Crypto Assets Return to the Spotlight

The year 2025 marked the return of crypto assets to the spotlight: regulatory frameworks became clearer, institutional interest rebounded, and markets began to thaw.

In 2026, digital assets are integrating more deeply into payments, market infrastructures, and global commerce. Blockchain is gradually becoming a foundational infrastructure for financial services, moving from pilot projects to large-scale deployments.

Key trends in 2026

• Development of crypto banking services for the retail market:

  Until recently cautious, retail banks are now embracing these technologies. In France, after Delubac & Cie in 2024, BPCE (Banques Populaires and Caisses d’Épargne) launched a pilot program at the end of 2025 allowing 2 million clients to purchase crypto assets through their banking app, with a target of 12 million users in 2026. 

  Led by its crypto subsidiary Hexarq, this initiative marks a turning point in the stance of major retail banking groups. Across Europe, the trend is confirmed. KBC in Belgium, BBVA in Spain, and Santander (via Openbank in Germany and Spain) now offer crypto trading directly within their applications. In Austria, Raiffeisen Bank partnered with Bitpanda Technology Solutions to provide similar services.

  Ignoring digital assets would now mean missing the innovation train. The ups and downs of Bitcoin prices do not change the long-term strategic relevance of these services. With clearer regulatory frameworks, banks can now launch retail offerings while ensuring security and compliance.

  We have little doubt that other major banking groups will enter this space in 2026.
   

• The mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency as a payment method: 
  Traditional financial players are now actively adopting blockchain and crypto assets. 
  Some banks are innovating through tokenized deposits, modernizing parts of their core banking and internal payment infrastructures on blockchain. This allows instant, 24/7 transactions, whereas many banking services are still limited to business hours. 
  JPMorgan, for instance, launched a deposit token (JPM Coin) on a public blockchain, while Citigroup uses payment tokens on a private blockchain for international transfers. 
  In France, Crédit Agricole CIB has taken an early lead in exploring tokenized deposits for blockchain-based cash management.
   
• The rise of stablecoins: 
  Stablecoins — cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat currencies such as USD or EUR — are becoming the new digital standard for transactions. 
  They enable near-instant cross-border settlements available 24/7 at low cost, whereas traditional bank transfers can still take several days. Stablecoins are increasingly emerging as the “Internet dollar”, used for cross-border payments as well as treasury management.
  In the United States, a federal regulatory framework introduced in 2025 accelerated their growth, while in Europe the MiCA regulation finally provides a clear environment for euro-denominated equivalents. Demand continues to grow rapidly. Yet 99.9% of stablecoin transactions are still denominated in dollars, leaving significant room for euro-based stablecoins. 
  Among financial institutions, we wish a successful year to the French pioneer Société Générale Forge, joined at the end of 2025 by Oddo BHF, as well as the many consortium initiatives recently announced and bringing together nearly a dozen major banking groups.
   
• Central bank digital currencies
  Central banks are also advancing in the area of next-generation payment systems, developing their own digital currencies to maintain monetary sovereignty. The European Central Bank’s PONTES project, expected by the end of 2026, should lead to the official launch of the wholesale digital euro.
  While the market still questions the usefulness of a retail digital euro, there is strong demand for interbank settlement solutions, particularly in financial markets and Delivery versus Payment (DvP) processes. 
  We therefore anticipate numerous IT initiatives within European investment banks in the second half of 2026, aimed at testing the real-world benefits of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). 
   

• Bitcoin as a recognized asset class
  Bitcoin is increasingly recognized as a fully fledged asset class.
  While this has long been the case for retail investors and high-net-worth individuals, it is newer for corporate treasury management and for traditional asset managers looking to diversify and enhance portfolio performance — either through direct BTC exposure or financial products linked to Bitcoin. This reflects an accelerating convergence between crypto markets and traditional finance. 
  European asset managers of all sizes — including the largest ones — are currently exploring the launch of crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) backed not only by Bitcoin, but also by other crypto assets such as Ethereum or Solana, following the successful launches already seen in the United States by BlackRock and other major asset managers.
   

• Tokenization of assets
  Tokenization — the conversion of financial or physical assets into blockchain-based tokens — is gaining momentum. Assets such as real estate, bonds, and investment funds can now be fractionalized and traded digitally, increasing liquidity and accessibility.
  This transformation has the potential to reshape capital markets, significantly expanding the investment universe beyond traditional securities. One notable development illustrates this trend: the launch in early 2026 of a new European exchange, LISE — the Lightning Stock Exchange, promising lower costs and improved liquidity through the innovative use of blockchain and tokenized equities.

Choosing the right partners

In the face of these rapid changes, financial institutions must surround themselves with the right technological and strategic partners. Implementing blockchain and crypto solutions involves complex challenges — IT integration, security, and regulatory compliance — that require deep expertise.

Crypto should now be treated as a financial infrastructure to build today. Institutions must build or partner around stablecoin payments, custody, and the distribution of tokenized assets to deliver solutions that are invisible to end users, compliant with regulation, and scalable.

A trusted partner provides both technical expertise and strategic vision, enabling innovation without compromising on security or compliance. Such support will be a key advantage for navigating the new era of finance and capturing the opportunities of the crypto-blockchain revolution.
 

Talan: a leading european partner

With more than forty projects already delivered for banks and financial institutions entering the crypto and blockchain space — across both retail banking and investment banking (CIB) — Talan Group positions itself as one of the leading European players in this field.

As a consulting firm, Talan helps clients:

• understand their market environment
• assess the relevance of new offerings
• structure the legal and regulatory framework
• and support project launch.

As a systems integrator, Talan brings unique expertise to support the implementation of blockchain and crypto initiatives, leveraging extensive experience to ensure projects are delivered on schedule.

Whether developing a custom solution or launching quickly through an outsourcing strategy, Talan can support your initiative.

Although still young, the “crypto solutions as a service” ecosystem already includes several high-quality providers. Talan helps clients evaluate leading market players such as:

• Bitpanda Technology Solutions, likely the most comprehensive B2B2C offering on the market
• Bit2Me, highly integrated into the Spanish ecosystem
• Wyden, a leader in crypto OMS/PMS solutions with a wide range of ready-to-use connectors.