Banks using unseen digital cash could bring down fees on foreign transfers

Blockchain technology used between banks to settle claims could significantly lower the cut taken from customers

Away from the cryptocurrency craze, important changes are taking place in how financial institutions move funds. Unlike the upcoming digital yuan or the keenly awaited Britcoin and FedCoin, a wholesale version of electronic cash might never show up in retail consumers’ wallets. But these invisible blockchain tokens could still turbocharge our everyday money: by making it move faster and stretching its worth.
 
Used purely by institutions to settle claims against one another, the digital assets would nevertheless go on to boost savings for things like families paying overseas college tuition. They will also help small exporters and importers.