Guillaume Poncin, chief technology officer at Alchemy, a blockchain developer platform provider based in San Francisco, California, shares insights on how corporate finance leaders can tap into cryptocurrency adoption.
The landscape of digital assets has changed significantly. In early 2025, U.S. financial regulators removed barriers that previously kept businesses from integrating digital assets. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) led the way in March, followed by the FDIC and Federal Reserve in April, collectively withdrawing guidance that had required advance approval for crypto activities. This development extends far beyond banking, enabling any company with robust compliance infrastructure to integrate digital assets without regulatory pre-approval.
The Senate’s recent passage of the ‘Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins’ (GENIUS Act) is another pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency space. Although the bill still awaits House approval, it is expected to provide much-needed regulatory clarity and open the door for increased stablecoin adoption.
Digital assets have entered mainstream commerce, offering corporate treasuries new opportunities. Companies can now access stablecoin yields of 4%-5% or issue their own stablecoin to capture greater revenue. The existing infrastructure allows companies to tap into the benefits of digital assets, as seen in BlackRock’s tokenized money market fund BUIDL, which crossed $1.7 billion in assets by partnering with existing providers.
For corporate finance leaders interested in cryptocurrency adoption, here are key strategies:
- Start with Treasury Optimization: Companies can allocate a portion of their cash reserves to regulated stablecoins to remain liquid while earning yield.
- Evaluate Payment Infrastructure: Digital assets excel in cross-border transactions, 24/7 settlement, and programmable payment logic, enabling manufacturing companies to settle international supplier payments instantly and SaaS platforms to facilitate global customer payments without currency conversion friction.
- Explore Digital Asset Revenue Streams: Companies with customer-facing platforms can offer digital asset services as new revenue streams, such as crypto index products or stablecoin transactions.
- Bridge to Decentralized Lending: Decentralized finance protocols enable lending and borrowing without traditional balance sheet risk, allowing companies to expand offerings while earning fees on facilitated volume.
- Launch Self-Custodial Wallets: Self-custodial technology enables fintechs and institutions to facilitate direct ownership while maintaining control over user experience, providing an entry point to capture liquidity and strengthen user relationships.
- Deploy Purpose-Built Infrastructure: Companies ready to own their infrastructure stack can use purpose-built blockchains to control transaction flow, compliance logic, and fee capture.
While adopting digital assets, companies must not abandon risk management principles. Working with licensed custodians, established infrastructure providers, and implementing clear governance policies can help manage risk. A conservative approach, starting with less volatile assets like stablecoins, is recommended.
The arrival of clear regulation presents a unique opportunity for corporate finance to assert leadership by leveraging the efficiency and accessibility of digital assets. The guardrails have evolved to embrace the yield potential of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, enabling companies to capitalize on new opportunities.
