Blockchain Bridges Banks, Unbanked: Efficiency & Inclusion

Published: 2025-09-06 16:21:15 |

Blockchain technology is uniquely positioned to benefit both financial institutions and the 1.4 billion unbanked people worldwide. Stellar Development Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon highlights Franklin Templeton’s tokenized money market fund, which cuts transaction costs from $1 to under $0.01. Major players like BlackRock, Fidelity and JPMorgan are driving institutional adoption of blockchain and tokenization, while aid agencies use stablecoins to deliver humanitarian remittances with 3–5 second settlement times and minimal fees. Global transaction banking generates $1.4 trillion in annual revenue but suffers 8–10% in inefficiencies. At the same time, remittance fees averaged 6.62% in 2024, costing working families billions. In Argentina, where inflation topped 236.7% in 2024, 61.8% of crypto transactions now use stablecoins for economic survival. Dixon calls for intentional design: compliance frameworks that satisfy regulators and simple interfaces for first-time users. She urges partnerships between legacy banks and fintechs to ensure blockchain infrastructure serves boardrooms and underserved communities alike. The convergence of tokenization and remittances strengthens rails, improves liquidity and drives financial inclusion. Success will be measured by both efficiency gains and how many people gain access to the global economy for the first time.

Bullish

This analysis is bullish for crypto markets. Growing institutional adoption—from Franklin Templeton’s tokenized fund to pilots by BlackRock and JPMorgan—validates blockchain infrastructure and secures regulatory clarity. At the same time, stablecoin remittances promise to reduce average fees from 6.62%, unlocking billions in cross-border flows. Similar catalysts in past cycles, such as Argentina’s surge in stablecoin usage during high inflation, drove trading volumes and network growth. Short-term, traders can expect increased demand for tokenization platforms and stablecoins. Long-term, strengthened rails and broader financial inclusion support sustained network effects, liquidity expansion and higher valuations across blockchain projects.