16th July 2025 Digital Bytes
From retail to real-world: is the UK ready for the next wave of crypto adoption and tokenisation? - the UK is well positioned to lead in tokenised finance with strong consumer engagement, regulatory ambition and a global financial hub. Yet execution lags behind. Whilst regions such as the EU, US and Asia are scaling tokenisation pilots, the UK’s frameworks remain early-stage. Institutional engagement is growing, but bank access, legal clarity and live deployments are still limited. Projects such as the Digital Securities Sandbox and Regulated Liability Network show promise but lack public outcomes; without faster progress, the UK risks falling behind. Bridging the gap between vision and implementation will determine its role in the future of tokenised finance.
Tokenisation of real-world assets: Blurring Lines - Tokenisation of real-world assets is redefining ownership, trust, and value by transforming physical assets into programmable digital tokens on blockchain- powered platforms. As these tokens circulate in decentralised finance systems, they gain utility beyond their original form serving as collateral, yield-generating instruments, or components in synthetic assets. This shift blurs the line between physical and digital value, challenging traditional institutions and legal frameworks, and ushering in a new era where code, not courts, governs economic relationships.
Decentralised science (DeSci): empowering research using blockchain - decentralised science (DeSci) uses blockchain to democratise research by enabling global communities to fund, govern and share scientific projects through tokenised assets and DAOs. This model reduces reliance on traditional gatekeepers, fosters transparency and creates new incentives for collaboration and innovation. Whilst regulatory and governance challenges remain, DeSci promises a more open, efficient and inclusive future for scientific discovery.
Money is a technology coupled with a community - central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) offer the potential of programmable, state-backed money promising efficient taxation, digital public infrastructure and financial inclusion, However, what about the risks, including overreach, surveillance and systemic fragility? Governments need to exercise caution in replacing traditional fiat infrastructure with digital rails because CBDCs may reshape power dynamics, financial intermediation - even the definition of money itself. Potentially CBDCs’ most significant impact may emerge, not from retail use but from wholesale cross-border applications where CBDCs could truly redefine global finance.