By Nicholas Larsen, International Banker
For centuries, centralisation was a core pillar of global banking, with intermediaries playing crucial roles in facilitating payments, providing liquidity between savers and borrowers, and guaranteeing transaction settlements. Even as technology, from automated teller machines to mobile applications, has thoroughly disrupted the modern lender’s core busines...
The rise of deobanks reflects a broader shift toward decentralization in finance, driven by technological advancements and eroding trust in traditional banking systems. The strongest version of this narrative highlights genuine innovations: blockchain’s improved scalability, the potential for financial inclusion, and reduced reliance on centralized institutions prone to crises or arbitrary restrictions. However, the narrative also carries risks of overpromising. While deobanks offer autonomy, th...