What To Know
- Tokenized money is rapidly transforming global corporate finance, with a new survey by Singapore banking giant DBS revealing that nearly nine in ten major businesses are already experimenting with or implementing blockchain-based financial instruments.
- A new DBS survey reveals that 88% of major businesses are adopting or testing tokenized money as stablecoins reshape global payments and corporate financeImage Credit.
Tokenized money is rapidly transforming global corporate finance, with a new survey by Singapore banking giant DBS revealing that nearly nine in ten major businesses are already experimenting with or implementing blockchain-based financial instruments. The findings suggest that digital money is moving beyond financial experimentation and becoming an increasingly important tool for international payments, liquidity management, and business expansion.
Image Credit: Bangkok Business News
According to DBS, 88% of surveyed companies have either deployed or are piloting tokenized money applications. Highlighting the accelerating shift toward digital financial infrastructure, this Bangkok Business News report examines how multinational corporations are embracing new payment technologies to improve efficiency and strengthen cross-border operations. The findings come from 422 business and finance leaders representing organizations generating more than $500 million annually across 11 international markets.
Stablecoins Lead the Digital Money Revolution
Stablecoins emerged as the most widely adopted tokenized financial instrument, with 63% of respondents reporting their use. Tokenized bank deposits followed at 53%, while tokenized money market funds reached 52%.
Approximately two-thirds of surveyed businesses had already implemented tokenized money at scale or introduced it within selected markets, demonstrating that adoption extends beyond preliminary testing.
DBS executive Lim Soon Chong attributed stablecoins’ popularity to their flexibility across payment networks and financial intermediaries.
Unlike conventional banking transfers, stablecoins can potentially facilitate transactions across multiple platforms with fewer operational restrictions, although regulatory requirements and settlement risks remain important considerations.
Southeast Asia Emerges as Expansion Hotspot
The survey identified Southeast Asia as the leading destination for companies pursuing international expansion, followed by Australia and New Zealand, with India ranking third.
This preference highlights the region’s growing importance in international commerce and creates potential opportunities for Thailand’s financial services sector.
For businesses operating across Southeast Asia, tokenized payment systems could eventually reduce settlement delays, improve treasury visibility, and simplify transactions involving multiple currencies.
However, successful implementation will depend on regulatory clarity, interoperability, cybersecurity, and confidence in the institutions supporting digital financial assets.
Chinese Yuan Gains International Momentum
Another significant finding concerns the growing appeal of China’s renminbi for international trade settlement.
More than half of respondents in Australia and the United Kingdom indicated that they were considering renminbi-denominated trade payments within the next two years.
DBS linked this interest partly to the currency’s recent appreciation, which has encouraged Chinese exporters to offer more attractive commercial terms for transactions settled in renminbi.
Lim also highlighted Beijing’s continuing efforts to expand the currency’s international role, suggesting that corporate adoption could increase further.
A Turning Point for Corporate Finance
The DBS findings indicate that tokenized money is increasingly becoming a practical consideration for multinational treasury operations rather than a distant technological ambition.
Nevertheless, the survey reflects responses from large corporations and should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalent adoption among smaller businesses. Its findings also combine companies actively deploying tokenized instruments with those conducting pilots.
As financial institutions modernize payment infrastructure, businesses that successfully balance technological innovation with regulatory compliance could gain meaningful competitive advantages. For Southeast Asia, the accelerating transition presents opportunities to attract investment, strengthen financial connectivity, and support regional trade, although widespread adoption will ultimately depend on demonstrable commercial benefits.
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