Part 3 of Tuum’s Digital Currency Series
In Part 1, we explored how digital currencies like CBDCs, tokenised deposits, and stablecoins are moving from concept to real-world pilots. In Part 2, we looked at why core flexibility and multi-asset readiness are critical for banks to keep up with a fast-evolving digital money landscape.
Now in Part 3, the focus shifts to the opportunity side of the equation: what new business models become possible when your infrastructure no longer holds you back?
Because once digital currencies are supported natively in your core, you’re not just preparing for future compliance or functionality. You’re unlocking entirely new ways to deliver value, serve new markets, and generate revenue.
Embedded Treasury: Real-Time Liquidity at the Point of Need
Corporate treasury is evolving fast. Businesses want to manage liquidity, FX, and settlements in real time, directly from the platforms they already use, whether that’s ERP systems, e-commerce checkouts, or global payroll engines.
Tokenised deposits and stablecoins can support real-time funding and reconciliation, but only if the bank’s core system can:
- Natively handle both fiat and digital currencies
- Reconcile balances across asset types in real time
- Enforce controls such as limits, access rights, and authorisations at the transaction layer
Tuum makes this possible through a flexible account model that supports multiple currencies and real-time reconciliation. Safeguards like access controls, posting rules, and balance checks are enforced at the core. Virtual accounts simplify reconciliation, while correspondent and nostro structures manage liquidity across settlement schemes. Combined with orchestration and external compliance integration, banks can embed treasury functionality into third-party platforms, without replicating legacy infrastructure.
BaaS for Digital Currencies: Enabling New Entrants and New Rails
As tokenised money gains traction, fintechs and platforms are building services around stablecoins, e-money, and CBDC-compatible wallets, without becoming traditional banks.
Delivering regulated services with digital currencies requires more than APIs. It demands a core platform that can manage multiple currencies, comply with multiple regimes, and operate at scale.
Tuum’s modular, multi-tenant architecture is designed to support these use cases. Banks and BaaS providers can operate new brands, geographies, or customer segments from a single core instance, while coexisting with legacy infrastructure when needed.
While digital currencies inherently reside on the blockchain, Tuum reflects these assets within its core ledger rather than duplicating them. This approach minimizes the need for complex bolt-on systems and ensures seamless integration with existing services.
FX-as-a-Service: Turning Tokenised Liquidity into Revenue
Cross-border payments are ripe for disruption. Tokenised currencies and stablecoins provide faster and cheaper options compared to traditional FX and correspondent banking networks, particularly when combined with programmable logic and automated settlement.
We’re now seeing a shift toward FX-as-a-Service, where institutions:
- Price and convert currencies on demand, including digital pairs
- Settle in near real-time using tokenised money
- Route flows through both traditional and digital rails
Tuum supports dynamic FX logic between any asset pair—fiat or tokenised. Pricing can be margin based or fee based depending on the model. Settlement and asset handling are real-time and streamlined through Tuum’s ledger architecture. Combined with orchestration and compliance tooling, banks can move beyond batch processing to offer flexible, revenue-generating FX services at scale.
Wallet-Based Banking for Global Platforms
Digital wallets are increasingly becoming the main interface for financial services. Global marketplaces, gig platforms, and creators’ networks aim to integrate financial features such as multi-currency accounts, instant payouts, and programmable rules, all embedded into their ecosystems.
To enable this, banks need infrastructure that supports:
- Multi-asset wallets (fiat and digital)
- Real-time interest, limits, and KYC/AML compliance
- Integration into broader finance and partner ecosystems
Zenus Bank, powered by Tuum, is a clear example of this shift. It offers wallet-based banking, embedded accounts, and cross-border services to customers in over 150 countries. This is not a test or a pilot, it’s a production-grade infrastructure bank built on a modern core.
Digital Asset Rails for Commercial Banks
New networks for tokenised deposits, wholesale CBDCs, and asset-backed rails are emerging. Commercial banks must connect and operate across them.
Legacy cores can’t support this shift. They lack the flexibility to model digital assets, integrate with blockchain infrastructure, or apply compliance rules across multiple asset types.
Tuum enables banks to:
- Model digital currencies as native ledger assets
- Connect to external platforms through orchestration APIs
- Monitor, report, and control across fiat and digital currencies
This lets banks plug into the future without disrupting the present. They can launch digital currency use cases while maintaining consistency across compliance, customer experience, and operational processes.
Final Thought: Digital Currencies Aren’t Just About Technology
Across the industry, live use cases are emerging. Institutions are settling dollar payments around the clock. Wallets are enabling banking features within global platforms. Cross-border FX is becoming programmable.
The shift is already underway. But while others are still testing and piloting, Tuum gives banks the ability to operate these models at scale.
Digital currencies are not just a new asset class; they serve as a catalyst for innovative business models. From embedded treasury and FX-as-a-Service to wallet-based banking and embedded compliance, the opportunity is real.
Tuum is the core that enables these models. Built for fiat and digital currency, prepared for real-world growth.
Want to explore how your core system can support digital currencies and multi-asset banking? Get in touch.