The financial world is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the younger generation's preference for digital freedom over traditional banking practices. According to CoinLaw, the number of crypto users surpassed 580 million in 2025, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, over $89 billion in cross-border P2P payments were facilitated through crypto systems, illustrating its evolution from a niche experiment to a global trend.
For this new generation, banking has migrated to their smartphones. Money is increasingly viewed as crypto assets, with app balances representing a part of a broader financial ecosystem. Modern users desire more than just viewing their balances; they want to manage their assets, exchange them, and transfer funds globally in seconds. This demand makes neobanks, which blend user-friendly interfaces with Web3 flexibility, crucial players in the financial landscape.
Coffee for USDT, Salary in Tokens: The Financial Routine of a New Generation
For millennials and Gen Z, financial identity is now deeply intertwined with Web3. CoinLaw reports that Gen Z constitutes 28% of the global crypto community, while millennials make up approximately 40%. The most active age demographic is 25–34 years old, representing 31% of all crypto users in 2025.
These generations seek more than just basic banking services; they desire direct access to crypto and DeFi, enabling them to purchase tokens, transfer USDT to friends, or pay for everyday items using cryptocurrency wallets. Consequently, neobanks that do not offer these features risk losing these users to competitors. Several neobanks, including Revolut, Monzo, and Bunq, are already evolving from fintech banks into prominent "crypto gateways."
Banks must rapidly adapt to this new financial reality, as users are accustomed to buying, storing, and paying with crypto and expect similar capabilities from their traditional banking institutions. However, establishing in-house crypto infrastructure involves significant challenges, including licensing, compliance, secure asset storage, and substantial cybersecurity investments. For most banks, this translates to years of development, millions in investment, and uncertain profitability.
The Smart Way for Banks to Go Crypto — Without Becoming Crypto Companies
The Crypto-as-a-Service (CaaS) model has emerged to address these challenges, enabling banks and fintech companies to integrate crypto services without building their own complex ecosystems. CaaS providers manage the technical, licensing, and regulatory aspects, offering banks ready-made API tools for seamless integration into their mobile applications. Customers can then easily purchase cryptocurrencies like BTC or USDT directly through their banking app without navigating complicated procedures.
Extensive experience with startups has shown that robust infrastructure is vital for product success, while a weak foundation can hinder development. After evaluating CaaS providers for integration, a selection of proven platforms has been identified to assist businesses in entering the crypto ecosystem efficiently and securely.
Kraken provides access to over 370 crypto assets through modular, low-latency APIs. Businesses can enable their clients to trade crypto directly on their platforms, ensuring speed and security. The platform also offers a white-label solution for complete brand customization.
WhiteBIT offers an infrastructure that allows users to deposit, withdraw, buy, and sell crypto for fiat, as well as send and receive assets across different networks. Businesses can store over 300 supported assets, create custom wallets, access the system via a flexible API, and benefit from a white-label solution for full brand customization.
BitGo grants access to over 1300 crypto assets across more than 40 blockchains. Businesses can create wallets, trade crypto for fiat, and provide users with trading and staking options. With modular APIs and on/off-ramps, BitGo also offers a white-label solution for comprehensive brand control.
Gate.io supports over 300 crypto assets and offers multiple payment methods, unlimited transaction capacity, and easy fund distribution to multiple wallet addresses. Businesses receive a one-stop solution for fiat on/off-ramps and a white-label setup to launch branded crypto products.
Coinbase provides secure custody, crypto brokerage, and fiat-crypto on/off-ramps. Businesses can also utilize staking and secured lending services, offering clients a full spectrum of crypto operations under a single, trusted infrastructure.
From a business perspective, CaaS presents several strategic advantages:
- •Fast time to market: integration can be achieved in months rather than years.
- •Expansion of the customer base: particularly among younger demographics interested in crypto.
- •New revenue streams: through transaction fees, conversions, and customized cryptocurrency products.
This approach allows banks to remain competitive, maintain user trust, and keep pace with the digital economy without needing to transform into crypto-native companies.
In Summary
The financial world has entered a new era where crypto is no longer an alternative but the standard. For young people, crypto is as familiar as a smartphone or a digital payment card. As traditional banks deliberate on integrating Web3, they risk losing an entire generation of customers who will opt for institutions that readily offer these services.
Within the next three to five years, leading neobanks are expected to fully integrate CaaS into their offerings, blurring the lines between traditional banking and crypto applications. This shift signifies more than just new assets; it represents a fundamental change in the financial system. In this evolving landscape, survival without crypto integration is increasingly becoming impossible.