In 2024, DLT and digital assets have made significant strides. While press releases and proofs of concept have slowed, key business metrics have improved, including over $4 billion in institutional digital asset issuance and $4 trillion in monthly liquidity across tokenization platforms. Regulatory initiatives, such as BIS' SC060 and various global projects, have provided a foundation for growth. New forms of digital cash are also advancing seamless transactions. However, we are still years from a tipping point. This progress is reflected in the insights shared by 354 teams in this year's "DLT in the Real World" survey. Discover the latest insights into DLT and digital assets in our fifth annual 'DLT in the Real World' survey. Download the report now to explore how this evolving technology is driving real business value and transforming the capital markets.
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DLT in the Real World 2024 Handbook At-A-Glance
Where are we on the journey? Accelerate growth?
- DLT has never been more important: FMIs and wealth managers see it as at least 10% more important than 2023.
- Deeper, not wider: we are not running more new projects in 2024 – with a stable level of live deployments at 37%.
- All issuance, little turnover: despite over USD15 billion in digital issuance, 47% of initiatives have less than USD 1million annual turnover.
- A digital fixed income trade cycle is forming: with over USD 1 billion across issuance, trading and financing.
- Regional variance is significant: and is strongly linked to local regulatory developments.
- We’re not where we expected to be: expectations are around two years ahead of reality.
Why and where is digital liquidity forming?
- 66% of our initiatives are now driven by cost, revenue and treasury benefits, replacing learning as our core drivers
- 80% of investors see DLT as an enabler for distribution
- Bonds are emerging as the central asset class
- 58% of our projects are tokenization in 2024: as native issuance becomes less core
- 3 core ecosystems are emerging: with physical assets and private markets growing fast
- Money market funds are seeing a 13% increase in activity
How can we accelerate growth?
- 75% now struggle with DLT and digital assets, mainly because we’re using it differently
- Addressing ROI, liquidity and regulatory clarity would help 75% of the sell side
- Legal clarity is the #1 reason preventing investors from holding digital assets
- 86% of core business users don’t see the value in DL
- 65% are moving to private chains: but are we opting for safety over scale?
- 81% are working on interoperability: mainly at the application layer
- 55% are pressing ahead with non: CBDC cash legs today