Banks continue to take a cautious and considered approach to shaping their digital assets strategies. This approach has only been reaffirmed following significant digital assets market disruption in 2022. At the same time, calls for swift and effective regulation continue to grow louder. Digital assets remain at the forefront of the policy agenda globally.

We see an overall sharper regulatory focus on distinguishing between different types of digital assets based on their underlying risks. Nevertheless, regulatory perimeters and frameworks globally tend to capture different types of digital assets and related services in distinct ways.

Bringing together digital assets policy experts from around the globe, our latest report:

• Explores regulatory approaches to the following broad groups of digital assets: tokenised financial instruments, stablecoins, unbacked digital assets and retail central bank digital currencies.
• Maps and compares the following jurisdictions’ regulatory taxonomies, approaches and perimeters: UK, EU (supranational level), Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia. We also include a spotlight on the USA.

We bring this to life with an illustrative case study based on an internationally-active bank building a custody offering. We highlight how an evolving and fragmented global regulatory landscape might affect strategic choices and the design of underlying capabilities such as governance and risk management.

About the Centre for Regulatory Strategy, EMEA

The Deloitte Centre for Regulatory Strategy is a powerful resource of information and insight, designed to assist financial institutions manage the complexity and convergence of rapidly increasing new regulation.

With regional hubs in the Americas, Asia Pacific and EMEA, the Centre combines the strength of Deloitte’s regional and international network of experienced risk, regulatory, and industry professionals – including a deep roster of former regulators, industry specialists, and business advisers – with a rich understanding of the impact of regulations on business models and strategy.