Blockchain and the Future of Financial Services

Abstract

Significant technological breakthroughs are often accompanied by articles on the potential impact of these technologies. This article examines blockchain technology and hypothesizes how this technology might create substantial changes to how financial services are delivered and by what types of organizations. Banks and brokerage houses providing custodial and record-keeping services may face a change in the value proposition of these services and thus in their price. Blockchain may also expand the definition of what is a tradable security and consequently expand the investable universe. <b>TOPICS:</b>Quantitative methods, legal/regulatory/public policy