It’s a time of reflection and anticipation at The Fintech Times throughout December, as we look back at key developments over the past 12 months and explore what lies ahead for 2025.
The blockchain and crypto landscape is preparing for significant shifts in 2025. As Bitcoin’s influence grows globally and decentralised finance (DeFi) matures, experts offer insights into the emerging trends, challenges, and innovations that will drive the next wave of digital assets and blockchain technology in 2025.
Bitcoin’s increasing institutional influence
Kadan Stadelmann, CTO and project lead of Komodo Platform
In 2025, the US government’s growing role in Bitcoin’s future could significantly alter the digital asset landscape, says Kadan Stadelmann, CTO and project lead of Komodo Platform, known for its blockchain interoperability tools.
He predicts that Bitcoin will be recognised as a strategic reserve asset by the US government.
“In 2025, the US government will begin purchasing Bitcoin as part of its strategic reserve under the new Trump administration,” he predicts. This will be a major recognition of Bitcoin as a “hedge against inflation, geopolitical risk, and currency devaluation”.
Stadelmann also notes a dramatic shift ahead, as Bitcoin’s dominance in the crypto market is expected to wane, with altcoins leading the charge. “Bitcoin’s dominance in the crypto market will see a significant decline in 2025 as altcoins experience their largest rally ever,” he adds.
Institutional adoption of Bitcoin and regulatory clarity
Shivam Thakral, CEO of BuyUcoin,
According to Shivam Thakral, CEO of BuyUcoin, India’s second-longest-running digital asset exchange, 2025 will be a pivotal year for Bitcoin, particularly as its institutional adoption grows.
“As 2024 draws to a close, we at BuyUcoin reflect on a year filled with significant events and challenges within the cryptocurrency landscape,” Thakral says. “Bitcoin price has seen an incredible boost from a level of $100,000 as the prospect of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), being announced, opened the opportunity for institutional investments.
“With regards to the US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, President-elect Donald Trump has further flared interest, with other countries looking to follow in its footsteps, thus introducing a game theory dynamic of a global kind.”
“To promote institutional adoption, we included zero-fee transfers for Indian users and a one per cent bonus on transferred assets. We are hopeful for the future of Web3 and blockchain technology, as it will bring some very transformative developments with regulatory clarity in 2025.”
Tokenisation reshaping global transactions
Anish Jain, founder and group CEO, WadzPay
Anish Jain, founder of WadzChain, a blockchain platform focused on global financial transactions, anticipates that tokenisation will reshape markets in 2025.
“Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited about the immense opportunity presented by the growing demand for tokenisation solutions across various sectors,” Jain says.
“We see business conditions turning favourable in 2025, especially through diversification within the tokenisation landscape,” he adds.
“By expanding offerings into other products and services, we will touch other market segments effectively.”
Institutional interest in tokenised real-world assets
Niklas Kunkel, founder and CEO of Chronicle
Niklas Kunkel, founder and CEO of Chronicle, a blockchain oracle solution, highlights the growing institutional interest in tokenised real-world assets (RWAs) and predicts that this trend will continue to accelerate in 2025.
“The demand for tokenized RWAs has been one clear example, reaching a market cap of $2.7billion in the first quarter of 2024 and projected to reach as high as $30trillion in the next decade. Tokenised RWAs, or tokenised assets, have expanded collateral options in the DeFi ecosystem and created fresh opportunities for lending, borrowing, and other financial services that were once confined to traditional markets.
“These rising inflows have also attracted institutional investors, an early signal that the bridging of traditional finance and decentralized finance is inevitable.”
He continues: “In light of this, we will see more and more Web
3 and crypto-adjacent companies flock to sprouting cryptocurrency hubs throughout Europe and Asia as regulators seek to foster the use of cryptocurrency and related services.”
The future of DeFi and scalable financial systems
Friederike Ernst, co-founder. Gnosis
As Gnosis, a company known for its decentralised applications and exchange solutions, looks ahead to 2025, its co-founder Friederike Ernst believes that scalability will be the key to DeFi’s continued growth.
“As DeFi platforms become more interoperable, the lines between Web2 and Web3 continue to blur, further integrating the benefits of decentralised finance into traditional financial systems and signalling a shift towards broader mainstream adoption,” Ernst said. “Challenges remain, such as security concerns and regulatory clarity, but the industry is positioning itself for a more resilient year ahead.”
She adds: “At Gnosis, we are particularly excited about AI’s potential to drive greater adoption of decentralised applications by addressing the ‘ease of use’ challenge for humans and enabling a whole new class of non-human users in the form of AI agents.“
The rise of stablecoins and digital assets
Serge Golovkov, CEO of Ripe Capital
Serge Golovkov, CEO of Ripe Capital, a US-based fintech platform, sees stablecoins playing a crucial role in the financial ecosystem in 2025. Stablecoins, he believes, will offer the benefits of blockchain technology while providing stability, making them an attractive choice for both institutional and retail investors.
“Stablecoins have gained traction because they address key challenges in payments: enabling efficient cross-border transactions, offering scalable infrastructure, solving the last-mile problem, and meeting regulatory expectations. These factors have positioned stablecoins as essential tools for PSPs and businesses alike.
“The line between fiat and stablecoins will blur further, driven by growing adoption. Expect more neobanks and payment cards linked directly to crypto wallets, providing seamless integration for users.
“Tokenisation of real world assets will accelerate, fueled by institutional demand for new investment opportunities. Fintech is entering a transformative phase, merging traditional finance with blockchain-powered innovations.”
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