88% OF LARGE BUSINESSES ADOPT OR TEST TOKENIZED MONEY

In brief: 

₿- Stablecoins lead corporate tokenized money adoption, with 63% of surveyed businesses using or planning to adopt them, ahead of tokenized deposits and tokenized money market funds.

₿- 71% of large businesses report or anticipate faster real-time cross-border payments, while regulatory uncertainty, security risks, and integration challenges remain barriers to wider adoption.

Tokenized money adoption is gaining momentum among large businesses seeking faster payments, more efficient treasury operations, and improved cross-border transactions. A study commissioned by DBS and conducted by EY found that 88% of surveyed companies are already using or testing tokenized money, highlighting growing corporate interest in blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

The survey covered 422 business and finance leaders across 11 markets, including the U.S., China, Germany, and the U.K. All participating organizations generate more than $500 million in annual revenue, offering insight into how major enterprises are approaching the next stage of digital finance.

Stablecoins lead tokenized money adoption

Stablecoins are the leading instrument among businesses using or planning to adopt tokenized money. According to the survey, 63% of respondents reported current or planned stablecoin use, compared with 53% for tokenized deposits and 52% for tokenized money market funds.

The figures highlight how corporate demand for blockchain technology is extending beyond cryptocurrency trading. Businesses are increasingly exploring tokenized financial instruments for payments, liquidity management, and settlement, where faster transactions and programmable transfers could improve operational efficiency.

Adoption levels vary significantly. While 24% of respondents have deployed tokenized money at scale, 43% report limited live use in selected markets. Another 21% are conducting pilot projects or proofs of concept, while 12% are still exploring the technology or have not adopted it.

Blockchain payments promise faster cross-border transactions

Faster settlement is a major incentive for businesses considering tokenized money. The survey found that 71% of respondents have already experienced, or expect within two years, improvements in real-time cross-border payments. Meanwhile, 65% reported similar results or expectations for treasury liquidity management.

Despite these potential benefits, regulatory uncertainty, security risks, and integration difficulties remain significant barriers. Nearly two-thirds of respondents want banks to provide a single access point for tokenized money services, while 63% seek support with pilot projects and technology integration.

The findings underscore the importance of interoperability and trusted financial institutions as companies connect blockchain-based payment solutions with existing banking systems.

As tokenized money adoption expands, stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and bank-backed payment platforms could play a larger role in corporate finance. However, broader implementation will depend on addressing regulatory uncertainty, security concerns, and integration challenges.