OKX and Blockworks Research: Blockchain applications will reshape the future of global industries
- Over the next 25 years, blockchain will positively disrupt the financial, tech, brands and consumer goods, and sports and entertainment industries.
- The continuous development of blockchain application scenarios will become an important disruptive force in the future, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, tokenization of real-world assets, decentralized applications, and self-custody wallets. The convergence of artificial intelligence and cryptography will also have new implications.
- The findings include insights and interviews with senior leaders from Visa, Standard Chartered, Polygon, Google, Aptos, Manchester City Football Club, McLaren Racing and Franklin Templeton.
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 29, 2025 – OKX, the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and on-chain technology company, and crypto research platform Blockworks Research today released a joint report titled "The Future of Blockchain Applications: Reshaping Global Industries," which explores how blockchain applications will reshape finance, technology, brands and consumer goods, and sports and entertainment over the next 25 years.
According to the report, the continued development of blockchain use cases will play a disruptive role in these key business areas, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, tokenization of real-world assets, decentralized applications, and self-custody wallets. Research shows that by 2030, the total AUM of tokenized real-world assets could reach $600 billion; By 2027, 10% of global GDP is expected to be tokenized and stored on the blockchain.
The report also points out that as cryptography provides strong incentives for AI training and deployment, the convergence of AI and cryptography will accelerate, leading to more efficient coding and troubleshooting capabilities.
According to report interviewee Rich Widmann, head of Web3 strategy at Google Cloud, "Blockchain is a high-pressure chamber for innovation...... We envision a 20-year-old digital world where transactions can be seamlessly digitized, and everyday tasks and interactions will be more efficient without relying on legacy devices. This reflects our broader vision of merging AI with blockchain for more efficient business and protocol coding. This
research is based on interviews with industry experts, analysis from OKX and Blockworks Research, desktop research, and existing industry research. Respondents came from a wide range of leading companies, including Visa, Standard Chartered, Polygon, Google, Aptos, Manchester City Football Club, McLaren Racing and Franklin Templeton.
Haider Rafique, Managing Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of OKX, said: "At OKX, we envision a future where on-chain technology will reshape almost every industry. This report shows a glimpse of the transformative potential of blockchain, which we believe will fundamentally redefine business models and build entirely new economic paradigms. We look forward to seeing and driving how blockchain technology will revolutionize the way we live, work, and do business on a global scale,"
said Jason Yanowitz, co-founder of Blockworks. "It's an honor to partner with OKX to present these insights, especially as we observe that blockchain is changing business practices, transaction models, and value creation around the world." "
Key insights into
the financial sector – blockchain applications are reshaping value creation and financial products
- Institutional investors will continue to allocate funds to digital assets and related products. Further developments in trading products and custody services will make asset allocation easier and increase exposure for investors in the coming years.
- Stablecoins are poised to reshape the global payments landscape. Large corporations such as Visa are investing money and resources, and the market value and usage of major stablecoins continue to grow.
- Crypto-native businesses have solved the legacy challenges of legacy systems in terms of self-custody and payments, making it easier for the next generation of retail and business users to access Web3 through their own digital wallets. In the future, financial services companies will be creating their own dApps on top of self-custody wallets.
- Mainstream financial services companies are moving towards a "tokenized" future. More than two-thirds of financial services respondents said they are developing capabilities to support the issuance and delivery of tokenized assets.
Technology – Infrastructure is Shifting On-Chain
- Blockchain is changing the way software, networks, and data systems are built and used.
- Blockchain will influence the future direction of AI. Startups and developers are exploring how blockchain can decentralize the development of AI systems.
- Blockchain and privacy will evolve in tandem in the online world, enabling users to transact anonymously while taking control of their personal data.
- The convergence of blockchain, cloud computing, and AI is happening and is poised to grow into a multi-trillion dollar opportunity.
Brands & Consumer Goods – Blockchain is Enhancing Brand
Experience- Mainstream consumer and luxury brands are actively tapping into the potential of blockchain. Large retailers like Walmart and luxury brands like LVMH are integrating blockchain technology to revolutionize supply chain transparency and production processes.
- Consumer goods and luxury brands are testing a variety of blockchain use cases that are reshaping business models, including digital product passports, luxury NFTs, smart contract-based business operations, and blockchain-based product lifecycle tracking.
- The consumer and luxury industry is merging physical and digital to move further towards an on-chain future. At the same time, digital experience can help different consumer enterprises and enhance user loyalty.
Sports & Entertainment – Blockchain is Transforming Events and Fan
Experience- Sports organizations and teams are using blockchain technology to enhance fan engagement, such as digital collectibles, team-specific tokens, and customized events. Blockchain applications are expected to further expand into new areas such as the metaverse and sports betting.
- Crypto technology will bring creators a higher revenue share and greater autonomy, which is in stark contrast to the current situation where creators in industries such as film and television, music, etc., need to share with the platform.
- Blockchain will reshape the gaming ecosystem and provide financial incentives for players. Interoperability and play-to-earn models promise to lead to a more sustainable funding mechanism for gamers.