Article by Prasanna Lohar

The Global Fintech Think Tank (GFTN) has released its first-ever Global Digital Assets Report, offering a comprehensive cross-jurisdictional analysis of the rapidly expanding digital asset ecosystem. The report examines market developments, regulatory progress, and future policy implications shaped by the rise of digital money, tokenization, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Designed as a practical reference for policymakers, central banks, financial institutions, and international standard-setting bodies, the report combines proprietary survey insights with an in-depth review of regulatory frameworks across major global markets. The initiative was supported by Arthur D. Little and led by fintech expert Arjun Vir Singh.

Key Trends and Global Highlights

The report reveals strong momentum behind digital asset adoption:

• 9 out of 12 jurisdictions studied have implemented or are drafting digital-asset regulatory frameworks, underscoring growing global commitment to responsible innovation.
• 47% of survey respondents believe digital assets can significantly enhance cross-border payment efficiency, while 36% expect new financial products enabled by programmability and smart contracts.
• Tokenization is seen as a major growth opportunity, with 56% citing capital-market efficiency gains and 46% highlighting emerging potential for programmable money.
• Asia is leading global experimentation with cross-border payments and tokenization pilots, strengthened by public-private partnerships and live initiatives such as Project Nexus.
• Europe continues to progress on regulatory clarity, driven by MiCA and trials of the digital euro.
• The Middle East is rising as an innovation hub, backed by digital-asset sandboxes and sovereign-wealth-fund investments.
• The Americas show increasing institutional adoption, supported by the U.S. GENIUS Act and the launch of regulated digital-asset ETFs.

Real-World Impact

The report highlights how digital assets are already reshaping economic and social outcomes:

• SMEs benefit from faster, cheaper cross-border payments and tokenized financing tools.
• Migrant workers gain access to instant, low-cost remittances via stablecoins and interoperable payment networks.
• Investors can now access fractionalized portfolios of traditionally illiquid assets, including infrastructure and real estate.
• Governments and regulators leverage blockchain transparency to improve supervision and national-level efficiencies.
• Financial institutions increasingly use AI-enabled blockchain compliance tools to cut settlement times and enhance risk management.

A Global Guide for the Next Wave of Digital Finance

GFTN emphasizes that by combining first-hand insights from global leaders with structured analysis, the report delivers one of the most comprehensive and forward-looking assessments of the digital asset industry to date.

The inaugural edition sets the foundation for an annual benchmark report tracking how digital assets—ranging from stablecoins and tokenized deposits to blockchain-based capital markets—continue to reshape the global financial landscape.