207

Blockchain and Banking

globalization. From the World Bank’s estimate (2020), global merchandise exports

have contributed into 38% global GDP in 1980 to 38.8%, 51% in 1990, and 60.3% in

2010. From 2014 onwards, product movements, services, finance, citizens and cross-

border data have increased global GDP by approximately 10%, including significant

contributions from developed and emerging economies. As shown by the University

of Pennsylvania (2018), the global economy’s new trends are developing and emerg­

ing economies, such as India and Africa (Kenya, East Africa), where they are dis­

covering more and more blockchain applications. Kshetri and Voas (2018) assess that

blockchain can help a large proportion of the population in developed countries, so

there is a need to concentrate more on critical issues in driving blockchain growth.

Organizations worldwide are evolving and understanding the potential role of block­

chain to help implement these advantages in today’s lives.

12.3  BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS

POTENTIAL IN THE BANKING SYSTEM

Many recent studies indicate that, not only in developed countries but also in emerg­

ing and developing countries, there are many advantages of blockchain in the bank­

ing industry. According to a survey by Accenture (2017), blockchain plays a crucial

role in the growth of both banks and financial firms. Banks worldwide could save 20

billion dollars by 2022 by implementing a banking system that facilitates faster pay­

ments and transfers and more accurate transactions using distributed ledger-based

customer identification systems. With only a straightforward step, blockchain will

enable users to validate their identity, and this information is stored in the system.

Blockchain is taking advantage of distributed ledger technology, according to

Belinky et al. (2015), because it offers many benefits. Some of the advantages that

blockchain technology brings to the banking industry are seen in Figure 12.3, with

six key advantages, including irrevocable banking transactions, prompt payments,

easy payments and transfers in the banking sector, as well as low-risk transactions.

Also, transactions are often low cost, allowing the financial system and clients to save

Integrate many

information in

transactions

Low cost

High accurate

Assigned by code,

high security

check

Quick speed of

transactions

Effective

monitoring and

inspection system

FIGURE 12.3  Benefits of using blockchain in transactions in the banking system. (From

Belinky, M., et al., The fintech 2.0 paper: Rebooting financial services, 2015, retrieved from

http://san​tand​erin​nove​ntures​.com​/wp​-content​/uploads​/2015​/06​/The​-Fintech​-2​-0​-Paper​.pdf;

Kshetri, N., and Voas, J., IEEE, 20, 11, 2018.)