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Blockchain technology is most commonly known for its role in digital currency and online transactions. But blockchain has many other applications in industries outside of finance, including supply chain management, healthcare, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things (IoT). We take a look at some upcoming blockchain trends and how they may affect those sectors in the next five years.
Blockchains first came into existence in the early 1990s, giving programmers a way to timestamp digital documents. Later, in 2009, after many innovations and updates, blockchain would see its first real product in the form Bitcoin, changing the way people viewed digital currency. Eventually, how businesses would handle digital transactions.
You can learn more about the history or blockchains in our article: What is blockchain?
Since those early days of blockchains, the database ledger technology has become a crucial backbone of many other applications, such as powering smart contracts, helping pharmaceutical companies track prescriptions and create new medicines, and helping to optimize smart chain workflows and processes – to name but a few.
Below, we pull out our crystal ball to uncover what is next for blockchains by answering the question: what five trends can we expect for blockchain in the next five years (or sooner).
With recent uncertainty in the global markets, it is little wonder that one of the first blockchain trends we anticipate in the next five years has to do with cryptocurrency adoption. In particular, the United States, thanks to a crypto-friendly administration, is leading the way in cryptocurrency adoption. Examples of this include the recent approval of Bitcoin ETFs and (so far) a more forgiving approach to crypto regulations.
On a global scale, regions such as the EU, UAE, UK, and Hong Kong are introducing legislation supporting and encouraging competition and innovation in the blockchain and crypto space. Recent downturns in the stock market, as well as uncertainty over tariffs and trade wars, are also bolstering digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum as more legitimate investments.
Crypto mining is a blockchain process that is used to finalise digital transactions. During this process, new “coins” or tokens are released into circulation. It owes its name to traditional mining, where a miner would dig for gold, silver, or other precious metals. In terms of blockchain and cryptocurrency, this is also known as proof of work (PoW).
To achieve this PoW, a tremendous amount of computing power is required, due to the complexity of the algorithms being used to “mine”. This use of computer power, naturally, requires a lot of electricity, which makes crypto mining a costly and environmentally unfriendly endeavour.
In 2022, a new type of approach, known as proof of stake (PoS) was adopted by Ethereum, resulting in a dramatic drop in required energy, 99% less in fact.
As other cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks make the switch from PoW to PoS, we can expect even further innovations in blockchain energy consumption mechanisms.
This 2025 outlook dives into the trends, data, and insights shaping the next wave of digital finance. From institutional adoption to regulatory shifts, it highlights how smarter analytics are driving better decisions in crypto, tokenized assets, and beyond. For financial professionals, it’s a glimpse into where the market is headed—and how to stay ahead.
Click through to explore more
In the past year, over a billion dollars was invested in AI x Crypto research and technologies, raising the value of AI protocols to more than $60 billion. This merging of AI and blockchains is creating emerging technologies capable of wallet management, transaction autonomy, and a reduction in fraudulent activities.
Over the course of the next few years, AI will play a huge role in crypto markets, as crypto trading bots enhance and automate transactions, execute them faster, and help predict market trends.
Wallet-as-a-service (WaaS) is the latest entry in the “as-a-service” field. Integrating with web apps and online platforms, WaaS acts as a digital wallet that makes it easier to purchase and sell goods and cryptocurrencies on Web 3.0 technologies.
WaaS also streamlines the payment gateway and transactional processes, leading to more security, smoother user experiences (think fewer hiccups when purchasing), and more efficient payment workflows, leading to better cost optimisation.
Cross-border transactions can be tricky, requiring payment gateways and payment orchestration platforms that offer a variety of payment methods. These payment methods, which can include traditional banking, local payment options, and digital wallets are all subject to regional regulatory standards, tax rates, and fees – as well as stringent security requirements. All of these considerations can make cross-border transactions slow and expensive.
Blockchains – and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) – will continue to be an option for payment providers looking to expedite transactions and optimize processing costs.
