AI scales in APAC finance as tokenisation gains pace

Broadridge reports that financial services firms are moving from early generative AI trials to broader deployment, with rising interest in agentic AI for operational use and renewed investment in distributed ledger and blockchain infrastructure.

The findings come from Broadridge's sixth annual Digital Transformation & Next-Gen Technology Study, based on a survey of more than 900 technology and operations leaders across wealth management, capital markets and asset management.

The study suggests the sector is entering a new phase in which AI becomes part of daily workflows, while tokenisation signals a longer-term shift in how markets could operate. It also highlights cybersecurity, cloud and digital identity as priorities alongside AI adoption.

APAC priorities

In the Asia-Pacific region, firms are focusing on spending on core technology needed to scale AI across organisations. Cybersecurity topped the list of intended investment areas, cited by 90% of respondents in the region.

Cloud platforms and applications followed at 72%, with biometrics and digital identity next at 70%. Generative AI and quantum computing were each cited by 69%.

When asked which technologies have the greatest impact on their businesses today and over the next five years, APAC responses broadly matched global peers. Generative AI was cited by 27%, followed by cybersecurity at 26% and cloud platforms and applications at 19%.

The data suggests firms are building technology foundations in parallel, rather than treating AI as a stand-alone initiative. Cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and identity controls sit alongside AI spending as banks, asset managers, and market firms weigh automation against risk, regulatory scrutiny and data-governance requirements.

From pilots to returns

AI programmes are starting to show measurable outcomes, at least for part of the market. In APAC, 28% of firms said they are already seeing financial benefits or returns from generative AI investments.

For agentic AI-systems that can take actions across tasks rather than only generate text and summaries, 25% of APAC firms reported financial benefits or returns. These results are close to global averages.

Expectations of near-term payback remain high. In APAC, 66% of firms expect to see financial benefits or returns within two years from generative AI, and 64% expect the same timeframe for agentic AI. Global averages were 66% and 61%, respectively.

The results point to a shift in management focus from experimentation to operational roll-outs and value measurement. They also suggest a growing split between firms that have embedded AI into core processes and those still working through data readiness and organisational change.

Talent constraint

Skills shortages remain a barrier, even as budgets shift toward AI-led change. In APAC, 39% of firms cited a lack of skilled talent as the biggest barrier to generative AI adoption, compared with 38% globally.

Agentic AI showed a similar pattern. In APAC, 31% of firms cited a lack of skilled talent as the biggest barrier, versus 37% globally.

The results suggest hiring, training, and operating-model changes remain central to AI roll-outs. Firms continue to face competition for data and machine-learning skills, while balancing build-versus-buy decisions and reliance on third parties with internal governance and risk policies.

Tokenisation interest

Beyond AI, the study describes APAC firms as among the most positive globally about tokenisation and distributed ledger technology as drivers of new products and market infrastructure. Tokenisation is positioned as part of the next wave of market evolution, alongside ongoing AI deployment.

Distributed ledger and blockchain projects in financial markets have often focused on improving post-trade processing, asset servicing and the management of ownership records. They also intersect with digital identity and security controls, which ranked among the leading APAC investment areas.

Across the survey, the broader theme is that AI is becoming routine in operations, while tokenisation could bring structural change to market infrastructure. The study suggests firms are preparing for both tracks at once, while strengthening core technology foundations as they scale new tools.

Broadridge said leading firms are moving beyond generative AI experimentation toward scaled execution, "using agentic AI to drive immediate productivity gains while investing in distributed ledger and blockchain infrastructure that could fundamentally reshape financial markets."