Tokenization of deposits: trends, challenges and potential - tokenized deposits are set to reshape banking assets into digital tokens using blockchain technology, whereby ensuring security and transparency. Major global banking titans such as Citi and JP Morgan are participating in initiatives exploring multi-asset settlement, being overseen by regulatory bodies. Regulatory involvement extends to central bank digital currency (CBDC) trials indicating the trend's significance, but with challenges including regulatory compliance and liquidity concerns; initiatives such as the UK Regulated Liability Network aim to address these. Tokenized deposits offer advantages over stablecoins, supported by institutional backing and regulatory clarity; they promise to transform wholesale markets, enabling seamless transactions and bolstering investor confidence in a future of borderless financial services.

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Transforming insurance: the role of smart contracts in shaping the future - blockchain-powered smart contracts are reshaping insurance paradigms, automating processes and enhancing transparency. This article explores their transformative role, spotlighting streamlined claims management, precise underwriting and fraud prevention. Through real-world examples such as Axa's flight delay insurance and ZhongAn's supply chain finance, smart contracts demonstrate their efficacy in expediting processes and ensuring accuracy. Whilst challenges such as scalability and regulatory compliance persist, collaboration and innovation promise a future where smart contracts drive efficiency, cost reduction and customer-centric insurance solutions, marking a significant shift in risk management and policy enforcement.

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Blockchain scalability solution - blockchain has grown in popularity and hence prompted a boom in research into distributed ledgers. Being a decentralized technology, blockchain enables transactions to be handled without the use of intermediaries and, as it grows increasingly popular, blockchain’s applications are spreading into everyday life. However, the increasing number of users on a blockchain does present scalability issues, so, to solve these difficulties, experts are working on variety of solutions to overcome these blockchain scaling challenges.

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Crypto payments: the gateway to mainstream adoption - Bitcoin's blockchain has introduced reliable peer-to-peer payments but mainstream adoption is essential. Whilst viewed as risky in well-banked regions, crypto is a lifeline in areas with poor financial services, exemplified by stablecoin use in emerging economies and humanitarian efforts such as the UNHCR's stablecoin distribution in Ukraine. Integrating crypto with familiar platforms (e.g., Solana with Shopify, Ripple with banks, and PayPal's expanding crypto features) normalises its use.

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