Asia-Pacific Leads as Stablecoins and AI Reshape Post-Trade Future

Stablecoins could account for up to 10% of global post-trade turnover by 2030, according to a recent survey conducted by Citi. The findings, part of the bank’s “Securities Services Evolution” whitepaper, reveal a growing shift toward tokenization and AI-driven automation in the post-trade industry. The survey, which gathered input from 537 industry participants—including custodians, broker-dealers, and asset managers—highlights how technological advancements are reshaping trade processing.

Citi estimates that tokenized assets, particularly those backed by stablecoins, are expected to play a central role in enabling this transformation. The report points to bank-issued stablecoins as a key driver of collateral efficiency and fund tokenization. While this trend is emerging globally, Asia-Pacific is currently leading in adoption, fueled by strong retail interest in crypto and supportive regulatory environments for digital assets. By 2030, the bank forecasts that 10% of global post-trade market turnover could be conducted through tokenized assets, with the U.S. projected to lead at 14%.

The integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is also gaining traction in post-trade operations. According to the survey, 86% of firms are piloting GenAI, with client onboarding as the primary use case across asset managers, custodians, and broker-dealers. A further 57% of respondents reported that their organizations are testing AI specifically for post-trade processes. The technology is being leveraged to automate tasks such as reconciliation, reporting, and settlements, which are critical in maintaining efficiency as the industry transitions to faster settlement cycles like T+1.

The move toward T+1 settlements, where trades settle one business day after the trade date, is intensifying the need for automation. The post-trade industry is under pressure to streamline workflows and reduce manual interventions to meet these tighter deadlines. Citi noted that 67% of institutional investors are already using GenAI for reconciliation and other post-trade functions, emphasizing the technology’s potential to cut costs and improve accuracy. Meanwhile, 83% of brokers, 63% of custodians, and 60% of asset managers are using GenAI for onboarding processes, which the bank suggests could help bridge the gap between retail and institutional client services.

The report underscores that the post-trade market is undergoing a period of transformation driven by digital assets, faster settlements, and AI adoption. Chris Cox, Head of Investor Services at Citi, noted that the global vision for post-trade modernization is aligning around similar themes. “The industry is at the cusp of significant change as market participants intensify their focus on T+1, accelerate the adoption of digital assets, and implement GenAI across their operations,” he stated.

Citi’s report also highlights the potential for digital ledger technology (DLT) to enhance liquidity and reduce post-trade costs. Over half of survey respondents indicated that DLT could significantly impact funding costs, resource requirements, and operating costs by 2028. With regulatory developments, such as the U.S. GENIUS Act, and leadership from firms like Circle and BlackRock, the conditions for broader adoption appear increasingly favorable.

Source: [1] Citi Says Stablecoins and AI Could Drive Post-Trade Shakeup (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/09/02/citi-says-stablecoins-and-ai-could-drive-post-trade-shakeup) [2] Citi Says Stablecoins and AI Could Drive Post-Trade Shakeup (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/citi-says-stablecoins-ai-could-100925808.html) [3] Crypto to Handle 10% of Post-Trades by 2030: Citi Survey (https://cointelegraph.com/news/citi-tokenized-assets-stablecoins-genai-2030-trading-forecast)