23rd November 2022 Digital Bytes
Welcome to this week’s Digital Bytes. This week we have analysis on the following topics:
The potential role of blockchains in capital markets - to facilitate the massive cross-border movement of capital, capital markets have evolved into a worldwide linked web of banks and intermediaries. Regulation, technology-led market disruption and basic business economics are transforming the capital markets. Blockchain could potentially eliminate intermediaries in capital markets, and so improve the efficiency of the market infrastructure.
Blockchain and cryptography - cryptography enables a blockchain to be secure since transactions are time stamped and recorded, typically in a decentralised manner using encrypted data. Blockchain is one of the more innovative technologies combining consensus mechanisms, peer-to-peer transmission, distributed data storage, digital encryption technology and other computing technologies.
Are crypto legal clarifications required to enable regulators to do their job? - arguably, regulators need to have legal definitions and guidance in order to know how and even when they need to oversee the trading and issuance of digital assets. Digital securities are relatively straight forward and will need to broadly follow existing securities law. But as for digital assets such as crypto tokens and NFTs the legislation and thus the regulations are far from clear in many jurisdictions.
The ‘great convergence’: the encroachment of DeFi into CeFi - the institutionalisation of DeFi is progressing despite the depressed crypto markets. But is the implementation of DeFi concepts to CeFi systems with central governance the right approach? Regardless of the answer, applying DeFi-protocols to CeFi can certainly help to innovate it. The institutionalisation of DeFi is not only driven by major international financial institutions and asset managers but also boutique-size firms supported by regulators and industry associations. A case in point is the huge potential in private market assets. Alternative investing platforms that open access to non-traditional assets for retail investors will have a transformative impact on both retail and institutional investing.
City A.M., a daily newspaper and online publication based in London, has announced nominations for its 2022 awards. A number of our previous guest writers have been selected as nominees in recognition of their work and contributions, including The Digital Pound Foundation, GMEX, The Realisation Group, Outlook Ventures, Copper and Swarm. Jonny Fry, founder of Digital Bytes, has also been nominated for the ‘Influencer of the Year’ award – so, fingers crossed!