ISTANBUL – Şenol Vatansever, President of the Global Informatics Association (BİDER), stated that as of 2026 the global financial system is undergoing a transformation of historic scale. He emphasized that crypto assets, stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), AI-powered financial infrastructures, and digital identity solutions have become structural components of the financial architecture.
According to Vatansever, assessments by international institutions and market data indicate that digital finance has moved beyond its experimental phase, evolving into a comprehensive restructuring that spans payment systems, cross-border capital flows, capital markets, and financial security.
Crypto Assets Move Into Institutional Finance
IMF assessments and global market data show that the total market capitalization of crypto assets exceeded $3.5 trillion in 2025. The IMF notes that crypto-related activities are no longer confined to individual investors, but are increasingly embedded in the balance sheets, risk management frameworks, and long-term strategies of banks, payment institutions, asset managers, and large financial organizations.
Stablecoins At The Core Of The Transformation
According to data published by Reuters and Bloomberg, the total market value of stablecoins surpassed $250 billion by mid-2025, with daily circulation and transaction volumes reaching $70–100 billion during certain periods. IMF calculations indicate that the annual transaction volume of stablecoins reached approximately $23 trillion in 2024.
This scale highlights why global payment infrastructures are under growing pressure. IMF analyses based on SWIFT data, together with assessments by the European Central Bank (ECB), reveal that global cross-border payment volume, covering both wholesale and retail transactions, are approaching the $1 quadrillion mark, underscoring the structural limitations of existing systems in terms of speed, cost, and transparency.
Dollar Dominance And Regulatory Emphasis
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) reports that more than 99% of stablecoins are referenced to the U.S. dollar. The Financial Stability Board (FSB) stresses that the continued growth of stablecoins can contribute to financial stability only if supported by strong reserve frameworks, transparent reporting, regular audits, and effective regulatory oversight.
Tokenization Brings Real-World Assets On-Chain
Analyses by the World Economic Forum, Citi, Standard Chartered, and Bloomberg Intelligence indicate that tokenizing assets such as bonds, funds, commodities, real estate, and carbon credits on blockchain networks can expand market access, enhance liquidity, and reduce transaction costs. According to Reuters projections, the total size of tokenized real-world assets is expected to reach trillion-dollar levels in the medium term.
CBDC Initiatives Gain Global Momentum
International tracking studies show that more than 130 countries are currently working on CBDC initiatives, collectively representing around 98% of global GDP. While some countries have introduced limited or controlled implementations, many others continue to run pilot programs.
Cyber Risks And The Dual Impact Of Artificial Intelligence
Regulatory and security reports point to a significant rise in fraud linked to crypto assets and digital payments. AI-enabled fraud techniques and synthetic identities are making regulatory compliance and cross-border data sharing increasingly critical. At the same time, AI is also driving efficiency gains. Analyses by McKinsey, the BIS, and global consulting firms suggest that AI-powered financial automation solutions offer 30–40% potential reductions in operational costs.
“Trust, Not Speed, Will Be The Decisive Factor”
Vatansever emphasized that crypto assets, stablecoins, CBDCs, and tokenization are no longer temporary trends. He noted that data from international institutions clearly show that digital financial infrastructure is being reshaped on a permanent basis.
In an assessment prepared by the Vatansever Platform and the Digital Biz editorial team, drawing on data and analyses from the IMF, BIS, FSB, ECB, SWIFT, as well as Reuters and Bloomberg, it is underlined that beyond 2026 the decisive factors in digital finance will not be speed, but trust, regulatory alignment, and the creation of real economic value.
