Cryptocurrency companies, many of which lined the main street in Davos this week, have been cautioned that they must clean up their act before the World Economic Forum‘s old guard accepts them completely.
“The Future of Crypto Looks Regulated”, says Chief Economist at ADP
On the coast of the main conference, blockchain and crypto firms blitzed Davos with parties, briefings, and panels in the hopes of earning credibility and inking deals with companies ranging from Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N) to Salesforce.com Inc (CRM.N).
Speakers from traditional financial firms such as Perella Weinberg Partners and State Street were present at some of the events held beyond the main event’s security cordon.
Inside the gates, though, there was a need for control and concerns about the sector’s hazards, particularly the possibility that it would be exploited illegally by sanctioned Russians.
“I’m sorry to say, but the future of crypto seems controlled to me,” said Nela Richardson, senior vice president and chief economist of ADP, a human resources software supplier. She believes central banks will be called upon to give oversight.
Future Concerns About Crypto
“It’s still early days (for crypto) in terms of an investment class, It needs to be sanctioned and regulated by the central bank and government. It has monetary implications. Value needs to be stable.” Ling Hai, co-president for international markets at Mastercard, told the Reuters Global Markets Forum (GMF).
In Davos, there was a need for emphasis on the roles of regulators, authenticators, and custodians, which began following the recent crypto collapse in which digital assets lost $800 billion in market value and one of the top ten digital coins became worthless.
On the other hand, a number of crypto and financial industry insiders reportedly believe the downturn will benefit the industry since strong technology and coins will survive.
Cryptocurrency enterprises have also sparked increased interest in Davos, particularly from investment-seeking locales.
President Vit Jedlick of Liberland, a micronation claiming disputed land between Serbia and Croatia, attended a Polkadot event in the hopes of forging a deeper cooperation with blockchain technology as reported on some sources.
Also, the Indian delegation to Davos, which comprised six state governments, was housed in pavilions surrounded by blockchain and crypto companies, and spoke with several of them in order to seek investment, notably in education and training.
“It’s still early days for crypto in terms of an investment class,” Ling Hai, co-president for international markets at Mastercard, told the Reuters Global Markets Forum. “It needs to be sanctioned and regulated by the central bank and government. It has monetary implications. Value needs to be stable.”
