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5 Key Takeaways from Our Fintech and Digital Assets Panel: What’s Driving Real Adoption 

As digital assets continue their transition from emerging technology to mainstream financial infrastructure, one message from our recent fintech panel was clear: the conversation has shifted from whether digital assets will integrate into traditional finance to how quickly that integration will happen. This panel featured: 

• Mike Andrusko, Partner, Fintech and Digital Assets Practice Leader at Centri 

• Robert Graham, Partner and National Leader, Digital Assets & Blockchain at CBIZ 

• Jonas Grossman, President and Managing Partner at Chardan 

• Edward McGee, Chief Financial Officer at Grayscale Investments 

• Sarmen Saryan, SVP, Institutional Banking – Digital Assets at Axos Bank 

• Joe Guagliardo, Partner, Global Venture Technology & Emerging Growth Companies; Co-Head, Global Blockchain, Digital Assets & Cryptocurrency at Dentons 

Here are the five key takeaways from the discussion: 

1. Digital Assets Have Moved Beyond Experimentation 

The panel agreed that crypto and blockchain are no longer operating on the fringes of finance. Growth in stablecoin adoption, institutional investment, ETF inflows, and increasing regulatory engagement all point to a market entering its next phase of maturity. 

Traditional financial institutions are no longer observing from the sidelines. Banks, asset managers, and investment firms are actively building teams, developing products, and incorporating blockchain technology into their long-term strategies. 

2. Stablecoins Are Emerging as a Core Payments Infrastructure 

Stablecoins were repeatedly highlighted as one of the most impactful real-world use cases in digital assets today. 

As businesses seek faster, more efficient payment rails, stablecoins are gaining traction for cross-border transactions, settlements, and treasury operations. Panelists noted that adoption and market value have grown significantly, positioning stablecoins as a foundational layer for future financial services and commerce. 

3. Institutional Adoption Is Accelerating 

The success of spot crypto ETFs has opened the door for a broader range of investors to gain exposure to digital assets through familiar investment vehicles. 

Wealth managers and financial advisors are increasingly incorporating digital assets into portfolio discussions, while institutional investors are focusing less on regulatory uncertainty and more on asset allocation, risk management, and long-term investment opportunities. 

The result is a growing shift from retail-led adoption to institutional participation. 

4. Infrastructure, Compliance, and Custody Have Come a Long Way 

A major theme of the discussion was how significantly the industry’s operational foundations have improved. 

Advanced custody solutions, stronger internal controls, SOC-certified providers, and improved auditability have reduced many of the barriers that once prevented broader adoption. While accounting standards still need to catch up with innovations such as staking and DeFi, the overall infrastructure supporting digital assets is becoming increasingly comparable to traditional financial markets. 

5. The Future of Digital Assets May Be Invisible 

Perhaps the most compelling takeaway was the panel’s vision for the next five years. 

Rather than becoming a standalone sector, digital assets are expected to become embedded within everyday financial services. Much like the internet today, blockchain technology may eventually fade into the background, powering faster payments, tokenized assets, programmable finance, and new forms of global capital formation without users ever thinking about the underlying technology. 

The biggest opportunity may not be crypto itself, but the infrastructure it enables. 

Looking Ahead 

The panel’s consensus was optimistic: digital assets are evolving into a critical component of modern financial infrastructure. As regulation matures, institutional participation grows, and technology continues to advance, the industry appears poised to move from a specialized market segment to a foundational layer of the global financial system. 

How Centri Can Help 

As digital assets and blockchain technology become increasingly integrated into mainstream finance, organizations face a growing set of challenges around accounting, regulatory compliance, reporting, risk management, operational scalability, and capital markets readiness. Centri helps companies navigate these complexities with specialized expertise across industries. Whether your organization is evaluating stablecoin adoption, implementing blockchain-based payment solutions, developing a digital asset treasury strategy, preparing for public markets, or scaling operations to meet investor expectations, Centri provides tailored advisory and accounting solutions designed to support growth while maintaining transparency and compliance.