Blockchain Revolutionizes Finance: Unbanked and Institutions Benefit Equally

Blockchain technology is benefiting two distinct groups: financial institutions and the 1.4 billion people who are unbanked. Institutions gain speed and scalability, while the unbanked benefit from newfound accessibility and equity. Major institutions like BlackRock, Fidelity, and JPMorgan are proving blockchain's institutional viability, while aid organizations are demonstrating its humanitarian potential. Blockchain's unique capacity to serve both efficiency and equity is driving institutional momentum and strengthening infrastructure for borderless transactions with digital assets.

Blockchain technology is transforming the financial landscape, offering distinct advantages to two seemingly disparate groups: financial institutions and the 1.4 billion people who are unbanked. This technology, which enables secure and transparent transactions, is proving its value across the board.

Financial institutions are among the clearest beneficiaries of blockchain technology. They gain significant speed and scalability, which are crucial for handling large volumes of transactions efficiently. For instance, Franklin Templeton's tokenized money market fund has reduced transaction costs from $1 to less than a penny, demonstrating the potential for substantial efficiency gains [1]. This institutional adoption not only cuts costs but also validates the infrastructure that can serve both boardrooms and the billions still excluded from traditional finance.

At the same time, blockchain technology is providing newfound accessibility and equity to the unbanked. Remittances, which exceeded $900 billion globally in 2024, carry average fees of 6.62% worldwide, with some corridors reaching 10% or more. Blockchain networks can process these transactions for fractions of a penny with 3-5 second settlement times, making it a viable solution for working families who lose billions annually to remittance fees [1]. The technology removes friction, whether you're settling $100 million in tokenized assets or sending $100 to family abroad.

Major institutions like BlackRock, Fidelity, and JPMorgan are proving blockchain's institutional viability at unprecedented scale. Aid organizations, such as the United Nations Refugee Agency, are simultaneously demonstrating its humanitarian potential, distributing assistance directly to those in need without traditional intermediaries [1]. These parallel developments reflect blockchain's unique capacity to serve both efficiency and equity.

The convergence of these benefits is clear. The same technology solving institutional inefficiencies can address human exclusion from the financial system. Real-world stress tests, like the one in Argentina where inflation reached 236.7% by late 2024, have shown that both institutions and individuals are embracing digital assets out of necessity [1]. This crisis-driven adoption reveals blockchain's fundamental value proposition: removing dependence on fragile intermediaries and national monetary systems.

However, actualizing blockchain's full potential requires intentional design for both audiences. This means building interfaces sophisticated enough for institutional treasury management yet simple enough for first-time users. It also means creating compliance frameworks that satisfy regulatory requirements while preserving accessibility for underserved populations.

The infrastructure for borderless, frictionless value transfer is ready. Modern blockchain networks have processed tens of billions of operations, serving millions of accounts worldwide. The technology handles institutional scale while remaining accessible to individual users.

But success requires partnerships spanning both worlds – working with established financial institutions to build robust infrastructure while partnering with mobile money operators, community organizations, and fintech companies serving underbanked populations. The goal isn't choosing between efficiency and equity, but achieving both simultaneously.

Blockchain's unique promise lies precisely in its ability to serve these seemingly different constituencies with the same fundamental infrastructure. The networks enabling pension funds to tokenize assets can help farmers access credit. The rails facilitating institutional settlement can deliver humanitarian aid directly to refugees.

As builders, our responsibility extends beyond technological capability to purposeful implementation. We must ensure that institutional adoption strengthens rather than supplants financial inclusion efforts. We must design systems that leverage institutional resources to extend access rather than create new barriers.

The infrastructure for borderless, frictionless value transfer is ready. The regulatory frameworks are evolving. The institutional adoption is accelerating. Our success will be measured not just by efficiency gains in existing systems, but by how many people we bring into economic participation for the first time.

The choice we make today determines whether blockchain becomes another tool serving the already-served or the bridge finally connecting everyone to the global economy. Both institutions and the unbanked are counting on us to get this right.

References:
[1] https://www.coindesk.com/opinion/2025/09/06/the-banks-and-the-unbanked-blockchain-s-biggest-beneficiaries-sit-at-both-ends-of-the-financial-spectrum
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/assessing-viability-trump-media-group-cro-strategy-strategic-entry-point-retail-investors-crypto-sector-2509/