In recent years, blockchain has been gaining momentum as the infrastructure behind digital transactions, but the forecast set forth by Standard Chartered CEO, Bill Winters, paints an even bigger picture, the eventual rewiring of the financial system to accommodate blockchain for all transactions and a future where every currency becomes digital. As an entrepreneur myself, I can’t help but see the inevitable implications this has for businesses, innovators, and, importantly, startups who seek agility in a competitive environment.
From my experience navigating multiple startup ecosystems and integrating blockchain into our startup game Fe/Male Switch, here's what you need to understand about this groundbreaking prediction, how to adapt and thrive, and the insights that can help you stay one step ahead.
What Blockchain’s Domination Might Mean for Entrepreneurs
During Hong Kong FinTech Week, Winters emphasized the transformative nature of blockchain, referring to its potential to settle all global transactions. For business owners, freelancers, and startup founders this prediction translates into:
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Frictionless Transactions
Blockchain eliminates intermediaries, which means reduced fees and faster settlement times. For startups, especially those relying on international transactions, this alone is a game-changer. -
Democratization of Financial Services
With blockchain at the core, more inclusive financial tools can emerge. Think of decentralized finance (DeFi) enabling access to funding without traditional gatekeepers like banks. -
Global Business Expansion
Digital money powered by blockchain allows seamless cross-border payments and instantly expands markets. Entrepreneurs can think globally from day one without worrying about local financial infrastructure. -
Enhanced Security & Transparency
Blockchain’s immutable ledger structure assures businesses, including startups, that their financial records are tamper-proof, providing an additional layer of trust for investors and partners.
How Leaders Can Prepare for Blockchain Integration
Being an entrepreneur requires foresight, and adapting to this blockchain-driven era will require proactive efforts. Here’s a step-by-step guide to stay ahead:
Step 1: Educate Yourself on Blockchain Basics
It’s crucial to understand not just the concept but also practical applications of blockchain. Platforms like CertNexus Blockchain Certification or the University of Nicosia blockchain courses offer detailed insights. You’ll find it easier to assess opportunities if you’re informed.
Step 2: Adopt Digital Payment Solutions
Start small by incorporating cryptocurrency payments within your business model. Integrating payment platforms like Stripe for Crypto can serve as an entry point while familiarizing your operations with newer financial technologies.
Step 3: Experiment with Tokenization
Tokenizing limited products or services allows businesses to explore blockchain while generating buzz. For example, we tokenized digital rights for CADChain users, offering them a unique ownership model.
Step 4: Invest in Tech Partnerships
For entrepreneurs focusing on smarter collaboration, partnering with blockchain service providers like Partior Blockchain Payments Network or similar platforms can accelerate the learning curve and allow you to scale faster.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While blockchain brings a wealth of opportunities, there are pitfalls to watch for:
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Ignoring Legal and Regulatory Compliances
Each country has its own frameworks for blockchain and cryptocurrency. Missteps here could harm your reputation or restrict growth. -
Focusing Solely on Crypto
Blockchain isn’t limited to cryptocurrency, it’s infrastructure. Entrepreneurs who pigeonhole its use without exploring applications like smart contracts or supply chain integration miss out. -
Neglecting Customer Education
Don’t assume your audience fully understands blockchain. Incorporate simple explanations to build trust and transparency while onboarding early adopters of your blockchain solution. -
Over-relying on Blockchain
Blockchain might not solve every problem. Don’t adopt it for novelty or hype; instead, ensure it complements your business model effectively.
Statistics: Blockchain’s Rise in Finance
Understanding the rapid adoption of blockchain can clarify its significance:
- Digital Asset Management Projections: By 2030, blockchain could store 10% of the world’s GDP, as noted by World Economic Forum Blockchain Report.
- DeFi Scaling: DeFi platforms using blockchain have grown from handling $1 billion to $50 billion in daily transactions within four years.
- Business Adoption: Over 36% of SMEs globally now incorporate blockchain in operational processes, per the 2025 Global Blockchain SME Report.
Blockchain is no longer a futuristic concept, it’s a necessary part of business evolution, particularly for startups.
Higher-Level Insights from Violetta Bonenkamp
As someone who built an entire ecosystem around using gamification and blockchain to empower women in STEM and entrepreneurship, I believe blockchain’s rise signals two distinct opportunities for startups: social impact scalability and financial ecosystem disruption.
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Social Impact Scalability:
Platforms like F/MS let users tokenize their progress, earning rewards through blockchain. The ability to quantify social impact opens doors for funding opportunities tied directly to outcomes. -
Financial Ecosystem Disruption:
Blockchain simplifies intellectual property protection for creatives, startups, and solopreneurs, a model we adopted at CADChain. Contracts and payments are automated and verified through blockchain, drastically cutting down administrative headaches.
These two applications embody the transformative potential for entrepreneurs who integrate blockchain strategically, not just for growth but for innovative ecosystem building.
How Entrepreneurs Can Use This Prediction to Innovate
To embrace what Bill Winters envisions, entrepreneurs must think bigger than blockchain itself:
- Develop Decentralized Business Models: Move from traditional hierarchies to collaborative innovations where blockchain serves as the backbone.
- Embrace Experimentation: Tokenization, smart contracts, and AI-backed blockchain applications give entrepreneurs a playground to futureproof.
- Start Global, Stay Niche: Blockchain’s borderless function allows startups to succeed within specific niches while avoiding geographical limitations.
Conclusion: The Blockchain Entrepreneurial Manifesto
Blockchain powering all transactions isn’t just a redefinition of finances; it’s an invitation for disruptive innovation across industries. From solopreneurs operating globally without barriers to startups building transparent ecosystems, blockchain is the tool providing trust, efficiency, and endless scalability. This future calls for imagination paired with execution.
Entrepreneurs, start experimenting boldly, the world is rewiring itself, and you’ve got a chance to lay the new foundation. Don’t just adapt to the change; become the driving force of innovation. The blockchain revolution waits for no one.
FAQ
1. What did Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters predict about blockchain?
Bill Winters predicted that nearly all financial transactions globally will eventually be settled through blockchain technology and that all money will become digital, requiring a complete rewiring of the financial system. Read more about the prediction
2. What implications does this have for the future of finance?
The switch to blockchain and digital money will revolutionize the financial system by eliminating intermediaries, enabling seamless cross-border payments, and increasing security and transparency. Learn more about blockchain’s impact
3. How is Standard Chartered involved with blockchain?
Standard Chartered has been heavily investing in digital assets, launching Bitcoin spot trading and establishing services like Zodia Custody Service to manage digital asset transactions. Read about StanChart's digital assets strategy
4. How is Hong Kong approaching blockchain and digital assets?
Hong Kong is positioning itself as a regional hub for digital assets through a licensing framework and various tokenization pilot projects to support blockchain innovation. Explore Hong Kong’s blockchain strategy
5. What are some startups leveraging blockchain creatively?
Startups like F/MS focus on gamification and tokenization, empowering users to earn rewards through blockchain while supporting social impact initiatives. Check out F/MS Startup Game
6. Are banks beyond Standard Chartered adopting blockchain?
Yes, other major banks are exploring blockchain-based digital currencies and investing in projects like stablecoin networks and compensation processes using blockchain technology. View blockchain’s wider adoption
7. How can entrepreneurs prepare for the blockchain-driven era?
Entrepreneurs can educate themselves about blockchain basics, integrate digital payment solutions, experiment with tokenization, and explore partnerships with blockchain service providers to futureproof their business.
8. What are some blockchain-based tools for businesses?
Digital payment platforms like Stripe for Crypto and blockchain service providers like Partior Blockchain Payments Network help businesses integrate and scale blockchain effectively. Explore Partior Blockchain
9. Why is tokenization a valuable step for startups?
Tokenization allows startups to create unique ownership models for digital products and services, enabling them to explore innovative revenue models and gain a competitive advantage.
10. What mistakes should businesses avoid when adopting blockchain?
Common pitfalls include ignoring legal compliance, over-relying on blockchain for problems it may not solve, failing to educate customers, and limiting its use to cryptocurrency applications without exploring other benefits like smart contracts.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
