The shift towards a 24/7 settlement landscape is poised to redefine the financial world as we know it. As of today, August 21, 2025, the traditional lag in financial transactions remains a thorn in the side of global commerce, trapping trillions of dollars in a limbo that prevents them from generating yield. This inefficiency, especially noticeable during weekends and holidays, is more than a bottleneck—it’s a systemic hindrance that incurs higher costs and limits working capital for companies worldwide.
The Stablecoin Surge
Enter stablecoins, the digital assets that have already demonstrated how money can travel at the same breakneck speed as data. With these instruments, transactions worth trillions are now settling instantly across blockchain platforms, fueling the crypto markets, payments, and remittances. However, while stablecoins solve the immediacy issue, they fall short on yield. As explored in our recent coverage of the Stablecoin Boom Has Made Crypto Ramps ‘Sexier’ M&A Targets, the rise of stablecoins has also made them attractive targets for mergers and acquisitions, highlighting their growing importance in the financial ecosystem.
“Stablecoin balances, collectively amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars, typically sit idle, earning nothing,” notes crypto analyst Elena Ortiz. In contrast, tokenized treasury assets and money market funds, viewed as low-risk, yield-bearing instruments, offer a risk-free rate. Yet, they too are shackled by asynchronous timelines for subscriptions and redemptions, often lagging in T+2 days, leaving capital stranded when it could be actively invested.
Bridging the Gap with Tokenization
The industry now teeters on the edge of a major convergence. BlackRock’s BUIDL, for instance, has amassed over $2 billion in assets under management, showcasing the growing appeal of tokenized money market funds. These funds bring the promise of instant transfer and settlement, even atomically, against other tokenized instruments like stablecoins.
But here’s the catch: the infrastructure to allow seamless, atomic swaps between stablecoins and tokenized treasuries is still missing. Without this, the digitization of financial assets will only replicate existing constraints. “The real innovation will occur when institutions can hold risk-free assets and convert them to cash instantly, any time of day, without intermediaries or the fear of price slippage,” says financial strategist Marcus Liu.
The High Stakes of Instant Liquidity
The stakes are indeed monumental. In the U.S. alone, non-interest-bearing bank deposits are nearing $4.0 trillion. Even if a fraction of these were redirected into tokenized treasuries, instantly convertible to stablecoins, we could witness the unlocking of hundreds of billions in yield while maintaining full liquidity—a transformation that could fundamentally reshape global finance. This transformation is already being hinted at with initiatives like the Wyoming State Debuts U.S. Dollar Stablecoin on Seven Blockchains, which demonstrates the potential for stablecoins to integrate more deeply into traditional financial systems.
Achieving this vision requires more than proprietary solutions. It demands open, neutral, and compliant infrastructure. Much like global payment networks necessitate interoperable standards, tokenized markets need shared liquidity rails. “Proprietary walled gardens might serve individual institutions efficiently, but systemic benefits emerge only when incentives align across all stakeholders,” observes blockchain developer Aisha Khan.
A Call to Action
Despite the technological tools available—tokenized risk-free assets, programmable money, and smart contracts capable of trustless, instant settlements—the liquidity gap persists. What’s needed now is a sense of urgency from institutions, technologists, and policymakers alike to bridge this chasm.
The future of finance promises not just faster payments, but a world where capital is perpetually active, eliminating the trade-off between liquidity and yield. It’s a vision where the bedrock of financial markets is reimagined for an always-on, global economy.
But that future isn’t as far off as it seems. Those who seize this opportunity will be at the forefront of the next financial era; those who hesitate may find themselves playing catch-up. The race to embrace this paradigm shift is on, and the winners will define the financial markets of tomorrow.
Source
This article is based on: 24/7 Settlement: Why Instant Liquidity Changes Everything
Further Reading
Deepen your understanding with these related articles:
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- Altcoins, Stablecoins, Tokenized Stocks Drive July’s Crypto Gains, Binance Says
Steve Gregory is a lawyer in the United States who specializes in licensing for cryptocurrency companies and products. Steve began his career as an attorney in 2015 but made the switch to working in cryptocurrency full time shortly after joining the original team at Gemini Trust Company, an early cryptocurrency exchange based in New York City. Steve then joined CEX.io and was able to launch their regulated US-based cryptocurrency. Steve then went on to become the CEO at currency.com when he ran for four years and was able to lead currency.com to being fully acquired in 2025.
