Mariia Miakisheva: “The First Thing that Breaks Is the Assumption that the Data Is Already Comparable”

Why It Matters

Without a single source of truth, tokenised settlements cannot deliver accurate reporting, exposing firms to operational risk and missed growth opportunities. Implementing data integrity first enables safe adoption of new payment rails and stronger financial governance.

Key Takeaways

• Data comparability assumption fails across multi‑rail payments
• Standardized reference data enables single source of truth
• Governance precedes tooling for reliable finance data
• Mapping transactions to P&L creates audit‑ready reporting
• Controlled capital allocation reduces risk in fast growth

Pulse Analysis

Tokenisation promises near‑instant settlement, but the real bottleneck lies in the data that feeds finance systems. Companies juggling bank feeds, payment providers, and crypto platforms often receive transaction records in disparate formats, with mismatched identifiers and inconsistent cut‑off times. This fragmentation prevents a unified view of cash positions, leading to duplicate entries, missing transactions, and unreliable profit‑and‑loss reporting. By establishing a common data schema—capturing essential fields such as entity, currency, counterparty, and purpose—organizations create a foundation for accurate, real‑time liquidity monitoring.

Once the data is standardized, the next critical step is governance. Defining ownership, data definitions, and reconciliation standards ensures that automation tools operate on consistent rules rather than amplifying inconsistencies. Mapping each transaction to a specific line in the management P&L provides traceability and auditability, turning raw cash movements into decision‑grade financial statements. This governance‑first mindset enables finance teams to shift from manual reconciliation to automated, near‑real‑time close cycles, supporting faster strategic decisions and reducing operational risk.

For tech leaders, the strategic implication is clear: prioritize data integrity before expanding payment rails. A controlled, single‑source finance data layer acts as a safety net, allowing firms to adopt new tokenised or crypto settlement solutions without compromising reporting accuracy. Moreover, applying the same disciplined portfolio management principles to capital allocation—treating investments as governed projects with staged funding—enhances risk visibility and aligns growth with cash flow health. In a landscape where speed and innovation are paramount, a robust data foundation becomes the competitive advantage that turns tokenisation from a theoretical concept into a practical, value‑adding capability.