Digital assets are transitioning from speculative boom-and-bust cycles into institutional infrastructure, according to senior finance executives speaking at the FM Singapore Summit 2026. Industry leaders including representatives from Standard Chartered, Maybank Investment Banking, LMAX Digital, and Crypto.com described the current environment not as “crypto winter” but as a market rewiring phase driven by banks, custodians, and institutional allocators rather than retail speculators.
Panelists emphasized that custody solutions, settlement processes, and regulatory clarity now determine adoption rates across APAC markets. Standard Chartered’s Luke Boland confirmed digital asset projects have evolved from isolated experiments into coordinated efforts spanning risk, compliance, and custody departments. Crypto.com’s Karl Mohan noted the “cowboys” and arbitrage-driven models from the 2021 bull run have largely vanished, replaced by serious institutional frameworks. However, fragmented regulatory regimes across Asia-Pacific continue hampering seamless regional adoption, according to Maybank’s Andrew Leelarthaepin.
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FXnCO Insight
** Institutional adoption hinges on operational infrastructure—traders should monitor custody partnerships and regulatory developments rather than price speculation for meaningful market signals.
Source: Finance Magnates