沈建光:加密货币与金融体系加速融合的趋势与前景
The Rise of Crypto-Finance Integration in 2025
In 2025, the global financial landscape is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the accelerating convergence between cryptocurrencies and traditional financial systems. With stablecoin market capitalization surpassing $220 billion and Bitcoin briefly breaking the $100,000 mark, digital assets are no longer niche speculative instruments—they are becoming integral components of modern finance.
This shift is underpinned by growing institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and technological advancements. From major banks launching blockchain-based payment platforms to capital markets embracing tokenized assets, the integration of crypto into core financial infrastructure is now irreversible. At the heart of this evolution are four key trends: the fusion of stablecoins with global payment systems, collaboration between banks and crypto platforms, deepening synergy between capital markets and crypto markets, and a regulatory pivot toward innovation-friendly frameworks.
These developments signal more than just technological progress—they represent a fundamental reimagining of how value is stored, transferred, and invested across borders.
👉 Discover how leading financial institutions are integrating blockchain into mainstream services.
Trend 1: Stablecoins Reshaping Global Payments
Stablecoins are revolutionizing cross-border payments through unmatched speed and cost efficiency. Unlike traditional bank transfers that can take up to five business days and incur average fees of 6.35%, stablecoin transactions settle instantly—99% complete within an hour—and cost mere fractions of a cent. For example, sending USDT over the Solana network costs approximately $0.00025 per transaction.
Powered by blockchain technology, stablecoins enable real-time, peer-to-peer settlement without intermediaries. Platforms like Ethereum and Tron use gas fee mechanisms to prioritize transactions, ensuring scalability and reliability even during peak demand.
Their utility extends far beyond crypto trading. Increasingly, stablecoins are being adopted for real-world economic activities:
- Cross-border trade settlements
- Business-to-business (B2B) payments
- Employee payroll distribution
- Consumer purchases
- Real estate transactions
Visa's 2025 data reveals that adjusted stablecoin payment volumes reached $6.7 trillion over the past year, with over 1.4 billion transactions processed through 240 million active wallet addresses.
Major players are expanding use cases rapidly. Tether partnered with UAE-based Reelly Tech to facilitate property purchases using USDT. In Singapore, Meiyume Department Store now accepts USDT, USDC, and WUSD. Global retailer SPAR is piloting crypto payments in Switzerland.
Traditional financial institutions are also joining the movement:
- PayPal launched its own dollar-pegged stablecoin (PYUSD) and partnered with Coinbase to expand payment options.
- Stripe acquired Bridge to enable USDC-based corporate payments.
- Visa collaborates with Crypto.com using USDC on Ethereum for cross-border remittances.
- Mastercard is developing a "multi-token network" to bridge on-chain and off-chain assets.
This widespread integration confirms that stablecoins have evolved from experimental tools into essential elements of the global payment ecosystem.
Trend 2: Banks Embrace Crypto Services and Infrastructure
Financial institutions are no longer观望 (observing)—they are actively building crypto-native services. The era of bank-led stablecoins has begun.
JPMorgan launched JPM Coin in 2019, and since then, dozens of banks worldwide have followed suit:
- Standard Chartered (Hong Kong) conducted sandbox testing for its stablecoin.
- Itaú Unibanco (Brazil) plans to issue its own stablecoin in 2025.
- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (Japan) is co-developing yen-backed stablecoins.
- First Abu Dhabi Bank explores a dirham-pegged digital currency with sovereign wealth fund ADQ.
Beyond issuance, banks are rolling out direct crypto services:
- ZA BANK (Hong Kong) allows retail users to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum with fiat.
- Emirates NBD’s Liv X offers crypto trading.
- Bunq (Europe) partnered with Kraken to launch Bunq Crypto, a full-service trading platform.
Back-end infrastructure is also transforming. JPMorgan upgraded JPM Coin into Kinexys, a blockchain payment platform processing over $2 billion daily. Institutions like Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and London Stock Exchange use it for FX and cross-border settlements.
Switzerland’s Taurus-NETWORK enables automated interbank digital asset lending and settlement without third parties. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered and OKX launched a joint project allowing institutions to pledge crypto and tokenized money market funds as OTC collateral—blending security with innovation.
These moves demonstrate that banks are not just adopting crypto—they are redefining financial infrastructure for the digital age.
👉 See how blockchain is transforming institutional finance today.
Trend 3: Capital Markets and Crypto Converge
The boundary between traditional finance and crypto is dissolving. Tokenization—the digital representation of real-world assets on blockchain—is leading the charge.
Projects like:
- Project Guardian (MAS, Singapore)
- Project Ensemble (HKMA, Hong Kong)
- BUIDL Fund (BlackRock)
have laid the groundwork for regulated asset tokenization across bonds, equities, funds, and private credit.
By Q1 2025, the tokenized real-world asset market exceeded $22 billion**, doubling in one year, with nearly **190 issuers** and over **100,000 holders**. McKinsey projects this could reach **$2 trillion by 2030—excluding cryptocurrencies themselves.
Major asset managers are launching tokenized products:
- Fidelity: Tokenized U.S. Treasury fund and crypto-enabled retirement accounts.
- Franklin Templeton: Tokenized money market fund.
- Invesco (Singapore): Tokenized private credit fund.
- China Asset Management (HK): Retail tokenized fund.
- CPIC Investment (HK): Tokenized USD money market fund.
Calastone recently integrated Fireblocks’ infrastructure to allow any fund to be tokenized globally.
Simultaneously, institutional investment in native crypto assets is surging:
- BlackRock deposited 3,296 BTC (~$254M) into Coinbase Prime.
- State Street Global Advisors partnered with Galaxy Digital to launch “State Street Galaxy,” targeting $5B in crypto AUM by 2026.
- Charles Schwab plans direct spot crypto trading within 12 months.
- Goldman Sachs expands digital asset trading and lending.
Mergers are accelerating convergence:
- Kraken acquired NinjaTrader (futures platform).
- Coinbase pursues Deribit (derivatives exchange).
- Robinhood integrates Bitstamp.
- Archax bought FINRA-regulated Globacap.
These integrations create unified platforms where stocks, derivatives, and crypto coexist—ushering in a new era of seamless capital flow.
Trend 4: Regulatory Shift Toward Innovation Support
Regulatory sentiment has pivoted from caution to encouragement. In early 2025, the U.S. administration signed an executive order titled "Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology," establishing a Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets.
Key changes include:
- Repeal of prior approval requirements for bank crypto activities (FDIC, OCC, Fed).
- Active development of federal stablecoin legislation.
- Exploration of a "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" using confiscated BTC (~200K coins).
This policy shift catalyzed global action:
- Australia: Drafting comprehensive crypto regulation to reduce de-banking.
- UK: Launching a "Transformative Plan" to regulate Bitcoin and Ethereum services.
- Japan: Approving new rules allowing broader stablecoin investments while enforcing travel rules and user protections.
Notably, 47 countries have eased crypto regulations since 2020—only four tightened them (RIVER/Cointelegraph data).
Regulatory sandboxes in Hong Kong, Dubai, Japan, and the U.S. allow safe experimentation with stablecoins and tokenization.
Sovereign interest is rising:
- Binance reports advising multiple governments on strategic BTC reserves.
- SWFs from France, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Brunei increase crypto allocations.
- Six UK tech associations urged the government to appoint a crypto envoy and launch a national digital asset strategy.
This coordinated regulatory evolution reduces uncertainty and legitimizes crypto as a mature asset class.
Future Outlook: A New Financial Architecture
The fusion of crypto and traditional finance is inevitable. As blockchain matures and regulation clarifies, we’re moving toward a hybrid system where:
- Stablecoins complement CBDCs in global payments.
- Tokenization enables frictionless ownership of stocks, bonds, real estate.
- Crypto evolves from alternative asset to foundational infrastructure.
TripleA data shows 560 million global crypto owners in 2024 (~6.9% penetration), rising above 20% in the U.S., South Korea, Singapore, and UAE in 2025. Public companies now hold over 95,000 BTC, with 79 firms treating it as treasury reserve.
As World Economic Forum noted in late 2024: "Tokenization is not just innovation—it’s inevitability."
However, challenges remain:
- Legacy financial regulations don’t fully apply to decentralized systems.
- Global operations require international governance—not nation-by-nation rules.
- U.S. dominance raises concerns about digital financial hegemony.
To ensure equitable growth, regulators must balance innovation with inclusion—and build cooperative frameworks for a truly global digital economy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is driving the integration of stablecoins into traditional finance?
A: Speed, low cost, and programmability make stablecoins ideal for cross-border payments and institutional settlements. With transaction finality in under an hour and fees near zero, they outperform legacy systems—driving adoption by banks and payment giants alike.
Q: Are banks really launching their own cryptocurrencies?
A: Yes—JPMorgan’s JPM Coin was the first major example. Now institutions like Standard Chartered, Itaú Unibanco, and Sumitomo Mitsui are developing regulated stablecoins backed by fiat reserves for wholesale banking and cross-border use.
Q: How are capital markets adopting blockchain technology?
A: Through tokenization—converting assets like bonds, funds, and equities into digital tokens on blockchain. This enables instant settlement, 24/7 trading, reduced counterparty risk, and greater liquidity—pioneered by firms like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Invesco.
Q: Is there growing government support for cryptocurrency?
A: Absolutely. The U.S. is advancing federal stablecoin laws and exploring a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Countries like Singapore, Japan, Australia, and the UK are introducing innovation-friendly regulations to attract investment and talent.
Q: Can individuals benefit from these financial shifts?
A: Yes. Retail access to tokenized funds, crypto savings accounts, and integrated trading platforms allows everyday investors to diversify portfolios and earn yields previously limited to institutions.
Q: What risks should investors consider in this evolving landscape?
A: Regulatory changes, volatility in underlying assets, cybersecurity threats, and smart contract vulnerabilities remain concerns. Diversification and using regulated platforms mitigate many risks effectively.