Digital Assets and AI Drive Quiet Revolution in Post-Trade Markets

Stablecoins are expected to reshape post-trade markets significantly within the next five years, with 10% of global market turnover projected to be processed using digital assets and tokenized securities by 2030, according to a Citi report. This forecast is based on a survey of 537 industry participants, including custodians, banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, and institutional investors across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. The investment bank highlighted that bank-issued stablecoins are emerging as a primary mechanism to support collateral efficiency, fund tokenization, and private market securities, signaling a shift toward broader digital adoption in the financial sector [1].

The survey revealed that over half of the respondents are piloting generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for post-trade operations, with 67% of institutional investors currently using it for post-trade reconciliation, reporting, clearing, and settlements. GenAI is particularly impactful in improving client onboarding, with 83% of brokers, 63% of custodians, and 60% of asset managers using the technology to streamline processes and bridge the gap between retail and institutional client services. Citi noted that faster and cleaner onboarding is a critical driver of efficiency in post-trade markets [1].

Liquidity and cost efficiency remain key motivators for investing in digital ledger technology (DLT). A majority of respondents expect blockchain to significantly impact post-trade operations over the next three years, particularly in reducing operating costs and increasing the speed of securities transfers globally. Citi’s report emphasized that DLT has the potential to transform capital markets by enhancing the velocity of securities, which could, in turn, reduce funding costs and improve overall market resilience [1].

Regional disparities in digital asset adoption were also evident in the survey. The U.S. is projected to see the highest share of market turnover processed via tokenized assets, with 14% expected by 2030—outpacing Europe’s 10% and the Asia Pacific’s 9%. Citi attributed this optimism in the U.S. to recent regulatory developments, including the passage of the GENIUS Act under President Donald Trump, as well as leadership from major institutions like Circle and BlackRock in expanding digital liquidity [1]. Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific region is already leading in digital asset adoption, driven by strong retail interest and regulatory support for digital asset projects [2].

In addition to stablecoins, the report highlighted the importance of T+1 settlement cycles in reshaping the post-trade landscape. Around 76% of respondents are actively working on T+1 initiatives in 2025, with 48% running internal projects to optimize processes for North American settlements. Automation is expected to play a critical role, particularly in the UK and Europe, where firms are prioritizing improved operational processes, harmonized regulatory standards, and upgraded legacy systems to meet the demands of accelerated settlement cycles [2]. These developments underscore a broader trend toward digitization and automation across global capital markets.

Source:

[1] Citi Tokenized Assets, Stablecoins, GenAI 2030 Trading Forecast (https://cointelegraph.com/news/citi-tokenized-assets-stablecoins-genai-2030-trading-forecast)

[2] Citi Whitepaper: Global Post-Trade Industry Poised for Further Transformation (https://www.citigroup.com/global/news/press-release/2025/citi-whitepaper-global-post-trade-industry-poised-for-further-transformation-driven-by-digital-assets-accelerated-settlements-and-the-adoption-of-ai)