Podcast: Digital Asset Custody and the Future of Institutional Finance

This podcast is part of The Assetizer, GenTwo's thought leadership platform.

In this episode of The Assetizer Podcast, I welcome Nisha Surendran, Head of Digital Asset Custody at Citi, for a deep dive into the evolving world of digital asset infrastructure. The discussion explores the real challenges faced by institutions looking to adopt blockchain, the practical realities of tokenizing both liquid and illiquid assets, what it means to make assets truly bankable in a regulated environment, and how AI is beginning to shape the future of custody, compliance, and user experience.

Nisha brings a rare combination of technical knowledge and frontline banking leadership, and her insights into the new digital rails underpinning finance are both candid and timely. From quantum risks to programmable smart contracts and the struggle for interoperability, this episode goes beyond headlines into the granular issues that are defining the next generation of financial services. Particularly relevant for anyone interested in where blockchain meets legacy infrastructure, and how traditional and digital finance are converging.

Throughout the conversation, themes emerge around regulatory complexity, operational 24/7 service requirements, and the reality that technology alone won’t solve deep business and legal questions. Highlights include the barbell-shaped opportunity of tokenization, with high-velocity assets on one end and new possibilities for illiquid private market assets on the other—and a frank assessment of what it takes to bring these into the realm of “bankable” products.

Key Topics Covered

• Regulatory and operational hurdles for institutional blockchain adoption, and why traditional finance moves slowly in the face of new risks.
• Tokenization as a spectrum, from money market funds to private assets, and the importance of building on both liquid and illiquid opportunities.
• Practical steps and requirements for making assets “bankable,” including custody, compliance, and the integration into financial rails.
• The promise and complexity of programmable assets, smart contracts, and increased automation.
• How AI is impacting compliance, user experience, and broadening the digital asset stack—and where blockchain may support improved data ownership and privacy for AI applications.
   

About our Guest
 

Nisha Surendran is Head of Digital Asset Custody at Citi and a computer science engineer by training. She has a long background in banking, including roles helping startups expand globally, and has focused on blockchain and digital assets since 2020.

Tom Lyons
GenTwo