Since the beginning of organised trade, centralised financial systems have dominated the market, generally operating as a black box in the sight of its consumers. Aside from a lack of transparency, they have conducted business in a monopolistic manner, amassing empires by just acting as an intermediary. Blockchain technology, which is frequently referred to as the “backbone” of digital currency, has progressively evolved to become a disruptive force in the financial services industry. Blockchain, as a secure, decentralised, and transparent ledger system, is poised to revolutionise the way financial transactions are handled, resulting in increased efficiency, lower costs, and higher security. In this article we’ll discuss Impact of blockchain in finance, Roles of Stablecoin, decentralized exchanges and cross border payments
Impact of blockchain Technology In financial industry
The following are the impacts of blockchain Technology, they are as follows;
1.Payment System Simplicity: One of the most major applications of blockchain technology is in expediting payment systems. By removing the need for intermediaries, blockchain-based payment systems can enable faster, more secure, and more inexpensive cross-border transactions. For example, Ripple, a worldwide payment network based on blockchain technology, enables financial institutions to process payments in real time with minimal fees, providing a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional payment systems. As blockchain use grows, it is likely to cause a fundamental upheaval in the global payments landscape, allowing organisations and individuals to interact more seamlessly across borders.
2.Increasing Trade Finance: Trade finance, an important component of international trade, is sometimes hampered by sluggish and inefficient processes, heavy paperwork, and vulnerability to fraud. Blockchain technology can address these issues by digitising trade documentation, expediting processes, and creating a tamper-proof environment for secure transactions. Platforms like Marco Polo, for example, use blockchain to provide faster, more transparent, and secure trade finance solutions. The use of blockchain in trade finance is likely to promote collaboration among trading partners.
3.Asset Management Is Being Transformed: The asset management industry can profit from the use of blockchain technology in a variety of ways. Smart contracts, which are programmable agreements that automatically execute when predetermined circumstances are satisfied, can automate different asset management operations such as trade clearing and settlement, lowering operational costs and increasing efficiency.Furthermore, tokenization, the process of transforming physical assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, can boost liquidity, permit fractional ownership, and expand access to investment opportunities. As blockchain technology advances, it has the potential to revolutionise the asset management business by increasing transparency, efficiency, and investor participation.
4.Insurance is Being Revolutionised: The capacity of blockchain technology to simplify claims processing, improve transparency, and decrease fraud has the potential to completely transform the insurance sector. By storing policy and claims data on a blockchain, insurers can automate the claims process with smart contracts, resulting in faster payouts and lower administrative expenses. Furthermore, by allowing access to a huge array of verified data, blockchain might enable better risk assessment and pricing. As the insurance business embraces blockchain, it may result in more customer-centric and efficient procedures, ultimately benefiting both insurers and policyholders.
5.Streamlining Regulatory Compliance: The financial services business is subject to a slew of complicated rules, making regulatory compliance a substantial issue for institutions. Blockchain technology can help with compliance by creating a secure, transparent, and tamper-proof record of transactions, making it easier for authorities to monitor and audit financial activity. Furthermore, blockchain-based identity management solutions can improve client onboarding and anti-money laundering (AML) processes. Blockchain technology has the ability to reduce regulatory constraints on financial institutions by streamlining compliance procedures and assuring accurate record-keeping, supporting industry innovation and growth.
6.Financial Inclusion Promotion: Blockchain technology has the potential to increase financial inclusion by increasing access to financial services for unbanked and underbanked people. Decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms based on blockchain technology provide a variety of financial services, including lending, borrowing, and asset management, without the need for traditional middlemen such as banks. DeFi platforms can assist bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked populations by eliminating entry barriers and delivering cost-effective solutions, promoting greater financial inclusion and economic development.
Role of decentralized exchange
Decentralised crypto exchanges (DEXs) are blockchain-based apps that facilitate large-scale trading of crypto assets among multiple users. Instead of the traditional strategy of acting as a financial intermediary between buyers and sellers, they do it purely using automated algorithms.
DEX algorithms are instances of smart contracts. They are pieces of code created on top of blockchain networks like Ethereum that trigger various outputs when particular inputs are provided. A decentralised exchange (DEX) allows users to trade crypto assets through blockchain transactions without the requirement for a custodian or centralised intermediary.
In contrast to traditional financial transactions, which are opaque and run through middlemen who provide extremely limited visibility into their actions, DEXs provide complete transparency into the movement of funds and the processes supporting exchange. Furthermore, because user money do not transit through a third party’s cryptocurrency wallet when trading, DEXs lower counterparty risk and can reduce systemic centralization problems in the bitcoin ecosystem.
DEXs play a role in the cryptocurrency industry by serving as an alternative to centralised exchanges, which have been chastised for potential security flaws, power concentration, and lack of transparency. DEXs enable users to exchange cryptocurrencies directly with one another without the necessity of a centralised intermediary.
The level of control users have over their assets is one of the primary distinctions between DEXs and centralised exchanges. Users must often deposit their assets into a centralised wallet owned by the exchange when using a centralised exchange. Users may be subject to cyber attacks, theft, and other security problems as a result of this. DEXs, on the other hand, allow users to maintain complete control over their assets at all times, lowering the danger of theft and other criminal activity.
Role of Stablecoin
The following are the roles of Stablecoin in blockchain
1. Stability: The basic aim of stablecoins is to give stability to cryptocurrency marketplaces. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are notorious for their volatility, with prices swinging significantly over short periods of time. Stablecoins provide a more trustworthy form of exchange by keeping a stable value compared to a single item or basket of assets, such as the US dollar, euro, or gold.
2. Stablecoins can be used to facilitate trade on cryptocurrency exchanges. Stablecoins are a reliable way for merchants to exchange value between other cryptocurrencies since they provide a consistent value.
3.Stablecoins can potentially serve as a bridge to cryptocurrency for those who are apprehensive to invest in volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Stablecoins, by providing a more steady investment alternative, can make it easier for investors to enter the cryptocurrency market.
4.Stablecoins are also utilised to provide liquidity in cryptocurrency marketplaces. They can be used to trade other cryptocurrencies, issue loans or collateral, and make payments on decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms.
5.Stablecoins can also facilitate speedy and low-cost cross-border transactions because they can be transferred between individuals and businesses in various nations without the need for traditional banking institutions.
Role of cross border payment in blockchain
Blockchain technology has the ability to fundamentally alter how cross-border payments are made. Cross-border payments are currently delayed and expensive because they sometimes entail many intermediaries and complex regulatory constraints. Blockchain technology has the ability to streamline this process, making it faster, less expensive, and more efficient.
Blockchain has the potential to transform cross-border payments by lowering the number of intermediaries involved. Cross-border payments are frequently routed via many banks, payment processors, and other middlemen before arriving at their final destination. Each of these intermediaries charges a fee for their services, which might raise the payment cost.
By allowing payments to be transferred directly from one party to another, blockchain technology has the potential to eliminate some of these intermediaries. Cross-border payments could be made less expensive and more accessible to individuals and businesses as a result of this.
Another role of blockchain in cross-border payments is through boosting transparency and decreasing the risk of fraud. Because cross-border payments frequently include several parties and complex transactions, they might be prone to fraud and other financial crimes. Transactions may be recorded and confirmed in a transparent and secure manner using blockchain, minimising the risk of fraud and other financial crimes.
Blockchain has the potential to make cross-border payments faster and more efficient. Cross-border payments currently take days or even weeks to execute due to many middlemen and regulatory procedures. With blockchain, transactions can be executed very instantly, without the need for intermediaries or governmental permission. This might make it easier for people to access and use their money, as well as lower the cost of cross-border payments.
Finally, blockchain has the potential to improve financial inclusion by providing an alternate means of accessing financial services for individuals and enterprises in developing nations. Many people in developing countries now lack access to traditional financial institutions like banks. These individuals may be able to access financial services and participate in the global economy by utilising blockchain.
In conclusion, as the financial services industry continues to adapt to the digital era, blockchain technology adoption will play a vital role in creating its future landscape. From streamlining payment systems to modernising regulatory compliance, blockchain has the ability to change established business structures and practises, ushering in a new era of efficiency, security, and transparency in financial services.