How banks can earn from CBDCs, stablecoins and tokenised deposits

Finextra, in association with CGI, will host an online webinar that examines how banks can profit from central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins and tokenised deposits. The session will focus on infrastructure, settlement, liquidity and control as firms move from concept to implementation.

Speakers on the panel are Sean Devaney, Vice-President, Market Strategy – Payments at CGI; Naveen Mallela, Global Head of Payments at Standard Chartered; and Scott Hamilton, global payments and liquidity expert and Finextra contributing editor, who will moderate.

The speakers will outline technical differences between the three types of digital money. CBDCs generally run on central bank-controlled settlement rails and must integrate with bank account systems and central bank settlement engines. Stablecoins are usually issued on public or permissioned distributed ledgers and depend on issuer and custodian-managed on- and off-ramps. Tokenised deposits are closer to traditional bank ledgers but require tokenisation layers and smart-contract infrastructure to enable programmable features and transfers.

Panelists will discuss how banks must connect core banking systems to new token platforms, change reconciliation processes and ensure compliance checks operate in near real time. The webinar will cover minting and burning processes and the operational steps for on- and offboarding customers in token-based models.

Settlement and liquidity effects vary by design. CBDCs with central-bank settlement may provide finality that reduces counterparty risk but could concentrate liquidity needs in central bank accounts or intraday credit facilities. Stablecoins and tokenised deposits can shorten settlement times but may fragment liquidity across multiple platforms and custody arrangements, increasing the need for intraday liquidity tools and clearer settlement assurances between rails, especially for cross-border payments.

Speakers will identify operational and ongoing costs banks should expect, including ledger integration, minting and burning operations, custody, reconciliation systems, fraud and compliance monitoring, and vendor or middleware work. Legal and audit work to define asset ownership and settlement finality are likely to add expense. Maintaining liquidity buffers and multiple reserve accounts can create recurring costs when banks operate on several rails or work with third-party issuers.

The session will cover how responsibilities may split between banks and external platforms. Banks are expected to keep customer-facing roles such as onboarding, KYC/AML, deposit taking and credit services and remain accountable for regulatory compliance tied to their clients. Token issuance, ledger operation and some settlement mechanics may be handled by issuers or infrastructure providers. Speakers will note that outsourcing and partnerships are common, and banks will need clear contractual terms and technical links to preserve operational continuity and regulatory accountability.

Cross-border operations raise governance and regulatory challenges. Banks operating in multiple jurisdictions must set internal rules for access control, reporting, audit trails and legal clarity on token ownership and custody. Regional differences in policy and law will require adaptable compliance approaches until international standards or local regulations are finalised.

The webinar will also highlight commercial opportunities such as custody services for tokenised assets, token issuance, liquidity provisioning, settlement-as-a-service, programmable payment products and APIs for corporate and fintech clients. Panelists will assess where banks can offer services using existing balance-sheet and compliance capabilities.

Organisers frame the webinar as part of a shift from exploring use cases to making implementation decisions. The session comes amid renewed policy attention, including recent US legislative proposals such as the GENIUS Act, which has increased industry focus on stablecoin rules and tokenised finance infrastructure.