Solution

Web3

Web3

Investment in web3 continues, but what are the real-world implications for companies and investors as this space evolves? We'll help you find the answers.

Web3

If the web’s second generation introduced interactivity, web3 should change the shape of interaction itself. Enabled by digital identity and powered by blockchain technologies, the Internet’s third iteration is more open and decentralized. 

Along with the opportunities it brings, web3 will shake up many industries’ profit pools by impacting economics and market structure across traditional intermediaries in value exchange. Tokenization, blockchain payment rails, and decentralized finance (DeFi) are pushing financial institutions to rethink business models. Digital rights ownership (NFTs) will enable consumer brands to reimagine engagement and brand experience. 

We help you unpack web3’s opportunities and threats, reimagine your business model with new digital experiences, support product launches, and chart a course for long-term value generation. In an evolving landscape, we’ll separate the noise from the strategic actions needed to prepare, adapt, and ultimately thrive in the next digital era. 

Our Web3 Consulting Experience

Our Web3 Consulting Experience

Our Core Industries

Our Core Industries

Web3 and the Future of Banking

Web3’s growing role in financial services is poised to shake up business as usual, creating ripple effects in everything from transactions to regulation to recruitment. We sat down with Morgan McKenney from Provenance Blockchain Foundation, Alejandro Valenzuela of Banco Azteca, Kelly Mathieson of Digital Asset, and Himal Makwana of FIS to understand how web3 is propelling the future of banking.

  • Web3 Talent

    The Talent Dynamic in Emerging Digital Financial Services

    As financial services firms prioritize attracting talent, web3 creates new opportunities to make the industry more inclusive. Recognizing that building capabilities and platforms requires diversity of thinking, leaders are broadening their talent search. At the same time, the democratization of finance ushered in by web3 may help firms draw candidates who value mission-based, purpose-led companies.

  • Regulation

    Protecting and Regulating the Financial Digital Asset

    The nascency of a legal framework poses a significant barrier to adopting financial digital assets. Mortgages on blockchain, for example, offer benefits to all parties—but the asset requires legal protection. UCC article 12 broadens the digital asset range to be legally protected, but there’s still work to do.

  • Digital Identity

    The Intrinsic Link Between Web3 and Native Digital Identity

    Digital identity may be every customer’s most important asset, but it’s the weakest link in the blockchain landscape, says Morgan. While credentialing and security solutions are still being built, one thing that’s certain is that each of us will ultimately control our own identity assets. Moving past the experimentation phase, however, will require mainstream adoption of the digital asset ecosystem, along with banks’ leadership in creating solutions.

  • Future of Finance

    Blockchain and the Evolution of the Digital Financial Factory

    Blockchain. NFTs. Crypto. These buzzy words percolating in the public consciousness today will, in a mere decade, describe the new “factory of finance”—how assets are issued, financed, and serviced. As Morgan explains, this shift will address inefficiencies in financial services, enable more real-time settlement, improve asset liquidity, and boost transparency. Get ready for the self-checkout line of finance.

  • Stablecoins and CBDC

    The Changing Nature of Money

    As cryptocurrency transforms finance, very tangible benefits and drawbacks have emerged. With cash offering a sense of privacy, cultural changes will be necessary to go digital. Direct transactions without intermediaries are more convenient and efficient—but remove traceability. Alejandro discusses the evolving state of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and the implications for governments, banks, and consumers.

  • Central Bank Digital Currency

    Embracing Digital Currency while Preserving the Two-Tiered Banking System

    Much like a dollar in our wallet, digital currencies must offer security. There’s an opportunity to advance the current structure—while preserving privacy—by improving depositor risk. For government benefit programs, for example, central bank digital currency allows the issuer to add technological programmability. This offers citizens convenience and certainty of receipt while allowing the government to build rules around how funding is used.

  • Web3 Use Cases

    The Web3 Use Cases Poised to Transform Financial Services

    As Web3 accelerates, three use cases will address users’ pain points—and as a result, foster adoption. Free from the constraints of the traditional financial system, stablecoins meet a growing need for efficient settlement. Enabled by blockchain, smart contracts allow users to move, share, or trade money without being beholden to counterparty risk. Lastly, tokenization increases the visibility of rights of ownership, bringing value to real estate deals, among other transactions.

The Talent Dynamic in Emerging Digital Financial Services

As financial services firms prioritize attracting talent, web3 creates new opportunities to make the industry more inclusive. Recognizing that building capabilities and platforms requires diversity of thinking, leaders are broadening their talent search. At the same time, the democratization of finance ushered in by web3 may help firms draw candidates who value mission-based, purpose-led companies.

Protecting and Regulating the Financial Digital Asset

The nascency of a legal framework poses a significant barrier to adopting financial digital assets. Mortgages on blockchain, for example, offer benefits to all parties—but the asset requires legal protection. UCC article 12 broadens the digital asset range to be legally protected, but there’s still work to do.

The Intrinsic Link Between Web3 and Native Digital Identity

Digital identity may be every customer’s most important asset, but it’s the weakest link in the blockchain landscape, says Morgan. While credentialing and security solutions are still being built, one thing that’s certain is that each of us will ultimately control our own identity assets. Moving past the experimentation phase, however, will require mainstream adoption of the digital asset ecosystem, along with banks’ leadership in creating solutions.

Blockchain and the Evolution of the Digital Financial Factory

Blockchain. NFTs. Crypto. These buzzy words percolating in the public consciousness today will, in a mere decade, describe the new “factory of finance”—how assets are issued, financed, and serviced. As Morgan explains, this shift will address inefficiencies in financial services, enable more real-time settlement, improve asset liquidity, and boost transparency. Get ready for the self-checkout line of finance.

The Changing Nature of Money

As cryptocurrency transforms finance, very tangible benefits and drawbacks have emerged. With cash offering a sense of privacy, cultural changes will be necessary to go digital. Direct transactions without intermediaries are more convenient and efficient—but remove traceability. Alejandro discusses the evolving state of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and the implications for governments, banks, and consumers.

Embracing Digital Currency while Preserving the Two-Tiered Banking System

Much like a dollar in our wallet, digital currencies must offer security. There’s an opportunity to advance the current structure—while preserving privacy—by improving depositor risk. For government benefit programs, for example, central bank digital currency allows the issuer to add technological programmability. This offers citizens convenience and certainty of receipt while allowing the government to build rules around how funding is used.

The Web3 Use Cases Poised to Transform Financial Services

As Web3 accelerates, three use cases will address users’ pain points—and as a result, foster adoption. Free from the constraints of the traditional financial system, stablecoins meet a growing need for efficient settlement. Enabled by blockchain, smart contracts allow users to move, share, or trade money without being beholden to counterparty risk. Lastly, tokenization increases the visibility of rights of ownership, bringing value to real estate deals, among other transactions.

Our Web3 Consulting Team

Ready to talk?

We work with ambitious leaders who want to define the future, not hide from it. Together, we achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Vector℠ is a service mark of Bain & Company, Inc.