The Corporate Treasury Guide: How to Manage Multiple Cryptocurrencies Efficiently
This article is written by Fortris Treasury management is changing fast. It’s no longer just about bank accounts and fiat. Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins like USDT or USDC, and even more niche cryptocurrencies are becoming part of everyday operations for corporate treasurers. If you already manage a crypto treasury, you know the pressure. Juggling multiple cryptocurrencies isn’t optional anymore. Done well, it can strengthen liquidity, give your balance sheet more resilience, and help your team move quickly in volatile markets. But there are real challenges. Prices swing, security risks are higher, liquidity can be unpredictable, and compliance requirements are constantly evolving. To get the benefits without the pain, you need the right approach and the right tools. Keep all your crypto in one place Supporting multiple cryptocurrencies in one place is the foundation of a modern treasury. It starts with Bitcoin and Ethereum, but treasurers usually need to handle stablecoins like USDT and USDC, plus other assets that partners or clients may prefer. When you can manage everything in a single system, efficiency improves. There’s less manual tracking, fewer mistakes, and more time for actual decision-making. Best practices include: Set up your treasury so security and compliance are automatic Security is always the top priority. For treasuries, that means knowing when to use hot wallets for accessibility and cold wallets for safe storage. Both play a role, but relying on one alone creates unnecessary risk. You’ll also need to decide between custodial and non-custodial (self-custody) setups. Custodial wallets give convenience. Non-custodial wallets give more control but add responsibility. Many corporates land somewhere in the middle, using a mix. Multi-signature (multisig) protections are another key layer. They prevent any one person from moving funds unchecked. And with regulators paying closer attention, you’ll need clear audit trails and reporting baked into your system. Setting up security in this way reduces mistakes and keeps compliance from becoming a daily headache. Use task views and automate routine operations Even the most secure setup won’t help if your operations get bogged down. Tools that provide clear task lists and show pending approvals or anything holding up a transaction make a big difference. Automation also speeds up operations as well as cutting unnecessary costs. Automatic sweeps, consolidation of funds and transaction monitoring reduce manual work, limit errors and help lower operational costs. When you have clear visibility, you avoid delays and missed actions, and this gives the treasury team more time to focus on strategy instead of firefighting. Use dashboards and analytics to guide decisions Numbers matter. Treasurers need dashboards that show inflows, outflows, and KPIs at a glance. Real-time reporting gives you the ability to step in before issues turn into problems. Analytics also help you spot trends. Where’s liquidity tightening? Which assets are overexposed? With the right insights, you make better calls and can explain decisions clearly to the CFO or board. Connect your treasury to the systems you already use A corporate treasury shouldn’t live in isolation. A well-run treasury connects seamlessly to payments, accounting and other financial systems. If your crypto operations don’t integrate smoothly, you’ll end up reconciling by hand and that’s where mistakes can creep in. Think about cross-border payments, fiat-to-crypto exchanges and day-to-day accounting. A system that plugs into what you already use will save endless time and prevent headaches at month end. Balance risk and opportunity across your crypto assets Crypto brings opportunity, but also plenty of risk. Volatility is the obvious one, but it’s not the only concern. You also need to plan for operational continuity, especially in high-risk markets where regulations or infrastructure can shift overnight. Some treasurers use crypto as a liquidity buffer. Others see it as diversification. Either way, risk management means putting guardrails in place so your strategy doesn’t get derailed by a sudden price swing or system failure. Look for a solution that lets you diversify holdings, set exposure limits, track liquidity across multiple cryptocurrencies, and maintain operational continuity with built-in safeguards. With these tools, you can act quickly and confidently, even in volatile markets. Choose a treasury system that covers all your needs Vendor evaluation is about trust as much as technology. Ask how the provider handles compliance, what security certifications they have, and whether their platform is built for enterprise use. When you’re evaluating solutions, focus on features that matter most: Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Masterminds is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
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Building an Actionable Roadmap for Implementing AI in Treasury
From Treasury Masterminds Everyone talks about “AI in treasury” as if it’s a switch you can flip between coffee breaks. It’s not. It’s a journey that starts with structure, not software. Below is a simple, pragmatic roadmap to move from ideas to impact—without wasting six months in PowerPoint purgatory. 1. Define the Problem, Not the Tool Treasuries love tools. But AI is not a tool—it’s a means to solve a problem. Start by defining where you lose time, accuracy, or control today. Common use cases: Each of these can be linked to measurable outcomes (reduce forecast error by 20%, cut manual hours by 30%, etc.). That’s how you define “success” before the first algorithm is even considered. 2. Assess Your Data Reality AI feeds on clean, structured, and accessible data. Treasury data rarely fits that description.Ask yourself: Run a “data audit.” It’s the dullest but most crucial step. You can’t forecast tomorrow’s cash flow with confidence if half your data lives in inboxes. 3. Pick One Use Case and Prototype Fast Don’t aim to “implement AI.” Aim to pilot one AI-powered use case. Start where: Good first projects: Run it as a 6–8 week pilot with clear KPIs. Prove the concept, then expand. 4. Build a Cross-Functional Team AI projects fail when IT “owns it” or Treasury “outsources it.” They work when Finance, Treasury, Data Science, and IT collaborate.Define roles early: This is also where you establish AI ownership inside finance—so you don’t rely forever on external vendors. 5. Implement Governance and Controls AI doesn’t eliminate controls; it creates new ones.Treasury should define: Document decisions as you go. AI in treasury should improve transparency, not mystify it. 6. Educate and Upskill the Team The fastest way to kill innovation is to let people feel excluded from it. 7. Measure, Iterate, and Scale AI is not “done.” It learns—or dies.After the pilot: By this point, you should have an internal framework and the confidence to apply AI thinking to other areas—FX exposure management, investment optimization, or working capital analytics. 8. Communicate Results Most CFOs don’t care about models—they care about outcomes. Quantify: Share results internally. Celebrate small wins. It builds momentum for the next project and helps shift the narrative from “AI experiment” to “strategic advantage.” Final Thoughts An AI roadmap is not about chasing buzzwords—it’s about building digital muscle in treasury. The goal isn’t to have a “smart treasury.” The goal is to have a faster, more informed, less reactive one. Start small, stay practical, and keep humans in charge of the machines. That’s how AI stops being a headline and starts being a habit. Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Verification of Payee – The Reality: Not Everyone is Ready
This article is written by Cobase The EU’s Instant Payments Regulation is reshaping the financial landscape at record speed. By late 2025, every bank and payment service provider in the eurozone must be able to receive instant payments, and by early 2026, they must be able to send them. On paper, this sounds like progress: faster, cheaper, safer payments for all. In practice, the rapid timeline is creating strain across the industry. The downside of forced adoption Not every player in the payments ecosystem is ready for this shift. Many banks still operate on legacy infrastructure, not built for real-time, round-the-clock processing. For them, upgrading systems to handle instant payments, fraud checks, and sanctions screening within seconds is a massive task. Vendors face a similar challenge. Some are rushing to bolt instant-payment functionality onto old platforms, creating patchwork solutions that may not scale or stand up to regulatory scrutiny. Corporates, meanwhile, are caught in the middle. Treasury teams must adapt their workflows, manage liquidity in real time, and—critically—ensure that their master data is accurate. The risk is clear: if corporates and banks aren’t fully prepared, they may be tempted to look for “opt-outs” or backdoors in the regulation to buy more time. But regulators have made it clear: there is no going back. Instant payments and Verification of Payee (VoP) are here to stay. Why verification of Payee is the pressure point The Regulation doesn’t just mandate instant payments—it makes Verification of Payee mandatory. That means before a transfer is processed, the account name must be checked against the IBAN, and mismatches must trigger a warning. This sounds simple, but the operational impact is huge: For banks and corporates, this is where the regulation bites hardest. Without strong VoP tools, the risk of fraud, error, or compliance failure grows. Why verification The regulation is coming fast, and not everyone is ready. But the answer isn’t to delay or to water down compliance. The answer is to adopt solutions that make instant payments both safe and sustainable. For corporates, this isn’t just about checking a regulatory box. It’s about safeguarding payroll, protecting supplier relationships, and keeping treasury operations running smoothly. For banks, it’s about maintaining customer trust in an environment where money moves in seconds. Cobase’s role is to provide the tools to make this transition possible—helping clients stay compliant, avoid backdoors, and operate securely in the new real-time payments world. Conclusion The pressure is real. The Instant Payments Regulation is forcing banks, vendors, and corporates to modernize faster than many expected. But cutting corners isn’t an option. With Verification of Payee built into every step of the payment process—master data, bulk files, single transfers, and address books—Cobase ensures clients stay both compliant and protected. Instant payments are becoming the standard. The real question is: will your systems, data, and processes be ready? With the right solutions, the answer can be yes—without compromise. Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What is the Instant Payments Regulation? The Instant Payments regulation is new EU legislation that makes instant payments mandatory across the euro area. By late 2025, all banks and payment service providers holding euro accounts must be able to send and receive instant transfers 24/7. 2. Why were instant payments not widely available before? Although SEPA Instant Credit Transfers (SCT Inst) were introduced in 2017, participation was optional. Some banks adopted the scheme quickly, but many did not. As a result, instant payments were common in some countries but almost unavailable in others. 3. How does Verification of Payee (VoP) work? Verification of Payee checks whether the name of the beneficiary matches the IBAN before a transfer is processed. If there’s a mismatch, the sender is warned. This helps reduce fraud and prevents costly errors before the payment leaves the account. 4. What risks do corporates face with instant payments? Instant transfers are irreversible. Errors in supplier details, outdated employee data, or fraud attempts can cause money to be lost in seconds. Without accurate master data and fraud-prevention controls, corporates are more exposed to risk than with traditional, slower payments. 5. How should businesses prepare for instant payments? Corporates need to ensure their payment processes, ERP data, and fraud controls are ready for a real-time environment. This means cleaning up master data, implementing strong verification measures, and adopting technology that supports instant and secure payment flows. Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Masterminds is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Why working capital matters more than ever
This article is a contribution from our content partner, Kyriba Economic uncertainty. Supply chain disruptions. Rising inflation. Shifting consumer demands. Today’s financial landscape is anything but predictable. For businesses, these challenges are more than just economic headlines—they’re daily hurdles that require strategic planning and agility. Amid this turbulence, one factor has become a lifeline for businesses trying to stay resilient and seize growth opportunities: working capital. By effectively managing and optimizing working capital, companies can maintain liquidity, operate efficiently, and position themselves for long-term success. This blog will explore what makes working capital so critical in today’s economy, break down its components, and offer actionable strategies to optimize it. Why working capital is a game-changer in today’s economy Working capital is no longer just a financial metric on a balance sheet. It’s a strategic tool that helps businesses adapt to disruption, capitalize on opportunities, and ensure operational stability. Today, liquidity is the new currency of resilience. Here’s why working capital plays a pivotal role: Breaking Down the Components of Working Capital Working capital management revolves around optimizing the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC)—a foundational metric that measures how quickly a company can turn its investments in inventory and resources into cash flow from sales. The three levers of the CCC are: Optimizing these three components is challenging, especially in a globalized landscape with multiple ERPs, business units, and jurisdictions at play. Advanced analytics and digital financial platforms are essential for real-time visibility, scenario planning, and agility. Real-world example: Bray International The scale of the challenge is clear: in our recent CFO survey, more than 70% of finance leaders across key global markets, including the US, UK, Japan, and France, expressed concern about the impact of supply chain issues on their organizations’ financial health and outlook. In France, that figure reached 80%. The message is clear: volatility is not a passing phase, but a defining feature of today’s business landscape. To see how optimizing working capital can drive resilience, take a lesson from Bray International. When tariffs disrupted trade relations in the U.S., Bray could have reacted defensively. Instead, they took proactive measures like diversifying manufacturing locations and leveraging liquidity for strategic investments. By adopting data-driven decision-making and scenario planning, they managed to not only mitigate risks but also turn uncertainty into competitive advantage. Their agility underscores the importance of working capital in dynamic environments. Strategies for Optimizing Working Capital Managing working capital effectively is a strategic imperative. Here are actionable steps your business can take today: Overcoming challenges in working capital management While working capital optimization is essential, businesses face unique challenges that make it difficult to maintain. Here are some common hurdles: Rising inflation Higher costs for raw materials, labor, and logistics directly impact purchasing power. Businesses must adopt efficient procurement processes and limit cost variability. Supply chain disruptions Extended lead times and increased inventory holding costs have made efficient inventory management more critical than ever. Strategies like nearshoring and alternative supplier sourcing can offer relief. Stricter credit terms Suppliers tightening credit terms puts additional financial pressure on businesses. Companies need to negotiate better payment terms and explore financing options to reduce strain. Turning uncertainty onto opportunity Today’s volatile conditions have raised the stakes for working capital management. While the challenges may seem daunting, businesses that view uncertainty as an opportunity for strategic growth can thrive where others retreat. By focusing on receivables, inventory, and payables, and leveraging technology and strategic insights, businesses can free up cash, reduce costs, and position themselves for long-term success. From financial flexibility to strategic advantage Working capital is no longer just a financial metric. It’s a lifeline for businesses navigating modern volatility and an enabler of strategic growth. Companies that treat it as an enterprise-wide priority will emerge stronger, more competitive, and better equipped to seize the opportunities hidden within disruption. Now’s the time to reimagine how your organization manages its cash flow. With proactive strategies and the right tools, you can transform working capital from a routine financial consideration to a strategic lever for success. Read more from Kyriba Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Citi & Coinbase: A Turning Point for Digital Payments in Treasury
From Treasury Masterminds When Citi announced on 28 October 2025 that it would partner with Coinbase to offer “digital-asset payment solutions” to institutional clients, it signalled something bigger than a single bank-exchange collaboration. It marked another step in the gradual convergence between traditional finance and the digital-asset world — and a moment treasury professionals can’t afford to ignore. According to Reuters, the partnership will initially allow Citi’s U.S. institutional clients to move fiat funds through Coinbase’s infrastructure and explore conversion into stablecoins — digital tokens such as USDC or EURC, designed to maintain a stable value and backed by traditional assets. Citi has also hinted that the service could expand globally. For corporate treasurers, this development is less about crypto speculation and more about infrastructure modernisation. It opens the door to faster cross-border payments, new liquidity options, and more efficient settlement processes that might one day rival today’s SWIFT-based networks. Lorena Pérez Sandroni, Treasury Masterminds board member, added: “Citi partnering with Coinbase is a signal. The financial system is shifting, and global banks are positioning for a new payment infrastructure where speed, transparency, and programmability are no longer ‘nice to have’ — they’re expected. This isn’t about betting on crypto; it’s about modernising the rails that money moves on.” The Bigger Trend: From Parallel Systems to Integration For years, banks and digital-asset platforms operated in separate worlds — traditional finance on one side, crypto exchanges on the other. That separation is shrinking fast. We’ve already seen: Now, with Citi and Coinbase teaming up, the message is clear: banks are no longer just observing digital assets; they’re integrating them. This matters for treasury because the core promise of digital-asset rails aligns with what treasurers constantly seek — speed, transparency, cost efficiency, and control. Lorena also noted: “If cross-border transactions can settle in minutes, 24/7, with full traceability, then waiting days through legacy, expensive correspondent networks starts to look outdated — and questionable.” Opportunities for Treasurers 1. Faster Cross-Border Settlement: Moving funds between subsidiaries or paying suppliers overseas can take days through traditional channels. Using stablecoins or blockchain rails could reduce this to minutes — potentially improving liquidity visibility and reducing working-capital buffers. 2. Extended Payment Hours: Unlike conventional banking systems bound by cut-off times, blockchain-based payments operate 24/7. This could reshape treasury’s approach to liquidity windows, especially for businesses operating across time zones. 3. Enhanced Transparency: Blockchain-enabled transactions are traceable and timestamped, offering real-time confirmation. For treasurers, that means fewer reconciliation delays and faster confirmation of fund flows. 4. Lower Transaction Costs: Depending on volume and jurisdiction, bypassing intermediary banks could reduce correspondent fees and FX spreads — though this will depend heavily on regulatory acceptance and liquidity depth in digital markets. Lorena noted: “Corporates are demanding better payment efficiency — faster liquidity, lower settlement costs, and more real-time control. Blockchain-based stablecoin rails can deliver exactly that.” Risks & Governance Considerations However, every opportunity brings its own complexity. Regulation and Compliance: The legal framework around stablecoins and digital-asset payments is still evolving. Treasurers must ensure compliance with AML/KYC standards, sanctions screening, and data-protection requirements when onboarding digital-asset service providers. Audit and Accounting: Under IFRS and GAAP, stablecoins aren’t yet treated as cash or cash equivalents, which complicates balance-sheet classification. Accounting teams will need clear guidance on valuation, reporting, and impairment. Counterparty Risk: Even when working with a reputable exchange like Coinbase, treasury must evaluate the risk profile, custody arrangements, and service-level guarantees. Operational Risk: Integrating digital-asset payments introduces new workflows — key management, wallet security, and reconciliation logic — that differ from traditional bank accounts. Kortam Mohamed, Treasury Masterminds board member, adds “This is a promising step — like Ripple–GTreasury. But mainstream adoption depends on the backend. Banks and fintechs must seamlessly integrate stablecoins and blockchain with fiat systems and invest in training so treasury teams can manage wallets and blockchain workflows securely. Build trust through operational reliability and proactive education.” The Digital-Asset Readiness Framework for Treasury At Treasury Mastermind, we’ve seen growing curiosity among treasurers about how to prepare — not just if they should. Below is a practical self-assessment framework to evaluate your digital-asset readiness in five dimensions: Pillar Key Questions Why It Matters 1. Banking Relationships & Partners Are your core banks exploring digital-asset offerings? Are they regulated for stablecoin custody or blockchain settlement? Future-proofing relationships ensures access to next-generation payment rails without losing oversight. 2. System Integration (ERP / TMS / API) Can your treasury systems connect to digital-asset platforms through APIs? Is your data model flexible enough to handle new asset types? Seamless integration avoids “off-system” processes that create reconciliation risk. 3. Risk & Compliance Framework Does your policy cover digital-asset transactions, KYC, AML, and sanctions screening? Early policy alignment avoids governance gaps once pilot projects begin. 4. Accounting & Reporting Do finance and audit teams understand how to classify stablecoins under IFRS/GAAP? Accounting clarity prevents reporting delays and misstatements. 5. Capability & Knowledge Does your team understand wallet security, private keys, and digital custody? Treasury talent must evolve alongside technology. Training and awareness are essential. Treasuries scoring low on these dimensions don’t need to jump in immediately — but they should start conversations, test internal processes, and engage with banks piloting these capabilities. Lorena noted: “Both corporates and banks must prepare the foundation. This isn’t about moving today — it’s about being ready when the market standard shifts: accounting, risk and compliance, treasury systems, and team capabilities.” A Measured but Inevitable Shift The Citi–Coinbase partnership doesn’t turn every treasurer into a blockchain enthusiast overnight. But it’s another sign that digital-asset infrastructure is moving from the edge to the core of institutional finance. For now, the most pragmatic approach is to observe, learn, and prepare. Map where digital payments could add value, ensure your governance can accommodate them, and engage your banking partners about their roadmaps. Kortam added: “Only a dual focus on technological integration and proactive education will pave the way for broader acceptance of stablecoins as a viable, efficient tool in modern treasury…
Next-Gen SaaS Treasury-Management Platforms: Key Features & Benefits for SMBs (2025 Guide)
This article is a contribution from our partner, TreasuryView Outgrowing spreadsheets for loan management? When your debt portfolio crosses the €10 m-€500 m mark, Excel starts to wobble. Miss one rate reset, mis-type one formula, or lose one key colleague, and the month-end can spiral into days of rework. A modern, cloud-based treasury platform stops that Spreadsheet spiral before it starts. What Makes a “Next-Generation”, Modern Treasury Management System? A true next-gen TMS is cloud-native, self-service, and built for lean finance teams -not just global corporates. But also for teams outgrowing Excell You log in from any browser, upload your current loan file, and start seeing automated schedules and dashboards the same day. No servers, no six-month projects, no binding licence, no high costs. What features do next-generation, modern treasury platforms offer? Today’s treasury tools are finally catching up with what busy SMB finance teams really need: visibility, control and fewer spreadsheets. A next-gen platform isn’t just a digital version of what you had -it should do the work for you, automate daily-weekly-montly processes and ease your understanding of the loan situations in one, easy dashboard. Not numerous bank contracts. Key Features to Expect in Modern Treasury Tools What are the advantages of modern, SaaS-based treasury management platforms vs legacy treasury systems? Unlike old-school on-premise systems, SaaS treasury tools are faster to start, easier to maintain, and built for the kind of agile teams running finance in growth companies. Why SMBs are switching to SaaS platforms? Comparing modern TMS vs Legacy TMS Modern TMS -TreasuryView Treasury Management Software (TMS) Implementation Immediate, cancel anytime Complex, Long-term contract User All level Industry experts Annual Cost Low High Tech Approach Cloud, Self-service IT- project, on-prem installation Interfaces Open-API Open API Managed Services None Expert support Sophistication Basic/Intermediate Advanced Market Data availability Automatically integrated Integration required Automation Personal and enterprise automation Enterprise automation Risk Simulations Built-in Typically third-party 5 Fast Wins SMB Treasurers Cite SMB Treasurers Love SaaS Deployment -Here’s Why Benefit How it Helps You Lower IT burden & faster ROI Vendor hosts, patches and upgrades – capital expense becomes a predictable subscription. Anywhere, any-device cloud access Browser UI lets finance, auditors and advisors log in securely from the office, home or airport. Elastic scalability Add entities, currencies or API calls without new hardware; capacity auto-scales at quarter-end peaks. Bank-grade security & compliance SOC 2 / ISO 27001 controls and EU data residency often exceed in-house defences. Weeks-not-months implementation Pre-built connectors and zero on-prem installs get you live quickly. Affordable for SMBs Subscription based price (250€/Month), cancel anytime and try out for free. Easy to implement in self service No IT involvment or implementation vost What SMB finance leaders should do next? Modern treasury management tools aren’t just for the Fortune 500 anymore. If your team is juggling multiple loans, FX deals or intercompany transactions in spreadsheets, a SaaS platform like TreasuryView can save time, improve clarity, and reduce risk- without needing IT or a six-figure budget. So: Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
The U.S. Government Shutdown: What It Means for Corporate Treasury? With Real-Life Examples
From Treasury Masterminds When Washington grinds to a halt, the consequences ripple far beyond politics. For treasurers, a U.S. government shutdown touches the very systems that keep cash flowing — from federal payments to short-term funding markets. Cash flow jitters and market liquidity Each day the government stays closed, agencies delay payments to suppliers and contractors. The U.S. Treasury has warned that the shutdown is “starting to affect the real economy.” Estimates put the drag in the billions per week as federal activity slows and vendor payments back up. For companies doing business with the public sector, that means slower inflows and tighter liquidity; for others, reduced public spending can weaken downstream demand and pressure working-capital cycles. FedNieuwsNet Treasury yields and investment portfolios Historically, longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields tend to edge lower during shutdowns as investors seek safety (the effect is usually modest). In this episode, the long end has again drifted down — the 30-year recently touched its lowest level since April — while shorter tenors can be choppier around funding dates. For treasurers managing liquidity portfolios, keep an eye on curve shape and the balance between short-term placements and duration. Debevoise Operational and tax disruptions With a large portion of the IRS furloughed, refunds and audit processes are slow, complicating cash-flow timing for corporates expecting repayments or clearances. SEC filing deadlines still apply (EDGAR remains open), but staff review, comment letters, and many interpretive functions are curtailed — a planning issue for capital-markets activity and disclosure timetables. CBIZ+2SEC+2 What companies are saying right now (hard evidence) These disclosures matter because they translate headlines into concrete treasury levers: draw/roll CP, re-cut outlooks, slow capex/program ramps, and tighten operating costs to defend liquidity. Confidence and communication Uncertainty erodes confidence faster than any macro indicator. Internally, treasurers who can explain liquidity buffers, committed lines, and plausible downside cases help leadership stay calm. Externally, maintain active dialogue with banks and investors; show where you have flexibility (working-capital programs, issuance windows, investment policy) if government-related cash receipts slip. The Mastermind view Shutdowns rarely trigger full-blown crises, but they do stress-test fundamentals: Those with solid forecasting, diversified funding, and active bank dialogue will feel the tremors — not the quake. Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Driving Blind: Managing Finances Through the Rear-View Mirror
This article is written by HedgeFlows Picture this: You’re driving down a busy highway, but instead of looking ahead at the road, you’re making all your steering decisions based solely on what you can see in your rear-view mirror. Sounds terrifying, right? Yet this is exactly how most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) manage their business finances. The Great Divide: Compliance vs. Planning In large corporations, there’s typically a clear organisational split that addresses both aspects of financial management: This division makes sense—both functions require different skill sets, mindsets, and priorities. Compliance is about accuracy, adherence to standards, and meeting deadlines. Planning is about analysis, strategic thinking, and managing uncertainty. The SME Reality: Stuck in Compliance Mode For most smaller businesses, the finance function is heavily weighted toward compliance activities. This isn’t necessarily by choice—it’s often driven by necessity: Why compliance dominates: The people hired to handle these functions naturally develop expertise in compliance. They understand the value of accurate bookkeeping, timely tax submissions, and proper audit trails. They know what goes wrong when these fundamentals aren’t managed correctly. The Growth Challenge: When Looking Back Isn’t Enough As businesses scale, however, the need for forward-looking financial management becomes critical. This is where many SMEs hit a wall. The typical evolution: Where the System Breaks Down Even when businesses recognise the need for better financial planning, execution often falls short. Here’s why: Competing priorities plague finance teams: Meanwhile, critical forward-looking activities get consistently deprioritized: It’s human nature—when you’re overwhelmed, you default to what you know and what has immediate consequences. The Hidden Cost of Financial Myopia Operating primarily in “rear-view mirror mode” creates severe, measurable business impacts: Missed opportunities that directly hit the bottom line: Financial risks that create cash flow volatility: Strategic limitations that compound over time: The Modern Solution: Integration and Expertise The good news? Today’s technology and advisory landscape offer practical solutions for SMEs ready to balance their rear-view and forward-looking capabilities. Leverage modern treasury tools: Partner with specialized advisors: Build hybrid capabilities: The Path Forward: Balanced Financial Vision The most successful growing businesses don’t choose between compliance and planning—they excel at both. This requires: Cultural shift: Recognising that planning activities are as critical as compliance tasks Process integration: Making forward-looking analysis a standard part of financial operations Technology adoption: Implementing tools that make planning as straightforward as reporting Skill development: Building teams that can handle both backward and forward-looking responsibilities Taking Action If your business is stuck in rear-view mirror mode, consider these immediate steps: Remember, effective financial management requires both clear vision of where you’ve been and where you’re going. In today’s fast-moving business environment, companies that only look backward will find themselves falling behind competitors who have learned to drive with their eyes on the road ahead. The question isn’t whether you can afford to invest in better financial planning—it’s whether you can afford not to. After all, if you’re always looking backward, who’s driving your business forward? Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Masterminds is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Ripple Acquires GTreasury: What It Means for Corporate Treasury
From Treasury Mastertminds When Ripple announced its $1 billion acquisition of GTreasury, reactions across the treasury community ranged from curiosity to cautious optimism. For some, it marks a watershed moment — the convergence of digital-asset infrastructure and traditional treasury management. For others, it’s a long-term experiment whose practical impact will take years to unfold. Either way, it’s a move that deserves attention. The Big Picture Ripple is known for its blockchain-based payment and liquidity network. GTreasury, by contrast, is one of the most established Treasury Management System (TMS) providers, supporting corporates with forecasting, payments, connectivity, and compliance. By combining forces, Ripple positions itself not just as a payments player, but as a provider of enterprise liquidity infrastructure — bringing blockchain into the mainstream of corporate finance. As Jessica Oku, Treasury Mastermind board member, put it: “This isn’t just about a fintech acquisition but a structural shift in how corporates may manage cash, liquidity, and digital assets.Ripple’s $1Bn buy of GTreasury puts it squarely in the game of thrones — sorry — treasury operations.” From Excitement to Realism When the news first broke, many treasurers — including Patrick Kunz, founder of Treasury Masterminds — reacted with excitement at the possibilities. “When I first heard the news I thought: ‘wow this is cool,’ and started to imagine the end state — a TMS fully integrated into blockchain or stablecoins for almost instant global payments in any currency.” But, as Patrick reflects, the reality check followed quickly: “Thinking about it longer, I realized this end state will take years to achieve — if it even will. And is that really Ripple’s goal? I had more questions than answers.” That mix of curiosity and caution captures how many in the treasury world feel. As Jessica noted, the deal “signals that Ripple is positioning itself not just as a payments enabler, but as a full-stack infrastructure provider for liquidity and capital.” Patrick adds that regardless of how quickly integration happens, the move is already shaking up the TMS market: “It brings a bit of noise and challenges the status quo — which is always good in a competitive environment. It also makes treasurers think about the possibilities of using crypto or blockchain in treasury. Which, in my opinion, is not a matter of if but when.” The Promise: Smarter, Faster Liquidity Ripple and GTreasury’s shared ambition is clear — to enable faster, smarter liquidity management by merging digital-asset rails with deep treasury functionality. Jessica outlines the potential: “Combine GTreasury’s cash forecasting, FX, and compliance logic with Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure, and you get a platform that could move value instantly across fiat, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits.” Tanya Kohen adds that tokenized deposits may be the real breakthrough: “They open the possibility of using on-chain benefits without leaving fiat currency. You can embed logic, automate liquidity, reconcile in real time, and move cash dynamically instead of letting it sit idle.” For treasurers, this could mean a shorter cash cycle, automated movement of funds, and programmable payments — if, and only if, regulatory and operational foundations catch up. The Caution: Real-Time Comes with Real Risks Bojan Belejkovski offers a grounded counterpoint: “Treasurers aren’t losing money because payments take 30 minutes instead of 3 seconds. Their value lies in liquidity forecasting, risk mitigation, and visibility. Real-time only matters if it brings measurable improvements — reduced FX risk, freed working capital, or better yields.” He warns that 24/7 liquidity isn’t free of cost: “It means continuous monitoring, more automation, tighter risk controls, and possible regulatory friction. Many treasurers actually prefer predictable batch cycles that align with reporting and governance windows.” In short, blockchain brings potential efficiencies — but also complexity. Pros and Cons at a Glance Potential Benefits Key Challenges Broader access to liquidity and markets via blockchain rails Integration complexity between legacy TMS/ERP and on-chain systems Faster settlement and real-time visibility Continuous monitoring, audit, and risk-control overhead Ability to earn on idle balances and unlock trapped cash Regulatory uncertainty and compliance requirements Opportunity to explore tokenized deposits and programmable cash Conservative adoption curve — treasurers value reliability Strategic synergy: Ripple’s network meets GTreasury’s enterprise reach Execution risk from merging different technologies and cultures What Comes Next In the short term, adoption will remain slow. Treasurers are pragmatic — they’ll wait for proven use cases, clear regulation, and seamless system integration. As Jessica notes, “Adoption won’t happen overnight. Treasuries are conservative. Integrating blockchain with compliance, risk, audit, and visibility will matter more.” In the medium term (2–5 years), we’ll likely see experimentation — Ripple bringing new liquidity tools to GTreasury clients, and other TMS vendors accelerating their own innovation agendas. Bojan foresees this evolution: “Treasurers will operate within increasingly intelligent, connected ecosystems — powered by AI-driven forecasting, API-linked liquidity, and modular TMS platforms that deliver end-to-end visibility.” And over the long term, as Tanya points out, tokenized deposits could bridge the gap between fiat and digital — giving treasurers programmable liquidity without leaving traditional banking infrastructure. Final Thoughts Ripple’s acquisition of GTreasury is bold — and possibly transformative. It’s not about making payments faster; it’s about redefining the infrastructure of corporate liquidity. It will challenge the status quo, force vendors to rethink their roadmaps, and push treasurers to imagine what digital liquidity could mean for their organizations. The big question isn’t whether treasurers will use blockchain or tokenized cash — it’s when, how, and through whom. And on that, as Patrick Kunz summed up: “Exciting times ahead — but we’re only at the beginning.” Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.