Manhattan, New York, 3 December ⏤ LiquidX was delighted to sponsor one of the highlights of the trade finance year: GTR US!
GTR US is the can’t-miss event for the US trade, supply chain, working capital financing, and risk management community. GTR US brought together over 500 industry leaders to discuss the emerging trends and opportunities across the market with numerous highly focused and thought-provoking conversations.
As always, GTR US provided unmatched networking opportunities with leading industry representatives and exhibitors.
For the team, it was a great chance to catch up with peers and forge new business relationships, all while gaining critical insights into US trade, supply chain, and working capital financing.
Alongside the opportunity for the team to network and talk to other trade finance professionals about our solutions, our CRO, Dominic Capolongo, gave a talk on the following topic:
Maturing Technologies, Ecosystem Alliances, and the Future of Trade Banks
This panel was with Geoffrey Brady, Head of Global Trade & Supply Chain Finance, at Bank of America.
This is in the wake of Bank of America going “Digital by Design”, as they work to re-wire global trade finance.
LiquidX CRO, Dominic Capolongo and Geoffrey Brady, Head of Global Trade & Supply Chain Finance, at Bank of America at GTR US 2025.
For years, trade finance has been held back by legacy infrastructure, data fragmentation, and manual processes.
What’s changed in 2024-2025 isn’t just the technology — it’s the convergence of client pressure, regulatory change, and ecosystem readiness that’s forcing banks to fundamentally rethink their approach.
As corporates increasingly question whether legacy trade processes are appropriate for their business in 2025, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), application programming interfaces (APIs) and cloud infrastructure are enabling new ways of releasing cash trapped in open account trades.
Several developments are driving this inflection point:
Client expectations have shifted dramatically
Corporate treasurers are no longer willing to accept manual, opaque, and slow trade processes. Their expectations have been shaped by consumer-grade digital experiences and fintech solutions in payments and cash management.
Regulatory pressure is intensifying
Basel III Endgame regulations will reshape capital requirements for trade finance, compelling banks to examine their business models.
These are more than just technical adjustments, they could alter the economics of trade finance distribution entirely.
Supply chain volatility demands flexibility
Near-shoring, shifting tariffs, and geopolitical uncertainty mean companies need greater visibility and adaptability. Legacy systems designed for predictability can’t deliver the agility modern supply chains require.
Technology has matured
APIs, cloud infrastructure, and AI are now proven tools that can unlock value trapped in fragmented data. The core issue is how to deploy them without creating more disconnected solutions.
Building Digital Trade Networks That Work
The challenge is avoiding the “patchwork problem” where too many disconnected providers create more friction instead of less. What’s needed is structured architecture with clear layers:
- Core infrastructure: Secure data exchange and transaction processing
- Data layer: Standardized information across different formats and systems
- Participant layer: Connects institutions and corporates with proper governance
- Provider layer: Allows fintechs to deliver specialized capabilities without fragmenting infrastructure
This approach is important because it separates functional trade finance software areas that have traditionally been bundled together.
Banks, like BofA, can upgrade user experience without rebuilding everything. Fintechs in this sector, like LiquidX can offer innovative analytics without requiring separate integrations for each client.
Success isn’t measured by transaction volume alone; it’s about reducing friction, increasing visibility, and enabling new collaboration between banks, corporates, and technology providers.
A New Partnership Model: Banks & FinTech SaaS
The relationship between trade banks and fintechs is evolving beyond vendor-client or competitor dynamics. What’s emerging is an ecosystem model where:
- Technology firms provide specialized capabilities that integrate with bank infrastructure
- Banks provide scale, regulatory expertise, and client relationships fintechs can’t replicate
- Both sides recognize they need each other to succeed
Banks need to become comfortable not building every capability in-house. Fintechs must design for interoperability and recognize that banks remain essential intermediaries. The most effective partners solve specific problems exceptionally well while making their solutions work alongside others.
What Corporate Trade Finance Programs Should Do in 2026
For treasurers navigating this transition, three priorities matter most:
- Prioritize visibility: Solutions that consolidate trade data or provide real-time status insights generate immediate value. Data fragmentation is the root cause of most inefficiencies.
- Focus on user experience: This matters especially for mid-market companies without dedicated trade finance teams. Solutions that simplify processes or reduce manual entry have disproportionate impact.
- Engage early, even in small ways: Don’t wait for complete maturity. Pilot programs, limited integrations, or industry consortia participation provide valuable learning without overwhelming teams.
For mid-market companies specifically, digital trade networks can democratize access to sophisticated financing, risk tools, and analytics previously available only to large multinationals. The key is finding partners who understand mid-sized organizations and design accordingly.
Looking Ahead
The convergence of client demand, regulation, technology, and ecosystem readiness has created conditions for real change. Large institutions are building structured digital networks. Bank-fintech partnerships are evolving into genuine ecosystems. Corporates have new opportunities for visibility, efficiency, and financing.
The transformation will take years, not months, but the direction is clear. The institutions that thrive will recognize this isn’t just a technology upgrade — it’s a fundamental reimagining of how trade finance operates in a digital economy.
Like GTR US, One of the great things about the trade finance sector is how many events there are throughout the year. This serves to bring people together, face-to-face, sharing expertise, insights, connecting, and starting new working relationships.
2025 Conferences & Events Highlights
Take a look at some of the highlights from a very busy year for our team:
How Digital Advancements are Reshaping Customer Experience in International Banking, following LiquidX’s attendance at the 2025 Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) Global Annual Meeting (GAM) in May.
LiquidX at ITFA: Innovations in Trade Finance Tech. Miami, Florida, 4 ⏤ 6 June, 2025 ⏤ LiquidX was delighted to attend and be a gold sponsor at the ITFA Americas (AMRC) 28th Conference.
LiquidX at GTR UK 2025: How will AI transform trade finance?, London, England, UK, June 12, 2025.
LiquidX at the 13th Annual USC Global Supply Chain Summit, Marriott Long Beach, Downtown, CA, August 14-15, 2025.
In September, in partnership with Trade Treasury Payments (TTP), we hosted a Rooftop Networking Event in New York City.
Trade Treasury Payments (TTP)’s Carter Hoffman spoke to several industry leaders throughout the night, including our very own Dominic Capolongo.
Take a look at the highlight video from TTP.
LiquidX at Sibos Frankfurt 2025, in Partnership with Broadridge, Messe Frankfurt, Germany, 29 September ⏤ 2 October.
LiquidX at the BAFT Regional Bank Conference 2025. Rosemont, Illinois, 22 – 23 October ⏤ LiquidX was a premier sponsor and was represented by David Berse, Managing Director, Head of FI, North America, at the 8th annual BAFT Regional Bank Conference (RBC).
How LiquidX supports various organizations in the trade finance sector
How Asset Managers Are Using LiquidX to Scale Trade Finance Operations & Profits
Why Global Banks Rely on LiquidX for Trade Finance Software
Regional Banks Rely on LiquidX for Trade Finance Software
Whether you need one module or an end-to-end solution, we have you covered, and we can have you up and running in weeks, not months:
- Trade: Automatically digitizes assets in the front office.
- TradeHub: Manages portfolio risk with ease.
- TradeOps: Make significant back office savings; up to 50% savings compared to in-house back office software.
- InMatch: Can handle reconciliation challenges for asset managers.
- Trade finance software that can take in any invoice format (e.g., XLSX, PDF, etc.), and use that as workable data downstream across the trade lifecycle.
- Includes the advantages of a deep partnership with Broadridge (NYSE: BR), a trusted global fintech leader. Broadridge is LiquidX’s largest committed investor and strategic operational services provider for payment processing, account reconciliation, and global operational scalability.
Banks and asset managers: To request a demo of our trade finance distribution solutions, click here.
Final Chance: Share Your Views & Expertise for our eBook: “State of Trade Finance 2026”
It’s the final chance to share your thoughts, views, and expert opinions on the overall state of trade finance.
Once the survey is complete, and enough responses gathered ⏤ we expect by October ⏤ we will start compiling our exclusive eBook, which we’ll launch in January 2026: “State of Trade Finance 2026: Past Learnings, Forward Thinking.”
Because we are a proud member of the Global Trade Review (GTR), and attended and were a sponsor for this year’s London event (GTR UK), this survey will also go out to 2,000 GTR members.
Take 5 minutes to complete our survey, and we’ll send you the finished eBook before it’s published. Your quotes will be amplified via our PR, social media, and email marketing channels
Join the conversation that’s defining the future of trade finance – your expertise is exactly what the industry needs to navigate unprecedented change.
Banks and asset managers: To request a demo of our trade finance distribution solutions, click here.