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Crypto executives say digital native generations may never need a bank account

Crypto executives and bankers expect younger, digitally native consumers to rely on wallets holding stablecoins and tokenized assets instead of traditional bank accounts.

By Olivier Acuna | Edited by Cheyenne Ligon·Jul 18·coindesk.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

Kids with phones (Tim Gouw/Unsplash)
Kids with phones (Tim Gouw/Unsplash)Image: coindesk.com

Crypto executives and bankers believe that digital native generations may never need a bank account, as they expect to use wallets holding stablecoins and tokenized assets for financial services.

Why it matters

This shift in financial services could have significant implications for the banking industry and the way people manage their finances.

Imagine a world where you can manage all your money and financial services from one app, without needing a separate bank account. That's what some crypto executives and bankers are expecting for the next generation of digital natives.

Analysis

A Shift in Financial Services

Crypto executives and bankers are increasingly expecting younger, digitally native consumers to rely on wallets holding stablecoins and tokenized assets instead of traditional bank accounts. This shift in financial services could have significant implications for the banking industry and the way people manage their finances.

Adrian Cachinero, co-founder of Steakhouse Financial, believes that his 18-month-old daughter may grow up thinking about money and bank accounts differently than previous generations. He thinks that people who grow up in a digital-first world will expect payments, savings, and other financial services to work online.

Evidence of this shift is growing. Visa's stablecoin tracker recorded $6.6 billion in volume across 132.4 million retail-sized transactions during the latest 30-day period. Standard Chartered expects stablecoin circulation to increase about sevenfold to roughly $2 trillion by 2028.

Naveen Mallela, Standard Chartered's global head of payments, also expects the traditional account-based model to change. He believes that people will eventually use a wallet tied to their identity instead of separate bank and brokerage accounts.

Binance is seeing part of this shift among its customers, although the exchange did not have data showing whether its average user is getting younger. Binance wants to expand beyond crypto trading into payments and other financial services through a super app that lets customers hold different assets and use them from one place.

The Blurring of Lines

The line between banks and crypto companies is becoming harder to see. Regular banks are offering crypto, and crypto platforms are offering real bank accounts and normal banking services. Younger customers may choose an app that combines stablecoins with daily banking services.

The Road Ahead

The shift in financial services could have significant implications for the banking industry and the way people manage their finances. It remains to be seen how this shift will play out in the future.

Key points

  • Crypto executives and bankers expect younger, digitally native consumers to rely on wallets holding stablecoins and tokenized assets instead of traditional bank accounts.
  • The shift in financial services could have significant implications for the banking industry and the way people manage their finances.
  • Regular banks are offering crypto, and crypto platforms are offering real bank accounts and normal banking services.
The Upside

If this shift in financial services plays out positively, it could lead to increased adoption of digital wallets and stablecoins, making it easier for people to manage their finances and access financial services.

The Downside

However, there are also risks associated with this shift, such as the potential for increased volatility in the crypto market and the risk of regulatory uncertainty.

Originally reported at

coindesk.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagscryptobankingdigital-nativestablecoinstokenized-assets

Author

Olivier Acuna | Edited by Cheyenne Ligon

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 18, 2026

Source

coindesk.com

Share

Topics

cryptobankingdigital-nativestablecoinstokenized-assets

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