Insights from the Citi Institute Future of Finance Forum
The financial landscape is evolving at unprecedented speed—driven by AI, digital assets, real-time infrastructure, and the shifting demands of a new generation of clients. At Citi Institute Future of Finance Forum on June 26, global experts, clients, and policymakers came together to examine the road ahead. From the rise of agentic AI and stablecoin adoption to quantum readiness and cross-border harmonization, nine themes stood out.
1. Agentic AI: From Automation to Collaboration
Agentic AI—systems that can take action on behalf of users—are poised to reshape decision-making and workflow execution in financial services.
- Misunderstood but already useful: Agentic AI doesn’t need perfect data to be effective. It’s a co-worker, not a controller.
- APIs enable fast integration with existing systems, creating incremental value and speed to scale.
- Customization is critical to accuracy, especially in regulated environments.
- Voice interfaces remain underleveraged but could enhance user interaction and workflow efficiency.
2. Deepfakes & Financial Crime: Beyond Detection
The sophistication of synthetic media—especially voice deepfakes—is escalating.
- Recruitment scams using AI-generated voices are increasingly difficult to detect.
- Zero-trust principles were emphasized—every interaction must be validated, regardless of format or channel.
- Intent-based defenses will be needed to go beyond surface-level detection and truly assess fraud risk.
3. Digital Assets: Scaling Requires Full-Stack Infrastructure
Digital asset ecosystems require more than just ledger tech.
- Data standards, identity frameworks, and commercial incentives are foundational to adoption.
- Banks must play a role in shaping the ecosystem, particularly for custody, KYC, and interoperability.
- Demand is rising—especially as clients look beyond crypto and into tokenized assets and programmable money.
4. Tokenization & Stablecoins: Building Trust Infrastructure
Tokenized finance is gaining traction, but adoption hinges on trust, compliance, and clarity.
- Stablecoins are seeing growing use, particularly for B2B and cross-border payments, though their role in capital markets remains constrained by volatility and legal design.
- Fragmentation will give way to consolidation as standards emerge and dominant issuers scale.
- Banks are positioned to lead—leveraging trust, regulatory experience, and client networks.
As one panelist put it, tokenized money “must be familiar, usable, and liquid” to succeed.
5. The 24×7 Economy: Designing Always-On Finance
Financial institutions are increasingly expected to operate on a real-time clock.
- Insurance, wealth, and lending are being reshaped by expectations for instant service.
- Embedded finance, APIs, and tokenization are enabling new models for 24×7 engagement.
- Firms must invest in automation and orchestration to keep pace with client demand.
6. Cross-Border Payments: Real-Time Requires Harmonization
Real-time global payments are within reach—but require coordination, not just technology.
- Harmonizing settlement processes, standards, and regulations is essential to scale.
- Clients want flexibility—some prefer delayed flows for control or compliance reasons.
- Industry-led solutions like SWIFT GPI have seen broader uptake than public-sector experiments.
7. The Future of Wealth: A Generational and Technological Shift
Wealth management is undergoing profound change.
- Massive generational wealth transfer is underway, accelerating demand for digital-first experiences.
- Tokenization opens new doors for access to private assets, fractional ownership, and real-time liquidity.
- AI and data orchestration are enabling personalization at scale—and reshaping how trust is delivered.
8. AI in Wealth: Speed, Signal, and Human Touch
AI is changing wealth management by accelerating tasks and enhancing client personalization.
- Use cases include faster due diligence (from 3–10 minutes to 30 seconds), portfolio construction, and tailored client experiences.
- Agentic tools help generate investment signals at scale, empowering advisors with new insights.
- Controls and explainability remain critical for responsible implementation.
9. Quantum Computing: From Theory to Targeted Impact
Quantum readiness is no longer optional—even if timelines remain uncertain.
- Early use cases include portfolio optimization, fraud detection, and scenario simulation.
- Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) lacks regulatory clarity, making proactive exploration essential.
- The talent gap is real: expertise in quantum algorithm development is scarce and specialized.
The UK and U.S. are both actively exploring quantum-related regulations.
Conclusion: Turning Signals into Strategy
What emerged across the Forum’s conversations was less a forecast than a shared recognition: finance is entering a period of accelerated change and redefinition. As technologies mature and converge, institutions that pair experimentation with responsible governance will be best positioned to lead.