Digital assets are growing quickly, with modern technologies and products spurring the demand for new investment services. Investors are looking at FinTechs with interest as they explore untapped opportunities, including crypto custody, tokenization, and cross-border payments, in the digital assets market. In fact, financial institutions, governments, and regulators have also started to experiment with digital assets and are developing crypto capabilities within their own products and services. However, financial services firms need able partners to help them strategize as they tap into this exploding market. This report explores the benefits of a hybrid platform and a co-creation model to address industry challenges as financial institutions adopt digital assets at speed and scale. Scope Industry:banking and financial services Geography: global Contents This report examines: The business case for digital assets in financial services Digital assets of potential Opportunities for financial institutions The business case for co-creating technology platforms for digital assets Membership(s) Banking and Financial Services Information Technology Sourcing and Vendor Management

Digital assets have come a long way from their nascent form as cryptocurrencies to a complete array of financial assets with increasing use cases. In fact, the year 2020 and Q1 2021 experienced a surge in retail and institutional investments in cryptocurrencies and related crypto assets in the wake of pandemic-fostered digitalization in Banking and Financial Services (BFS). Several participants are already active in the growing crypto market. IT service providers are developing in-house solutions to help financial institutions use Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) for their digital asset needs. FinTechs are at the forefront of innovating products and services but operate in an unregulated environment, posing high risks for investors. Larger investments have increased the safety, security, and accountability requirements to invest in these assets. Thus, there is an urgent need for regulatory bodies globally to bring in practical frameworks and regulations for digital asset trade at the earliest. In this report, we analyze the rise of retail and institutional investments in digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, other crypto assets, and crypto technology. We examine different crypto financial service offerings and their impact on the BFS market. We also recommend a transformation plan for traditional banking systems through a hybrid banking model, which seamlessly integrates value-added processes and operational functions for both traditional and digital assets. Scope Industry: BFS Geography: global Contents This report explores: Increasing retail and institutional investments in digital assets – cryptocurrencies, other crypto assets, and crypto technology Different crypto financial service offerings and their impact on the BFS market; we also describe the regulatory, operational, and technological challenges that BFS firms face in scaling up their digital asset servicing capabilities A transformation plan for traditional banking systems through a hybrid banking model, which seamlessly integrates value-added processes for traditional and digital assets Membership(s) Banking Information Technology Sourcing and Vendor Management