Impacting the future of finance: four key takeaways from Sibos 2025

This edition of Sibos brought together finance professionals to tackle the most urgent topics facing the sector today. These are the four key takeaways from Sibos 2025 that will help shape the future of finance.

1. Artificial Intelligence: from curiosity to implementation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming an integral part of our daily lives and it’s no surprise it was also a big topic during Sibos this year. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, financial institutions are adopting AI tools more extensively and it is already being applied in areas such as reconciliation, operational automation, fraud detection, and transaction monitoring.

During Sibos, it became clear that many believe AI is going to impact every aspect of banking as we now know it. Forward-thinking institutions are moving from experimentation to implementation, positioning AI as a central driver of growth, efficiency, and risk management. It is crucial for financial institutions to embrace this transformation. When they do, they become more agile, innovative, and relevant to their customers. When they do not, they will fall behind in comparison to competitors but will also become more vulnerable to the downsides to AI from a security perspective.

2. The growth of digital assets

Another hot topic this year; the role of stablecoins, tokenised deposits, and CBDCs in financial transactions. Key discussions focused on the need for interoperability between digital currencies and existing financial systems to enable seamless cross-border payments. The event also reflected a shift toward greater institutional adoption of digital assets, with financial institutions exploring blockchain (like SWIFT) and digital currencies to enhance services. Tokenised deposits are perhaps the most incremental shift: conventional bank deposits expressed as digital tokens on a distributed infrastructure, preserving deposit guarantees and existing banking relationships while gaining connectivity and programmability. Looking ahead, the focus is on creating scalable, secure, and interoperable solutions to reshape the global financial ecosystem.

3. Adopting a strong cybersecurity strategy is essential

A third key topic was the growing need to adopt a strong cybersecurity strategy. Not a surprise given the rise of cyber-attacks in many industries and the growing threats on any organisation, including financial institutions. Experts highlighted that attackers often exploit legitimate credentials rather than directly breaching systems, underscoring the importance of strong identity and access management. Financial institutions are encouraged to adopt proactive cybersecurity strategies and promote a culture of security awareness. Collaboration with technology providers, shared platforms, and standardised protocols were highlighted as crucial for resilience, innovation, and seamless integration across the financial ecosystem. Key takeaways include the need for strong credential management, proactive defence measures, employee awareness, and leveraging partnerships and standardised platforms to strengthen financial infrastructure.

4. SWIFT unveils global blockchain ledger for real-time payments

Sibos is also a great moment for announcements. SWIFT took that moment and introduced a shared Blockchain-digital ledger, developed with over thirty global banks including Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas, to enable real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments. Financial institutions from sixteen countries are shaping its design, ensuring interoperability across networks. Building on SWIFT’s digital asset trials, the initiative aims to make global payments faster, more reliable, and fully interoperable, accelerating the industry’s shift to digital finance worldwide.

In conclusion:

Sibos 2025 highlighted the major trends shaping the future of global finance. From the rise of AI to the growing focus on cybersecurity, the event showed how technology is transforming banking and how institutions must adapt to maintain client trust and reliability. Beyond technology, Sibos emphasised security, sovereignty, and pioneering, urging European banks to invest in sustainability and digital transformation to align their values with leadership in innovation. Together, these themes underline that the next frontiers of finance will be defined not just by new technologies, but by strategic, ethical, and collaborative choices.

Worldline gladly participated at Sibos 2025. Watch video: