Lloyds Adopts Blockchain Trade Docs, Targets Tokenized Deposits by 2027
Lloyds has begun partnering with several technology firms to phase out paper-based documentation in favour of blockchain-backed and AI-driven processes across its business, from global trade transactions to secured consumer lending. The move aims to accelerate settlement times, reduce operational costs and lower friction in cross-border trade by digitising trade documents and automating verification tasks.
The bank also signalled plans to explore tokenized deposit solutions with a target timeframe around 2027, a step that would bring crypto-style token economics into mainstream retail and corporate banking subject to regulatory approval. If successful, the shift could boost liquidity, shorten clearing cycles and prompt peers to speed up digital transformation — though regulators and legacy systems will shape the pace and scope of any rollout.