Tokenisation Is Coming – How Can the Banking Industry Prepare?

Why It Matters

Tokenisation will redefine revenue models, risk management and client relationships, making early adoption a competitive imperative for legacy banks.

Key Takeaways

• Only 12% of European banks have live tokenisation projects.
• 25% view tokenisation as strategic core, highlighting readiness gap.
• CBDCs and stablecoins may replace card networks by 2030.
• Legacy core‑banking systems and regulatory ambiguity hinder integration.
• Partnering with fintechs speeds tokenisation platform development.

Pulse Analysis

The tokenised economy is transitioning from theory to practice, driven by maturing blockchain protocols, clearer regulatory frameworks and a surge in pilot projects. In Europe, the Digital Euro initiative signals governmental endorsement, while the United States focuses on stablecoin oversight. This convergence accelerates the shift from traditional card‑based payments to programmable digital assets, compelling banks to rethink how value is transferred and recorded across borders. For institutions, the urgency stems from a narrowing window to embed token‑ready infrastructure before market expectations solidify.

Banks face a trifecta of challenges: entrenched legacy core‑banking platforms that resist integration, a patchwork of jurisdictional regulations that create compliance uncertainty, and an expanded cyber‑attack surface as wallets and smart contracts become prime targets. Executives cite quantum‑safe cryptography as essential, reflecting the long‑term security horizon. Meanwhile, fintechs and neobanks, built on token‑first architectures, are already capturing segments of the digital‑asset market, threatening traditional revenue streams. The risk of disintermediation is real, but the opportunity to leverage regulated custody, compliance expertise and client trust can turn banks into pivotal nodes in the new value chain.

Strategically, banks should launch proof‑of‑concepts to identify high‑impact lines such as asset custody, securities services and AI‑driven transaction automation. Integrating tokenisation with AI can streamline workflows, reduce bureaucracy and enable autonomous "agentic payments." Early partnerships with fintech innovators and enterprise‑software vendors will bridge legacy gaps, delivering resilient integration layers. By 2030, institutions that embed token‑ready platforms will not only safeguard existing business but also unlock new fee‑based services, positioning themselves as the trusted custodians of the emerging digital‑asset economy.