How do you see cryptocurrencies fitting into the broader trend of global digitalization of assets?

Cryptocurrencies have already demonstrated that they are becoming a significant part of the broader trend of global digitalization of assets.

They are a prime example of how traditional assets, like money and commodities, can be digitized using blockchain technology. This digitalization enables instant, borderless transactions and ownership verification without the need for intermediaries like banks.

Cryptocurrencies also operate on decentralized networks, reducing the need for intermediaries such as banks, payment processors, and clearinghouses. This disintermediation can lead to more efficient and direct peer-to-peer transactions, lowering costs and increasing financial accessibility.

The likes of Bitcoin and Ethereum, among others, have introduced new investment opportunities beyond traditional assets like stocks and bonds, which helps investors diversify their portfolios.

The blockchain technology on which many cryptos run, allows for the tokenization of real-world assets like real estate, art, commodities, and more. This can provide increased liquidity, fractional ownership, and accessibility to a wider range of investors.

In addition, cryptocurrencies enable the creation of smart contracts, self-executing agreements with predefined conditions. These contracts can automate processes like payment settlements, reducing the need for manual intervention and potentially reducing errors and costs.

Thanks to the increasing popularity of crypto, many central banks are exploring the idea of creating their own digital currencies. These CBDCs could coexist with cryptocurrencies and traditional fiat currencies, potentially offering the benefits of cryptocurrencies while maintaining the backing and oversight of central banks.

All this, I believe, is only the beginning.

What role do you believe they will play in the future of finance and investment?

Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are becoming almost universally regarded as part of the future of money.

Why? Because of the staggering pace of the digitalisation of our lives and cryptocurrencies are digital by their very nature.

They’re also borderless and global, making them perfectly suited to the world of commerce, trade, and the movement of people.

Those who demonstrably ‘get’ this: most governments, central banks, regulators, institutional investors, private investors, and financial institutions, including Wall Street giants.

In the realm of fintech, cryptocurrencies are driving many innovations. Can you identify a specific crypto-related technology or development that you find particularly promising or disruptive?

One crypto-related technology that’s particularly promising and disruptive is the concept of Decentralized Finance (DeFi). DeFi refers to a set of financial applications and services built on blockchain networks, primarily Ethereum, that aim to recreate and enhance traditional financial services in a decentralized and permissionless manner.

The concept of DeFi has the potential to democratize financial services, increase financial inclusion, and create new ways for people to interact with and manage their assets. Its disruptive nature challenges traditional financial models and could lead to a more decentralized and accessible global financial system.

Regulation is a hot topic in the crypto space. What are your thoughts on the current regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?

I have been a long-time and high-profile advocate for regulation in the crypto space – and following the major industry issues, including the collapse of FTX last year this has, finally, now become a hot topic.

I believe regulation is now inevitable. It’s coming. And it’s necessary. Cryptocurrencies in some form or another are here to stay – and the market is only set to grow. As such, cryptocurrencies must come into the regulatory tent and be held to the same standards as the rest of the financial system.

‍How do you see cryptocurrencies interacting with traditional financial systems? 

Whether crypto cynics like it or not, it’s inevitable that we will have a multi-faceted system of currencies moving forwards. The mix will include fiat, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and crypto.

‍You maintain a blog where you explore various financial topics. Can you highlight a subject or trend that you've recently covered that you believe is particularly relevant to investors and financial professionals today?

‍Recently, I have highlighted the long-term decline of the US dollar, following the credit downgrade of the US by two global rating agencies.  I believe that we are witnessing in real-time the world beginning to shift away from a dollar-dominated financial system.

Investors should begin to consider hedging against a declining dollar. Diversification across different currencies, investing in non-US assets, using derivatives, and investing in commodities and real estate are all considered effective ways to hedge against potential USD volatility.