FINANCIAL INNOVATION: THE IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES ON FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

The world around us has become increasingly digital in recent years, from the quick adoption of mobile phones to the emergence of the Internet and, more recently, social media and big data. With profound effects on all productive sectors, the “digital revolution,” considered as the widespread use of digital technology, has fundamentally changed the financial sector. This is presently in the midst of a profound and unheard-of change known as FinTech, which is the direct outcome of the application of technology to finance. Among other things, blockchain has recently gained popularity in the financial services industry. Therefore, a greater comprehension of how this novel technology could affect the financial industry is necessary. In this paper, we explore how blockchain may impact on financial intermediaries and banks.