James Tylee from CyberFM

Welcome to this week’s Digital Bytes. This week we have analysis on the following topics: Blockchain and crypto adoption in Latin America - some Latin American countries have turned to virtual money as a safer and more profitable option following the fall in government-regulated currencies. Between 2019 and 2021, the use of cryptocurrencies in Latin America rose by 1,370%; at about the same time, El Salvador approved Bitcoin as an official legal tender, becoming the first country to do so. Meanwhile, we are seeing a growing use of blockchain technology in a variety of business sectors. Digital assets in vehicles - in February 2022, Porsche became the first auto manufacturer to successfully test blockchain in its cars, with many other car manufacturers also exploring ways to integrate this game-changing technology into their vehicles. Between themselves, they are all aiming to take advantage of its potential to dramatically change how information or data is stored and used, subsequently enhancing transparency and security and improving transactions. Is decentralisation the next evolution of UK financial regulation? - with the continued growth in both the range and reach of digital assets, how will financial regulation evolve? In this article, the issues and challenges facing those looking to regulate crypto in the UK are summarised with comments on the fact that rather than fight it, regulators need to embrace and learn from crypto and distributed ledger technology. The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) fights to stay relevant for the crypto market - the SEC has been actively pursuing crypto firms whom it believes have broken security regulations and has issued over 80 fines ($2billion) so far. However, the role of crypto regulator may pass to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), not the SEC, and thus give the US crypto-regulatory clarity whilst encouraging innovation for digital assets. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week’s Digital Bytes. This week we have analysis on the following topics: Is the UK more receptive to digital assets than you think? - the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has come under pressure to speed up the time it takes to admit new organisations to its crypto register and has also provided greater regulatory clarity around digital assets. Meanwhile, the UK government, Treasury and HMRC have all been vocal in their support for digital assets, as can be seen with the UK looking to issue its first blockchain-based debt instrument. How blockchain is impacting the electric vehicle market - climate change has been one of the biggest concerns of humankind, our actions very much having fast-tracked these changes over the last century. One such activity is by the transportation of ourselves as humans. This mere activity has caused severe connotations for the environment and climate at large. Electric vehicles have emerged to solve this problem, but the adoption of electric vehicles creates another problem of its own. This article will be looking at the many ways blockchain technology can solve this problem. How the metaverse will change the world - many companies are engaging with the metaverse, already partnering amongst themselves, pouring capital and raising funds. In 2021, $10 billion was raised by metaverse-related companies, surpassing as much as twice what they raised in the previous year. The global value creation opportunity from the metaverse is predicted to be $1trillion by 2030, and potentially will change our world. Crypto’s flight to transparency- the decision to freeze withdrawals by Celsius and Three Arrows Capital only weeks after Terra’s algorithmic stablecoin collapsed has dealt yet another blow to investor confidence in crypto. The regulatory and, ironically, transparency puzzle pieces are still missing from the crypto jigsaw.Recent events have been attributed to failings of decentralised finance (DeFi), however, contrary to popular belief, DeFi actually did its job. Investors are now hyper-aware of how their assets are being treated or rehypothecated and are demanding more transparency. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week’s Digital Bytes which as articles on the following topics: Blockchain and mutual funds: the choice is about to explode - increasingly, investors have access to blockchain technology either by investing in firms which are actively engaged with the technology or by purchasing digitised mutual funds. The use of blockchain technology that powers much of the crypto industry is potentially set to challenge and have a far greater impact on the asset management industry than cryptos ever will. Therefore, your savings and pensions will also be impacted, although many mutual fund holders will not even realise it. Blockchain in the medical industry - the principle on which blockchain technology functions is very straightforward and constantly evolving, increasing the network of blocks that adapt to industries’ needs and specific characteristics. Alongside being a catalyst for utmost accountability, its accurate, secure, and tamper-resistant nature makes it seemingly impossible to mimic, falsify or manipulate data. Blockchain has unlimited benefits in the medical industry, bringing improvements to different healthcare actors. Blockchain technology: its impact on the legal profession - the introduction and use of any technology in the legal sector is at risk of being a slow process since lawyers are inherently cautious and reluctant to change - they know only too well the potential legal and financial implications involved. Blockchain technology is creating considerable legal work for lawyers from those organisations involved with NFTs, the metaverse, digitisation of equities, debt instruments, mutual funds, real estate etc. Furthermore, the technology is being used in the form of holding, sharing and storing data as well as smart contracts, all offering the proposition of automating but certainly not replacing lawyers. Cryptocurrency volatility provides an incentive for robust regulatory framework - different jurisdictions have taken a variety of approaches when it comes to regulating cryptocurrencies. Despite the recent falls in cryptocurrency markets, there is still institutions' interest in this asset class. However, in order to achieve largescale crypto adoption by institutions, clarity around how cryptos are regulated is required. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week’s Digital Bytes which as articles on the following topics: Blockchain and copyright: is the recent brouhaha over Boarded Apes just monkey business? - Andy Rosen has had a highly successful career as a professional photographer in London and Hollywood. He has been a builder of a blockchain-based app who has also analysed and traded cryptos for over six years. This article gives his thoughts on how he believes blockchain technology can help in relation to copyright protection and what is happening with one of the most valuable collections of NFTs - Bored Apes. Challenges in bridging the institutional divide between TradFi and DeFi -Traditional Finance (TradFi) needs to evolve and adapt to embrace Decentralised Finance (DeFi). Two key challenges exist: firstly, to ensure that the regulation of DeFi has the same, if not better, standards than TradFi whilst being able to harmonise different jurisdictions' regulatory approaches and secondly, blockchain technology makes data potentially more transparent and available but it is fundamental to understand what gaps there are in the data. How blockchain technology and the metaverse are helping the mental health sector - facemasks and hand sanitisers are not the only things popularised by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health became a topic most could relate to during this time as many people’s mental well-being was affected in one way or the other. Both blockchain technology and the metaverse are proving to be able to offer some solutions to growing mental health sector issues. Caution is needed, however, as potential over-use of the virtual lands within the metaverse could exacerbate mental health challenges in the same way in which social media platforms have done so already. Tokenisation as a solution – A summary of a recent webinar by Chris Luck, a partner at CMS law, that considered the benefits and examples of how digital assets are evolving and technology is being applied in the sector. The webinar addressed some important questions, is the recent crypto news volatility a game-changer? Will tokenisation of assets and digital technology continue to grow if so how, and is technology and regulation in a better shape? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's Digital Bytes which analysis on the following topics: Job opportunities for people who wish to work in the blockchain industry - growth in the blockchain industry has been at its the highest over the last couple of years, with blockchain technology bringing new life to other industries as it solves their problems. For those already in the industry this is great news but for those who are not and wish to join, they still have to figure out what jobs and roles are available for them in this industry. Blockchain's impact on the FX market - the FX market is huge, with over $6trillion worth of trades a day being executed. The systems and procedures to communicate and settle trades globally have remained the same since the 1970s but are now on a change of path. Blockchain technology is at the heart of many of these changes and as we see a growing use of digital currencies, such as stablecoins and CBDCs, could we see regulators actively encourage FX firms to embrace blockchain technology? DeFi: from niche to mainstream - DeFi has risen from simply servicing holders of cryptos, since it has now begun catering for other asset classes as it potentially goes mainstream. DeFi offers the possibility to reduce cost, automate compliance, increase efficiency, improve transparency and make financial markets more inclusive, and thus turbo-charge open banking initiatives by bringing in greater competition and choice for investors. Slaying the myth of Bitcoin scarcity - the amount and variety of Bitcoin IOUs and the opaqueness of the collateral used in the mushrooming 24/7 trading venues has resulted in an extremely fragile crypto market. The reality is that Defi and traditional derivative wrappers have slayed Bitcoin scarcity. This messy meltdown and reputational hit are an opportunity for an innovative solution (which is outlined in the end of this article). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's Digital Bytes which has an analysis on the following topics: Collapse of crypto price, reality or a buying opportunity - whether or not to ‘buy the dip’ cannot be answered in one word. There are many factors one needs to consider; potentially spreading the buying of volatile assets such as cryptocurrencies over a period of time to smooth out the price you pay can prove to be a lower-risk way to gain exposure. Cryptocurrencies remain a very risky volatile asset class and knowing when to buy and sell is often a matter of luck, not judgement, as sentiment often tends to be the biggest driver of prices. Can Gresham’s Law help predict which crypto to buy? - there is a rather obscure economic law called “Gresham’s Law” and how it applies to blockchain networks. Simply put, Gresham’s Law states that “bad money drives out good”. Whilst this was previously used to explain the way in which those coins with high commodity value (value of the metal) would be taken out of circulation, a modified version of this law can be applied to explain how high value utility tokens will become increasingly scarce over time and how, conversely, lower value tokens will predominate as a medium of exchange. Is pay to play really an effective business model? - the play-to-earn business model, a recent innovation in the gaming industry, gives gamers ownership over in-game assets and allows them to increase their value by actively playing the game. It avails users the opportunity to not only add value but also reap benefits. Do not choose between gold and Bitcoin: own both - you don’t need much Bitcoin to make money when things are going well, but you do need quite a lot of gold. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that gold and Bitcoin will both be overvalued at the same time since they are naturally counter-cyclical. There is no need to choose between gold and Bitcoin, but to combine them for their strengths and weaknesses. This combination, on a risk-weighted basis, is a powerful idea and is the liquid alternative offering exposure to gold and Bitcoin. We are intending to move our weekly mailings to Substack over the next couple of weeks and will be loading our articles on Substack. All current subscribers will be moved to Substack. This link shows how it will appear in Substack - https://digitalbytes.substack.com/p/29th-june-2022-digital-bytes-7a6?sd=pf --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's Digital Bytes which as articles on the following topics: Buy Now Pay Later embraces crypto and blockchain - there has been considerable growth both in interest and also in the number of users for BNPL and many of the platforms that offer this facility are using cryptos and the blockchain technology as a way to reduce costs and bring greater transparency to customers. Time will tell if BNPL firms can survive as many are currently not profitable, and the potential regulation of the crypto market could prove to be an added challenge for those BNPL firms using these digital assets. Fine wines on a blockchain: why bother? - Blockchain technology can be used in the wine industry, both to help with provenance and also improve trust for buyers and sellers about fine wines. NFTs are now being used by vintners, whereby making it easier to invest in wine for smaller sums and reach a global audience. Given uncertain times in traditional markets and for cryptos, could investing fine wine prove to be a shrewd ‘liquid’ alternative which, if nothing, else can be drunk or gifted? Crypto bear markets are not a bubble: they are down, but not out -Despite the recent dramatic fall in cryptocurrencies, they have proved able to keep trading 24/7. Lessons need to be learnt, though, as to how organisations need to communicate with the owners of crypto, and investors clearly need to exercise caution. However, the technology that powers cryptos can and indeed is now being used to create digital assets of real tangible assets, which could well prove to radically alter traditional markets. Turbulent, but exciting times are ahead for all! Current trends on cryptocurrencies in the English courts - Rishi Sunak, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated his ambition "to make the UK a global hub for cryptoasset technology". If we are to meet that ambition, businesses and individuals (as well as policy makers and government officials) will need to understand the rapidly developing environment for cryptoassets and the risks and opportunities they present. A variety of regulatory developments, including the 4th April 2022 Treasury response to consultation on cryptoassets, have occurred over the past couple of years in the world of cryptoassets and the wider universe of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. As the law on cryptoassets develops, it will be essential to understand the legal framework within which more new forms of rights and liabilities will be considered. However, a vast amount of legal landscape covering the proprietary nature of cryptocurrencies and the enforcement of on-chain property rights and remedies remains uncharted. We are intending to move our weekly mailings to Substack over the next couple of weeks and will be loading our articles on Substack. All current subscribers will be moved to Substack. This link shows how it will appear in Substack - https://digitalbytes.substack.com/p/22nd-june-2022-digital-bytes. If you would no longer wish to receive Digital Bytes please email me, thank you. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's Digital Bytes where we have analysis on the following topics: The role of metaverse as an educational tool - when it comes to education, learning and training, there is always a need for innovation. Schools and education centres do more than simply teach; they actively shape and prepare young people for the future - something which goes beyond the workplace, lecture theatres, classrooms and colleges. The metaverse has many established uses in the digital age but when it comes to education there are speculations as to how the metaverse can significantly improve the sector. PayPal: super-app or Trojan horse? - PayPal is now allowing its 300million clients to trade crypto. This is presumably being driven by client demand since in a survey in conjunction with Deloitte, 75% of merchants are looking to accept crypto as a form of payment. Are we seeing the rise of a super-app from PayPal, or a Trojan horse, as it creates the infrastructure for others to move between digital assets and traditional fiat currencies? Lessons to be learnt from Terra's collapse - the downfall of Terra Luna has shocked the cryptocurrency community. Caused by different moving parts eventually hitting equilibrium, the failure could have been avoided. The collapse was dramatic and its effects were felt in the Terra Luna ecosystem and the wider crypto market due to its affiliation with Bitcoin (as a reserve). Mr Do Kwon, the brain behind the project, had developed a brilliant idea, so perhaps there are things we can learn from the collapse of his project. Terra’s birth and death are fraught with lessons for the crypto industry and a cautionary tale for algorithmic stablecoins. Trading tokenised funds: efficiencies and challenges - Franklin Templeton recently launched the first mutual fund that is solely traded on the blockchain. Although it is a pilot, it provides a powerful proof of concept for an asset class that is both very popular for retail investors and massive in terms of assets under management. In this note, we discuss the potential challenges and efficiencies from using blockchain technology to process transactions and record share ownership in tokenised funds. Thank you for all the positive feedback and do keep your suggestions as to other topics for us to cover in future editions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to Digital Bytes for 1st June 2022 where we have analysis on the following topics: Insurance and digital asset mining - the digital world is fast-moving, especially if compared to the more traditional financial landscape which can appear glacially slow in keeping up with the latest and greatest cutting-edge technology. Crypto-mining is attracting global multinationals such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips yet, to date, there has been a lack of appetite for underwriters to offer insurance on such business activities. However, as awareness and adoption of digital assets and miners grow, we are beginning to see more interest in engaging in these fast-growing sectors from the insurance industry. ESG: blockchain technology’s impact - the importance of ESG in determining the value of a company is increasingly becoming evident. Recently, the value of global ESG assets is estimated to exceed $53 trillion by 2025. ESG-rating firms provide corporate social credit scores that rank companies’ negative effects on the world - for instance, pollution, corruption and modern slavery. How NFTs can help charities - blockchain innovations are becoming a scale wherein ideas and systems are being weighed. The charity industry has not been excluded in this either as it begins to instil NFTs as a means to raise money. For this to work in, what is, an altruistic industry, we must assess where it has succeeded before, the challenges it has faced, and both its advantages and disadvantages. NFTs offer the promise of a set of new digital tools with which to help the charity sector offer greater transparency and appeal to many more ‘digital-savvy’ donors. How, where and why are blockchain technology and digital assets being used in Africa - despite bans in some African countries, there is considerable interest in digital assets and the use of blockchain technology. Several reasons have contributed to this, mostly infrastructure problems. Whilst some governments are antagonistic, many African governments have begun embracing blockchain solutions. We have seen a huge increase in the number of digital wallets in 2022 so far, but why are digital assets being used in Africa? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's Digital Bytes which has analysis on the following topics: Blockchain’s impact on the agriculture sector - the use of blockchain technology in the agriculture sector is giving access to more information, new forms of finance, the ability to enjoy cheaper insurance, and reaches out to the unbanked farmers - all being just a few of the advantages it provides. There are without doubt challenges, but we are already seeing widespread adoption of blockchain technology (together with the use of digital assets) in the agriculture sector around the world. But to have greater adoption we will need to see more education in order to bring about change. The drive will come from consumer demand for greater information about sustainability and the provenance of what is being eaten. NFTs, an alternative way to raise capital – There has been a huge increase in awareness and demand for NFTs. These digital representations of a wide variety of IP are being used by international brands as well as individuals to raise capital but also as a way to strengthen communities, build customer loyalty and fan bases on a global basis. NFTs do face challenges and legal advice ought to be taken in order to avoid regulatory and copyright infringements. However, as we see the growing adoption of the metaverse we are likely to see NFTs increasingly being used as an alternative tool to raise capital. How to identify a winning cryptocurrency - perhaps the most important step to take before choosing a crypto to invest in its research. It is imperative to gather information about a coin before putting money into it; you should know that trading or investing in cryptocurrency is a two-sided coin - it can make you poor as much as it can make you rich. If banks are from Mars, then cryptocurrency and blockchain are from Venus - this has largely been the status quo for over a decade since the birth of the Bitcoin network in 2008. However, could the planets be now aligning themselves as a convergence between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi) becomes a reality? If you would like further details about having a licence to use the content published in Digital Bytes, submitting a guest article and having your own podcast made by being interviewed on Cyber.FM on the Digital Bytes show please contact us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's edition of Digital Bytes. In this edition of Digital Bytes we have analysis on the following topics: NFTs and SSI: unlocking a new gaming experience - non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and self-sovereign identity (SSI) combined unlock a whole new gaming experience. In summary, NFTs are a fantastic way to capture uniqueness and scarcity, whereas SSI is perfect for storing and updating characteristics, especially when those characteristics are specific to the player. Here’s how. Is blockchain technology changing the travel industry? - globally, the travel industry is the largest employer of any industry and, like many industries, has been embracing blockchain technology - driving greater efficiencies for the industry. Blockchains are currently being used to build decentralised platforms which help solve some of the challenges for the holiday sector and also provide an alternative to traditional online travel agencies. The impact blockchain technology has in the retail sector - reduced costs, increased transparency, improved security and faster transactions are some of the benefits that come with the inculcation of blockchain with the retail industry. Whilst some players in the industry are already toying with the technology, a few startups are looking at an outright change to what retail means - devoid of the problems facing the wider market. What impact will blockchain technology have on the retail industry in the coming years? Distributed networks and the growth of the stakeholder economy - existing models of decentralisation are mere waypoints in the evolution of more advanced blockchain architectures. Potentially, the endpoint of this evolution is distributed networks where the traditional structure of blockchain networks (with miners and validators performing consensus for end users) is collapsed into a more meritocratic network, with each user playing an active role in validating the network state. Once again thank you for your comments and feedback and do keep sending us suggestions of topics for us to cover in future articles. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's edition of Digital Bytes which has analysis on the following topics: Russia using cryptocurrencies to avoid sanctions: myth or reality? - the economic sanctions imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine are naturally causing harm to the Russian economy. Their intended target though is to hit those Russian elites who support wars where it hurts most. The sanctions strategy aims to prevent these individuals from using or moving their wealth around by freezing the assets they hold overseas and by blocking financial transactions. However, the continued operation of cryptocurrency exchanges in Russia is worrisome to US officials. Can the use of cryptos actually help Russians to avoid financial sanctions? How can blockchain help small to medium-sized businesses? - in many countries, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of their economies. Their role cannot be overlooked since they are crucial to the world's economic and social development; worthy of note is that more than half the world's population is employed in such businesses and companies. At times, SMEs struggle to compete effectively with larger companies since they invariably have more sophisticated systems and access to data. However, as governments and larger companies use blockchain-powered platforms, SMEs are likely to follow suit and use Blockchain technology themselves. Metaverse coins - as the metaverse evolves by the day, so are investments in this new industry. However, new entrants and enthusiasts worry as to why main cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, are nowhere in sight on the metaverse. Nonetheless, an assortment of tokens is in fact being used in various metaverses and, indeed, we are already seeing well-known global brands engaging as awareness and the number of users in these virtual worlds expands. Fraud and security in DeFi: how do investors manage these risks? - sadly, fraud and security risk are traits found in traditional markets despite ever-increasing rules and regulations from governments, regulators and financial intermediaries. Unfortunately, decentralised finance is not immune to this either. In the absence of mainstream regulation and intermediary operating procedures, the emphasis falls on the market participants to accept a degree of risk premium whilst educating themselves in maximising due diligence before transacting. So, where are we now with navigating risk in the DeFi markets? As you may be aware we do offer organisations the opportunity to have a license to use the content that we publish and license holders are able to submit guest articles which we then use as the basis of an interview on the Digital Bytes show and thus create a podcast for them. If you would like more information please contact us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's Digital Bytes which is a little later as I was in Amsterdam yesterday and have just arrived back in London. I was presenting at the 2Tokens conference and workshop which was looking at a variety of case studies of how real assets are being offered in digital wrappers and the challenges of regulation and education required for tokenised assets to be further adopted. In this week's edition we have articles on the following topics: NFTs to be treated as legal property - a recent ruling in the High Court of England and Wales states that NFTs are to be treated as ‘property’. So, is this further evidence of NFTs emerging from the shadows and into the mainstream, whereby helping fuel further adoption given that greater legal clarity for this asset class ought to be beneficial for institutions looking to sell or buy NFTs? NFTs: a passing fad or here to stay? - there has been a huge increase in the number of NFTs and the variety of ways in which they are being used. Arguably, we have already passed the point of NFTs simply being a fad since they are seemingly set to enter mainstream adoption thereby offering a way for holding and transferring digital assets and data. Interest in NFTs has potentially been driven by speculation and FOMO, but increasingly we are seeing NFTs being used to solve challenges in business, such as supply chains, or personally for digital identities. Web 3 and tokenisation of everything - as we witness increasing interest in Web 3 and the development of Blockchain technology, there seems to be no limit to what can be tokenised i.e., digitally wrapped and distributed on a global basis. Tokenisation is already impacting our personal lives as well as our working ones and, as we see the growing adoption of the metaverse, we will see the digitisation of both physically tangible, as well as intangible, assets. Will we skip open finance and go straight to DeFi? - open finance brings together data across all those financial services that a consumer might interact with (from mortgages to pensions, insurance to banking) to build a more complete picture of that person's financial footprint. The campaign for its open finance implementation is playing out in EU data policy and industry-led initiatives. Could the innovation of DeFi mean we skip the campaign for open finance altogether and jump straight to DeFi? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Mint your own favorite collectible James Tylee and Jonny Fry NFTs in our Andromeda Series debut now! (You know you love us!) #Digitalbytes as Cryptos prices slump more organisations from the Pope to Premier league to Instagram are jumping on the NFT band wagon.  "NFTs: a passing fad or here to stay?" - there has been a huge increase in the number of NFTs and the variety of ways in which they are being used. Arguably, we have already passed the point of NFTs simply being a fad since they are seemingly set to enter mainstream adoption thereby offering a way for holding and transferring digital assets and data.  Interest in NFTs has potentially been driven by speculation and FOMO, but increasingly we are seeing NFTs being used to solve challenges in business, such as supply chains, or personally for digital identities.  What do you think? The Cyber.FM NFT Andromeda Series goes live! The Main Page is here: https://www.nft.cyberfmradio.com/  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's edition of Digital Bytes which includes an analysis  on the following topics: The role blockchain technology is playing with BNPL - buy now pay later (BNPL) platforms have been a lifesaver for traditional shoppers as an alternative way to spread the cost of buying goods without having to reply on borrowing money via their credit card. There are a number of companies that are active in the BNPL space as they target an industry projected to reach US$ 90.51billion in 2029. What role will blockchain and digital assets play in this fast-growing economy? SSI for regulatory compliant DeFi/CeDeFi and SSI as continuums -  Rather than distinct, standalone ecosystems, centralised finance (CeFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi) exist on a spectrum, and they are becoming a continuum of one another. Centralised decentralised finance (CeDeFi), for example, was first coined as a term by Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, CEO of Binance, to describe this coalescence. Such developments inevitably require identity solutions that can respect both pseudonymity of DeFi and regulatory compliance to meet the CeFi requirements. Learn more about the role of self-sovereign identity solutions. The use of blockchain in the medical industry - blockchain's ubiquity is becoming more evident with time. When the topic of blockchain is mentioned, people previously had thought of cryptocurrencies. However, blockchain has proven itself to not only be limited to supporting digital currencies. It is now being deployed in multiple sectors including the medical industry. The transparency, and therefore added degree of trust, that the use of Blockchain technology engenders is a useful tool to tackle the fraud which is so prevalent in the medical sector. NFTs as a better conduit of value than REITs - AML regulatory requirements are continuing to safeguard the crypto space whilst NFTs - being one of the booming industries - provide a unique opportunity for creators, as well as increasing investors’ flexibility and affordability. They are significantly better as conduits of value than REITs. However, regulatory measures remain to be seen as to how they will be put in place in order to protect both creators and investors. Once again thank you for your feedback and please keep sending us your suggestions of topics to cover in future editions. If you would like more information about having a license and ways you can use the content we publish and write a guest article please just email me. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's edition of Digital Bytes where we have analysis on the following topics: Non-fungible tokens (NFTS): an overnight fortune - the popularity of NFTs has skyrocketed over the last few years and evolved into one of the best-known use cases for Blockchain technology. Not only do NFTs have immediate values but they also have future potential, and this has attracted many individuals and global brands to buy and sell NFTs. Doxxing, crypto projects, anonymity and the digital assets world - identity is not a trivial thing. When used, or misused, it can make or mar people especially when they are members of the same community. The identity which one person can be exploited from is the same that others can be exploited from - under the coffers of anonymity. Crypto projects that do not reveal their founders or investors are fraught with challenges if you are one not to be taken advantage of. Blockchains in the energy industry - blockchain is set to reshape the renewable energy industry, from certifying the source of green energy (by allocating generation assets to a specific point of consumption) to making the energy grid more accessible through data-sharing in real-time and by enabling a transaction between two parties. By allowing tracked, verifiable and secure transactions between parties - consequently bypassing the middleman who has long been relied on to transfer goods and information between buyers and sellers - blockchain empowers people to produce and sell power, resulting in a decentralised and distributed energy sharing system. A new wealth frontier emerges - space industry-related assets as NFTs – Various ‘out of the world’ investment opportunities that are becoming available investing in space assets. Alternative assets are gaining more attraction as traditional equity and bond portfolios look vulnerable to higher inflation and rising interest rates. Space assets offer a range of interesting and potentially non-correlated opportunities and a number are being made available via NFTs. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to the latest edition of Digital Bytes where we have a couple of articles requested by our readers so please do keep your suggestions coming in. This week we have an analysis on the following topics: How soon before the US$’s reign as the world reserve currency is over? - the US$ has been the world’s reserve currency for over 100 years, but how long will it be before we seen a new unit of exchange replacing it? Arguably, payment platforms have upgraded their infrastructure so they are able to process transactions using digital currencies - so will the US$ be replaced by some form of digital currency backed by China or a basket of global assets? How Blockchain technology can help create decentralised alternative social media platforms - social media platforms are not spared from the potentially transformative effect of Blockchain technology, but arguably certain social media challenges need to be addressed. So, what problems have social media platforms been giving their users? Is there any way Blockchain technology can alleviate these problems? What challenges do decentralised social media platforms face going forward? The importance of self-sovereignty for an open metaverse - a self-sovereign identity (SSI) and/or reputation has long been the objective of Web 3.0 and is one of the most important characteristics which needs addressing in order to create an open metaverse. Now that we are in the dawn of the metaverse, access to SSI is likely to be a defining characteristic of an open metaverse. If we have greater adoption of SSI, it will be a paradigm shift from today’s identity and data system - empowering users, and creators, to take their lives into their own hands. The missing link between Web3 and real estate - Even though real estate tokenisation becomes an inevitable trend; the current market shows that it is still in its infancy. By leveraging blockchain tools, including smart contacts and tokens to empower real estate, startups begin to unleash the huge potential of this $326trillion market. We are already seeing the real estate sector innovating and embracing virtual property in the metaverse. Will this stimulate the next real estate boom in the Crypto Age? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome to this week's Digital Bytes where we have analysis on the following topics: Metaverse: a peep into the virtual world - there is no denying that the internet is evolving at an ever-increasing rate, so leading to the development of advanced internet technology and now resulting in the introduction of metaverse. The metaverse is a representation of an immersive 3D virtual world where users can interact with different spaces. Just like the real world, the metaverse allows users to move around different metaverse spaces as their digital avatars. Some of the brightest tech minds and multinational corporations are already trying to figure out how to use the metaverse, so this technology looks here to stay. But how will it impact your business and life? Cryptos: or should we rename them Digital Assets as cryptos are just one subset - The word ‘cryptocurrency’ covers a wide range of assets that perform in a variety of ways. The best-known crypto is surely Bitcoin but, in time, we are likely to see many, if not all, traditional assets being offered as digital assets i.e., security tokens. These digital assets are set to radically change the way we buy and sell many of the assets we currently trade - physically or electronically. CBDC and stablecoins: is the wait finally over? - over the last few weeks we have seen announcements from Australia, Japan and the UK regarding CBDC/stablecoin initiatives as well as a report from PwC detailing various launches and updates in other jurisdictions. Whilst concerns remain around privacy and the fact that regulations will need to be updated to accommodate these digital currencies, it appears that momentum is gathering as institutions and governments understand the potential benefits offered by CBDCs and stablecoins. Solving the ORACLE p­roblem via crypto anchors - the use of Blockchain technology to create crypto anchors means that consumers can have greater assurance as to how the electricity they use is being generated. This is facilitated by putting a digital wrapper around electrons whereby creating a new asset class for investors. Potentially these tokens of electricity can help fund the huge capital requirement the electricity industry faces in order to upgrade the world’s ageing electricity grids which are, themselves, under ever greater pressure as we decarbonise society and rely less on petrochemicals and more on electricity to power our vehicles, homes and workplaces. Please keep sending in suggestions for other topics for us to review and remember that if you are interested in submitting a thought-provoking/educational article (not an advert) please let us know. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

DeFi, and how it is challenging financial markets - DeFi is financial applications on an open, programmable blockchain for activities such as saving, lending, sending money, trading, investing and more. Rather than relying on third parties, DeFi encourages open-source cooperation whilst maintaining security. DeFi is able to learn from and use many of the traditional financial tools. However, compliance staff are inherently nervous of change and the potential unknown risks associated with innovation, so adoption of DeFi by regulated institutions will be slow to gather momentum. Some different ways in which to invest in cryptos - the investment choice available has expanded considerably given the explosion of cryptocurrencies: NFTs, DeFi tokens, utility tokens, security tokens, stablecoins etc. The technology that powers cryptos is revolutionising the finance sector, so are there any changes that it brings to investment? Is there anything to keep in mind when looking to invest in cryptos? How NFTs can be used in loyalty programs - with global brands engaging with NFTs, the potential is that these digital assets are going to change the relationship between organisations and their consumers, enabling firms to create new innovative loyalty programs. But, in order to capitalise on this, venturing brands must know what they are embracing, as challenges abound - likewise, the opportunities. Can cryptocurrency go from underground punk to stadium rock? - familiarity doesn’t always breed contempt - sometimes it helps engender trust. The Rolling Stones were once seen as an incredibly bad example to a generation of kids, now they’re a regularly touring legacy rock band. Time has a way of eroding sharp edges, making what was once unpalatable into wholesome family entertainment. Is this crypto’s problem? Is it simply too new to be trusted, and all that’s needed to fix the problem is time? In this article, Andrew Delves, Senior Relationship Manager at ClearBank, examines crypto’s trust problem and how regulation, standards and emulating the competition will be key, making this hellraiser a lot cuddlier. Digital Bytes Show on Cyber.FM - on this week’s Digital Bytes Show, we talk to Leon-Gerard Vandenberg, CEO of Sunified, about the use of Blockchain technology to create crypto anchors meaning that consumers can have greater assurance as to how the electricity they use is being generated. This is facilitated by putting a digital wrapper around electrons thereby creating a new asset class for investors. Potentially these tokens of electricity can help fund the huge capital requirement the electricity industry faces in order to upgrade the world’s ageing electricity grids which are, themselves, under ever greater pressure as we decarbonise society and rely less on petrochemicals and more on electricity to power our vehicles, homes and workplaces. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message

Welcome from a very wet and rainy Sydney where the beautiful blue Pacific bay of Sydney harbour looks a rather muddy river Thames and blackbirds and robins are replaced by Cockatoos and Kookaburras... Blockchain innovation in the finance industry - Blockchain technology offers the potential to make transactions less expensive, more efficient and faster. The technology has a broad range of applications that can be integrated into a variety of businesses, giving investors an extensive range of options. The financial sector is an industry where blockchains have obvious applications and benefits whereby increasing transparency, security, risk management and, in turn, greater disintermediation. If applied correctly, Blockchain technology has the potential to improve the efficiency and security of financial markets thus improving risk controls and, some argue, for a lower cost. The Self-Sovereign Identity market is worth over $550 billion - meta-analysis from cheqd, an SSI specialist firm, estimates that the potential of the SSI market is approximately $0.55 trillion. This staggering figure reflects the full value of people’s data and its usages. It is based upon areas of opportunity including finance, compliance (KYC), gaming, NFTs, the metaverse, official ID and e-commerce amongst others. CBDCs inch ever closer to the mainstream - there are more and more initiatives being announced by different jurisdictions for cash-backed Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). As we see greater adoption of cash-backed stablecoins, legislation will need to be updated since citizens travelling abroad will potentially be both carrying and able to spend more money than they are currently legally allowed to do were they carrying cash or using cash to buy and sell goods and services. The catalyst for institutional assets: Tokenization Prosperity - institutions including EIB, Société Générale, and SWIFT are moving toward asset tokenisation, marking the beginning of institutional adoption. Since compliance and security all boil down to coding on the blockchain, complete and secure technology solutions become the catalyst to bring widespread prosperity to the market which, itself, could reach 24 trillion USD by 2027 according to HSBC. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jtylee/message