perspective, that “clients are seeking a seamless experience.” The panel, moderated by Dominic Hobson, Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Future of Finance, featured Angie Walker, Head of Commercialisation at Apex Group; Anya Nova, Director of Sales Europe at GK8 by Galaxy (Nasdaq: GLXY); Soren Mortensen, Director of Global Financial Markets at IBM; Lorna Nolan, Independent; and Bart Garré, Legal,
THE increase in regulatory clarity, alongside BCB Group’s commitment to operating within it, has seen new use cases emerge that require specialist financial infrastructure such as BLINC. The global remittance market reached $905bn in 2024, a year that also marked significant progress in real-time payments and stablecoin-based settlement. Together, these developments are reshaping how funds move across borders, particularly for institutions seeking faster, cheaper and more reliable alternatives to traditional correspondent banking. As Tom Squire, Chief Revenue Officer at BCB Group, explains, remittance is becoming an increasingly relevant use case for the firm’s network. “Remittance sits at the intersection of foreign exchange and stablecoins,
Governance and Regulatory (Innovation, Data and Cyber) at Euroclear. CONVERGENCE DRIVEN BY CLIENT DEMAND
The panel pointed out the rapid growth of digital assets in general, especially this year. Research by EY Parthenon concluded the most important area requiring clarity was crypto custody; however, over half (57%) of
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