Process-Level Risk Reduction for Banking & Custody

A shared, single source of truth across partners eliminates costly reconciliation and manual dispute resolution. In trade finance, this can reduce transaction processing time from 5-10 days to under 24 hours and cut administrative costs by up to 80%. For example, a consortium of banks using a blockchain platform for letters of credit saw a 30% reduction in operational overhead by removing manual document checks and fax-based confirmations.

Immutable records provide a tamper-proof audit trail, automating regulatory reporting and reducing compliance risk. In pharmaceuticals, tracking drugs on a blockchain from manufacturer to patient ensures provenance and prevents counterfeiting, a $200B+ global problem. Auditors can verify transactions in real-time, cutting audit preparation time by over 50% and providing regulators with direct, read-only access to certified data.

Track assets and components from origin to end-user to mitigate fraud, ensure quality, and meet ESG mandates. For luxury goods or high-value electronics, blockchain provenance can reduce counterfeit incidents by over 90%. In food supply, tracing contamination sources drops from weeks to seconds, as demonstrated by Walmart's pilot that traced mangoes from farm to store in 2.2 seconds versus 7 days previously, dramatically limiting recall scope and brand damage.

Atomic settlements—where asset transfer and payment occur simultaneously—remove the risk that one party fulfills its obligation while the other defaults. In securities trading, this reduces settlement cycles from T+2 to real-time (T+0), freeing up billions in capital currently held as collateral. For cross-border payments, smart contracts can automate currency exchange and release funds only upon verified delivery, reducing fraud and foreign exchange risk.

Decentralized identity gives users control over their verifiable credentials, reducing data breach risks associated with centralized databases. Enterprises can automate KYC/AML processes, with one verified identity reusable across multiple services. A study by a major bank found this approach could cut customer onboarding costs by up to 70% and reduce compliance-related friction. Employees can use self-sovereign credentials for secure, auditable access to corporate systems.

Smart contracts auto-execute terms when predefined conditions are met, eliminating manual enforcement and interpretation disputes. In insurance, parametric policies can trigger automatic payouts for verified events (e.g., flight delays, weather data), reducing claims processing from months to minutes. For corporate leasing, smart contracts can manage payments, maintenance triggers, and compliance reporting, cutting administrative overhead by an estimated 40-60%.

Eliminate counterfeit goods and ensure ethical sourcing with an immutable audit trail. Smart contracts automate verification at each node, reducing manual checks and dispute resolution costs.

• Example: A luxury goods consortium reduced counterfeit incidents by 95% by tagging items and recording transfers on a permissioned ledger.
• ROI Driver: Cuts losses from fraud, reduces insurance premiums, and protects brand value.

Streamline international trade by replacing paper-based letters of credit with digitally-native, programmable assets. All parties—buyer, seller, banks, shippers—share a single source of truth, triggering payments automatically upon shipment milestones.

• Example: A major Asian bank reduced letter of credit processing from 5-10 days to under 24 hours, freeing up capital and reducing operational risk.
• ROI Driver: Accelerates cash flow, reduces processing costs by up to 80%, and minimizes human error and fraud.

Transform compliance from a cost center to a strategic asset. A tamper-proof ledger provides regulators with real-time, permissioned access to transaction histories, simplifying audits and reporting.

• Example: A pharmaceutical company uses blockchain to track drug trials, providing the FDA with an immutable record of consent and data integrity, cutting audit preparation time by 60%.
• ROI Driver: Drastically reduces manual reporting labor, audit fees, and risk of non-compliance penalties.

Solve the trillion-dollar problem of mismatched ledgers between businesses. A shared blockchain ledger acts as a single source of truth for transactions, eliminating the need for costly and error-prone monthly reconciliations.

• Example: A global logistics network connecting shippers, ports, and customs agencies reduced invoice reconciliation disputes from weeks to real-time resolution.
• ROI Driver: Eliminates reconciliation departments, accelerates financial closing, and improves working capital accuracy.

Automate royalty payments and prove IP ownership with smart contracts. Each use or sale of digital content (music, patents, software) is recorded on-chain, triggering instant, transparent payments to rights holders.

• Example: A media conglomerate implemented a blockchain system for music streaming, ensuring artists are paid instantly and accurately, reducing administrative overhead by 75%.
• ROI Driver: Captures lost revenue from unlicensed use, reduces collection society fees, and builds trust with creators.

Provide verifiable proof of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) claims. Track carbon credits, sustainable sourcing, and fair labor practices on an immutable ledger that investors and consumers can trust.

• Example: A coffee retailer traces beans from farm to cup, proving fair trade premiums are paid and carbon footprint is measured, enabling premium pricing and compliance with EU CSRD regulations.
• ROI Driver: Mitigates greenwashing risk, qualifies for sustainable financing, and meets stringent investor and regulatory reporting demands.