Banks Invest Over $100 Billion in Blockchain Infrastructure Since 2020
Traditional banks have invested over $100 billion in blockchain since 2020, according to a report by Ripple, CB Insights, and the UK Centre for Blockchain Technologies. Key findings include:
- Investment between 2020 and 2024 is estimated at more than $100 billion.
- 90% of finance leaders believe blockchain will significantly impact finance within three years.
- 345 blockchain deals involved traditional financial institutions during this period.
- The largest investments were in payment infrastructure, followed by custody and tokenization.
- 25% of investments targeted infrastructure providers for blockchain settlement.
- 65% of bank executives are exploring digital asset custody; stablecoins and tokenized assets are priorities.
Examples include HSBC’s tokenized gold platform and Goldman Sachs’ blockchain settlement tool. Most banks focus less on consumer-facing digital assets, with under 20% offering crypto trading or retail wallets.
The shift towards blockchain is viewed as infrastructural rather than speculative, aimed at modernizing payments and reducing reliance on legacy systems. Two-thirds of surveyed banks plan to launch digital asset initiatives within three years, despite regulatory uncertainties.
Investment in blockchain from traditional finance reached a post-FTX high in Q1 2024, driven by adoption in emerging markets like the UAE, India, and Singapore.