Wealth³ and Banking 3.0: The New Disruptors

For years, finance meant mutual funds, slow settlements, and cross-border friction. That model is now being broken down. 

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Wealth³ and Banking 3.0 are here, and they are simultaneously transforming wealth management and payment infrastructure. Why? Because traditional finance is converging with fintech and Web3. Tokenized funds, digital assets, and real-time payment rails are no longer experiments. They are already being deployed by major institutions and fintech innovators alike. 

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Together, Wealth³ and Banking 3.0 are rewriting the rules of how money is managed and moved. In this article, we tackle exactly what this shift looks like.

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What Is Wealth³ and Banking 3.0?

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The term Wealth³ was coined as a response to the new age of wealth management in the digital era. Integrating AI and blockchain, tokenized funds, investments, and on-chain portfolios all make wealth management faster to settle and more transparent for the current and next generation of investors.

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On the other hand, Banking 3.0 is a term used to define the fusion of traditional finance with fintech and Web3. Instead of a physical bank, customers gain access to the utility of financial services through digital channels. It builds payment rails for instant cross-border transactions from stablecoin payrolls to real-time remittances. 

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The emergence of Wealth³ and Banking 3.0 is driven by tokenized assets that unlock access and liquidity, payment rails that allow money to move across borders instantly, and investor demand for faster and more transparent systems compared to legacy frameworks. 

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Franklin Templeton Shows How TradFi Evolves to Wealth³

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Wealth³ brings blockchain and AI to wealth management, enhancing the potential of tokenized assets and on-chain portfolios. Franklin Templeton shows what this looks like in practice. The firm is one of the world’s largest asset managers, overseeing $1.6 trillion AUM as of July 2025. Its legacy was built on mutual funds, and that foundation of scale and trust now anchors its shift into Wealth³.

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Tokenized Mutual Funds and Blockchain-Based Products

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In 2021, Franklin Templeton launched the first U.S.-registered mutual fund to utilize blockchain technology for record-keeping. Building on that innovation, in 2024, the firm received approval in Luxembourg to launch a fully tokenized UCITS fund on a public blockchain. This milestone demonstrates that tokenization can function effectively within even some of the strictest financial regulatory frameworks.

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Expanding Into Digital Assets and Crypto ETFs

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Building on its digital asset momentum, Franklin Templeton entered the ETF arena in early 2024 with the launch of the Franklin Bitcoin ETF (EZBC), soon followed by the Ethereum ETF (EZET) and the Franklin Crypto Index ETF (EZPZ), tracking leading tokens like Bitcoin and Ether. Shortly thereafter, the firm filed for additional spot crypto ETFs, including those tied to Solana and XRP, reflecting its continued strategy to expand digital asset access for clients.

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Why This Matters

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Franklin Templeton’s pivot to tokenized products and crypto ETFs is not a gimmick. It’s a signal that global institutions are weaving digital assets into mainstream finance. With its reputation and regulatory footprint, Franklin Templeton brings validation, scale, and investor trust to Wealth³.

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Unblock Is Building the Rails of Banking 3.0

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Banking 3.0 is not only about portfolios. It is also about payroll, payments, and remittances. That’s the role of Unblock, a Swiss fintech that makes blockchain usable for everyday transactions. 

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It builds rails that turn digital assets into real-world money flows. From paying salaries in stablecoins, sending remittances instantly, and spending through Mastercard-backed cards wherever fiat is accepted.

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Fintech Rails Driving Adoption

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Through API-based integrations, Unblock allows merchants and platforms to embed crypto payments without managing custody or compliance. Loyalty programs, digital wallets, and global payouts all run on these stablecoin rails. 

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Users don’t see blockchain. They just experience faster, simpler payments.

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Banking as a Service Is a Utility

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The foundation of Unblock’s model is Banking as a Service (BaaS). Licensed banks provide compliance and security, while Unblock embeds accounts, cards, and payment functions directly into apps. This ensures regulation is built in, giving fintechs a framework to scale without sacrificing trust.

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Why This Matters

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Unblock shows what sets Banking 3.0 apart. It is not an abstract concept but the infrastructure that makes blockchain useful in daily life. Payroll, payments, and remittances no longer move slowly through fragmented systems, they happen instantly, with lower costs and programmable flexibility.

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Convergence of Wealth³ and Banking 3.0

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Wealth³ and Banking 3.0 move in parallel, but they also complement each other.

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Franklin Templeton brings institutional legacy, regulatory clarity, and scale to tokenized products. Its work with blockchain funds and crypto ETFs shows how asset management can evolve while retaining trust.

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Unblock delivers speed, accessibility, and utility. Payroll, remittances, and card payments prove that programmable money is already part of daily life.

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One brings trust and scale, the other brings speed and utility. Together, they create a whole new system that is scalable and more accessible. They connect the trust of institutions with the utility people need on a day-to-day basis.

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