Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a way of managing, storing, and sharing information over a distributed network. The position of DLT in banking can be seen as controversial as it is a rapidly evolving technology with both potential benefits and challenges. The Role of Distributed Ledger Technology in Banking presents a balanced assessment of both the opportunities and risks behind such recent innovations. Combining theory and practice, it explores the impact of DLT in the banking sector and offers the opportunity to exploit different points of view from different disciplines. It presents topics from both a theoretical and practical point of view, highlighting concrete applications. Written by a team of experts from academia and the banking sector, this book looks at DLT not as a threat but as an exciting opportunity to bring the banking/financial system in the future.

‘We are in the process of abandoning silo and central computer architectures in banking, while embracing cloud computing. In a comprehensive review of the issues to Leo, Panetta and colleagues point to the next big technological challenge in a detailed and comprehensive manner. It tackles key issues combining practitioner and academic views. This is a book that will be in every banker’s shelf for many years to come. A must read for anyone who wants to prepare their financial institution for the future.’

Bernardo Batiz-Lazo - Professor of Fintech History, Northumbria University and Research Professor, Universidad Anahuac, Mexico

‘Leo and Panetta have brought together a collection of admirably clear essays on the promising applications and policy challenges surrounding the application of crypto technologies in money, banking and financial regulation. This will be a valuable reference for anyone who struggles to make sense of the hype around blockchain, tokenised finance and smart contracts.’

Alistair Milne - Loughborough University