DeFi & Sustainable Banking at the Net Zero Summit

Decentralised finance (DeFi) is often framed as a high-octane alternative to traditional banking, yet its most significant contribution to the 2025 financial landscape is arguably its role as a catalyst for sustainability.

 As institutional finance grapples with the implementation gap of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria, DeFi protocols are providing the technical architecture to move beyond vague net zero pledges and toward verifiable, real-world impact.

Traditionally centered on the idea of digitalisation, DeFi aims to become a new, secure method of moving and owning cryptocurrencies. 

Digitalisation poses attractive benefits for businesses and consumers alike. Going from manual systems that are cumbersome and lengthy, digitalisation offers a bright alternative with faster processing times. 

Blockchain technology has recently been taken up by banks in efforts to tap into the benefits of a digital future. 

Offering speedier transactions and a more secure experience, decentralised finance is what Surath Sengupta, Head of Transaction Banking at Lloyds Banking Group refers to as “faster, smarter and more efficient.”

In early 2026 Lloyds successfully completed the first Tokenised Gilt transaction on a public blockchain. 

Surath continued: “Tokenisation allows us to bring real-world assets onto blockchain infrastructure, creating opportunities for businesses to transact with greater speed, transparency and flexibility.”

As decentralisation and digitalisation shift into mainstream focus, it poses the question: 

What can blockchain do for sustainability? 

Finastra’s recent partnership with CargoX for easier document transfers in trade finance demonstrates how blockchain can work in favour of ESG principles. 

Integrating blockchain-secured electronic trade document (eTD) with Finastra’s Innovative Trade Solution means clients can take advantage of sophisticated encryption, fraud reduction capabilities and full audit trails. 

By committing to issuing bills 100% electronically by 2030, member carriers of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) are accelerating the transition to sustainable trade finance in a more efficient and transparent manner.

Net zero initiatives have also started to become a focus for mainstream banks as pressure to digitalise increases. 

Allica Bank funded Athena Group in 2024, as the bank aims toward a net zero economy in line with other British businesses. 

Bankers for Net Zero, an initiative under the Athena Foundation, aims to accelerate the transition to a just and resilient net zero economy by engaging banks, businesses, regulators and policymakers. 

Speaking at Sustainability LIVE

At Sustainability Live: The Net Zero Summit hear Bankers for Net Zero CEO Heather Buchanan speak on corporate sustainability in a fireside conversation titled Financing a Sustainable Future.

For Chief Sustainability Officers in the field of finance, this event is an unmissable opportunity.

Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit 2026 is designed to be a high-value networking environment, extending beyond the main presentations. Thousands of professionals from sustainability, procurement, supply chain and related functions are anticipated to attend the co-located events. 

This provides a significant opportunity for executives to forge new relationships with potential implementation partners, technology providers, advisers and peers who are navigating similar regulatory and investor demands.

Join the event.