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Standard Chartered Group Chief Executive Bill Winters believes the world’s financial system is on the verge of a complete digital rebuild. Speaking at Hong Kong FinTech Week, he told the audience that “pretty much all transactions will settle on blockchains eventually, and all money will be digital.” He described it as a complete overhaul of how money flows through the global economy.
The timing reflects more than optimism. Standard Chartered has been investing heavily in blockchain infrastructure, while most traditional lenders have taken a slower route. The London- and Hong Kong-listed bank already operates tokenized products, blockchain settlement tools, and secure digital-asset custody for institutional clients.
Winters’s remarks underscore how quickly traditional finance is shifting toward decentralized systems once considered fringe. His message was clear: what used to sound experimental is becoming the new foundation for financial operations worldwide.
The prediction was not just a talk. Standard Chartered has partnered with Animoca Brands and telecom company HKT to launch a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin under the city’s new digital-asset framework that took effect in August.
Winters said the currency could provide “a new medium of exchange for international trade on digital terms.” He praised the role of Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, and local regulators for creating a framework that allows institutions to experiment safely within the law.
The bank’s plan gives substance to its broader digital strategy. By tying its work to regulated infrastructure, Standard Chartered is helping to shape the future of digital settlement in the next stage of cross-border finance. Each pilot the bank completes moves the idea of blockchain money closer to daily reality.
The conference also featured HSBC chief executive Georges Elhedery, who spoke about Asia’s distinctive approach to technology. He said the region, especially mainland China and Hong Kong, has focused on fast deployment and mass use rather than prolonged debate over regulation.
Elhedery called the progress “enlightening,” pointing to the DeepSeek moment as an example of how quickly AI and digital tools are being adopted in Asia. He contrasted that momentum with the U.S. drive for constant innovation and Europe’s emphasis on safety.
HSBC has already completed a local blockchain-based settlement and issued tokenised gold. Earlier in October, it pledged HK$100 billion (about US$13 billion) to buy more shares in Hang Seng Bank, a move Elhedery said showed long-term confidence in Hong Kong’s economic direction.
Standard Chartered, meanwhile, continues to develop crypto-custody services and tokenized money-market funds. Both banks view the city as a natural testing ground for digital finance initiatives that could later be scaled globally.
As Winters told the audience, blockchain’s future in finance is no longer a matter of “if.” The real question now is how quickly major banks can rebuild their systems before the digital shift becomes irreversible.
Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters predicts a complete digital rebuild of global finance through blockchain. With the bank launching a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin and expanding tokenized services, the shift toward digital money is already underway. The next challenge lies in how quickly traditional banks adapt to this transformation.
