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Business & Society

Capitalism with a Conscience: Exploring the ReFi Phenomenon

The banks call it impact funds. The web3 community calls it Regenerative Finance, or ReFi. Today, ReFi is mostly about creating a green world while still making money, but the potential for solving multiple issues in society is huge. Investors’ heartfelt care for the world is clearly growing, and they are jumping on the ReFi trend. Yes, it’s badly needed.

It’s scary to realize memecoins continue to demonstrate high liquidity compared to established and useful cryptocurrencies. At a secret memecoin meeting, the laughs about quick money were heartbreaking.

When I met with other members of the ReFi Talent program, I heard proud voices of people wanting to end global warming and make money doing it. This is promising for capitalism and the web3 space.

Here’s my definition: ReFi uses innovative financial strategies to invest in projects that prioritize people and the planet, aiming for sustainable growth rather than just quick profits.

What’s it about? Regenerative Finance gathers money from different organizations and people to invest in projects that can generate financial returns and make a positive impact on society. Yes, it uses blockchain technology in the process. But it’s much more than begging for cash and giving it away.

Why are investors increasingly attracted to this model?

  1. ReFi focuses on achieving a double bottom line, which means generating both financial returns and social or environmental benefits.
  2. ReFi funds, such as Green Bonds and Social Impact Bonds, often invest in a diversified portfolio of projects, spreading risk across various sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and healthcare. This diversification reduces risk and increases the potential for stable returns.
  3. ReFi prioritizes long-term value creation over short-term gains. By investing in sustainable projects, ReFi creates enduring value that attracts investors seeking stable and reliable returns over time. This is in stark contrast to the 643,227 new tokens that launched on the Solana Network since April 1, 2024. Solana, the shitcoin engine...

Good news, peeps. Investors are becoming smarter and more mindful.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has become a significant trend in the financial world. ReFi aligns with ESG principles, attracting investors who are committed to sustainability. ReFi taps into this trend. Projections indicate that global ESG-focused institutional investments are expected to reach $33.9 trillion by 2026. Europe is set to remain the largest market, and the Asia-Pacific region is hot as well.

It’s also about branding and ego. Consumers are more likely to support brands that demonstrate a commitment to social and environmental causes. I would hope companies that consume lots of energy or have substantial environmental impacts would consider ReFi to enhance their brand reputation. That’s a win-win situation.

Here’s the tech stuff! ReFi utilizes blockchain technology to create digital tokens that represent a stake in projects. It’s called tokenization, which provides liquidity and enables fractional ownership, allowing investors to trade their stakes on decentralized platforms (DeFi). DeFi platforms provide access to capital markets without intermediaries. This reduces transaction costs and increases accessibility for investors worldwide.

Smart contracts automate and enforce financial agreements, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This makes ReFi projects more attractive to investors by ensuring transparency and accountability.

Why it’s awesome for society! ReFi is great for creating investment opportunities for multiple social issues. Capital is used to build and equip community health clinics in underserved areas, improving access to essential medical services for populations that lack adequate healthcare.

ReFi funds subsidize health insurance initiatives, making coverage more affordable for low-income families and reducing financial barriers to care.

Investments in telehealth platforms expand access to healthcare services for remote or underserved populations, improving health outcomes and efficiency.

It’s also great for creating fair working conditions. ReFi can focus on fair trade cooperatives and ethical businesses that prioritize fair wages and worker welfare, empowering communities and promoting economic equality. Yes, microfinance is an obvious focus for ReFi.

ReFi can be used to build educational programs in the area of public health. Diseases can be prevented, and healthy lifestyles can be promoted with the use of ReFi technology. Feel free to connect if this interests you.

In an economic landscape largely shaped by traditional capitalism, ReFi challenges the status quo by emphasizing social and environmental impact over short-term profits. Traditional capitalism often prioritizes maximizing returns, which can lead to environmental harm and social inequality. ReFi seeks to address these issues by aligning financial success with the well-being of society and the planet, offering a more balanced approach to economic growth.

However, ReFi may be a hard sell for investors looking for a quick buck. Its focus on long-term impact and sustainability means that returns may take longer to materialize. This emphasis on patience and ethical considerations can deter those accustomed to memecoins and driven by greed.

As a result, ReFi needs to attract investors who share its values and are willing to prioritize impact over immediate returns.

ReFi is providing a warm heart to the tech-focused fourth industrial revolution. Let’s listen to its loving whispers.

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Business & Society

A Boomer’s Guide to Being Wrong about Bitcoin

Boomers have felt the stoke of the post-WWII prosperity wave. They enjoyed booming industries, plentiful jobs, and rising wages and great surf. Financial success seemed easy for my father, the successful Baby Boomer, who enjoyed low housing costs when he bought his first house, and now a solid pension. To younger generations, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are the only chance to get even close to the fairy tale story of the baby boomer generation.
Cryptobeyer

Here are the facts. Baby Boomers in the US hold 51% of the nation's wealth and enjoy substantial spending power, with an average annual expenditure of $63,325, surpassing younger generations. 22% of European Baby Boomers are among the top 25% of the wealthiest people. There will be a significant wealth transfer from baby boomers to younger generations within the next decade. Baby boomers are traditional in their ways of investing and are often critical of Bitcoin.

Here’s what I would like to say to baby boomers who are still questioning Bitcoin:

"Bitcoin is not backed by anything!" said a Boomer when I enjoyed a stay at his beautiful summer house on the west coast of Sweden.

At the time, I stumbled on my words. I could have said, ”Bitcoin is like a powerful, efficient energy source protected by strong encryption and supported by a global community.”

"Bitcoin is not controlled by anyone!"

Exactly. Unlike traditional financial systems, Bitcoin isn’t under the thumb of any central authority. It’s about promoting freedom and equality.

"Gold is better!"

Gold? Seriously? Sure, it’s shiny, but not particularly scarce. Bitcoin is absolutely scarce and far more durable. I dare the Boomer to try to pay for a morning latte with gold flakes.

"Bitcoin is too volatile!"

Have you seen the stock market lately? It’s like watching an over-caffeinated Jane Fonda doing Burpees. Yes, I know she was hot, but equities have been more volatile than Bitcoin in the last year or so. Bitcoin’s volatility is just a part of its growth.

"Governments will ban Bitcoin!"

Banning Bitcoin would be like trying to ban Oprah Winfrey from TV —good luck with that! Bitcoin leverages cost differences across the globe and isn’t tied to any one country. It actually operates beyond the reach of any single Boomer like Senator Warren in the US.

"But criminals use Bitcoin!"

Oh, please. That’s like saying the internet is only for surfing for porn. For the last time, Bitcoin’s public ledger is as transparent as the plastic raincoat that I once used at an Bruce Springsteen concert.

"Bitcoin uses too much energy!"

Yes, Bitcoin uses energy, but I keep telling Boomers that 54% of it comes from green sources. Meanwhile, legacy financial systems consume more energy without it even being questioned as an environmental issue.

"I hear, quantum computers will crack it!"

If, and, when quantum computers ever become a reality, Bitcoin will be the least of our worries. We’d have bigger issues to worry about, like securing nuclear codes from rogue states or hacks of the traditional financial system.

By the way, I hear gold is better in the case of the world coming to an end. But I still do not have any gold stored under my bed.

"Bitcoin is not anonymous like cash!"

True. Criminals should use cash to avoid getting caught.

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Business & Society

Asia’s Cryptocurrency Surge: Unstoppable Force

Asia is also undergoing the financial revolution. Countries like Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea are experiencing a huge interest in cryptocurrencies. What's really happening in Asia?

The Asia-Pacific region is growing rapidly in the crypto economy. Nations like India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Thailand are highly interested in cryptocurrency. Chainalysis' 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index ranks these countries among the world's top ten for crypto adoption. In fact, data from Chainalysis also shows that Central & Southern Asia and Oceania (CSAO) are key regions for crypto adoption, with India leading in transaction volume compared to the USA.

The region's influence on the global crypto market remains unmistakable, with forecasts projecting a monumental market volume of €10.15 billion by 2028.

In particular, the banking cryptocurrency XRP has captured the interest of Japanese investors, and has become the second most popular cryptocurrency in the country.

Hong Kong emerges as a standout crypto hub, attracting substantial activity, especially in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. OTC trading refers to the direct buying and selling of digital assets between parties, bypassing traditional exchanges. I suspect people are choosing OTC markets to access unique digital assets.

In 2020, China led global Bitcoin mining and had a thriving crypto market. But in 2021, the government cracked down, declaring most crypto activities illegal. Now I hear rumors that China may be softening its stance on crypto, and Hong Kong could play a role in testing new policies.

What’s more?

I am sure you have heard of the Bitcoin spot ETFs in the USA and I hope you have enjoyed the ride upward in price since their inception. Now I hear that 22 new Bitcoin Spot ETFs are coming to Hong Kong… This will surely increase liquidity and the accessibility for institutions and retail investors in the region and benefit the price of Bitcoin. Glorious days for Bitcoin.

But I hear something and see something different. “We need clear regulations before Asia is completely taking over…” says the US based crypto community. But I see a bigger picture.

Over 1 billion Asians can't access regular banking, meaning no bank accounts, fewer job options, and less involvement in the economy. This is a big issue in countries like Indonesia, where 66% of people don't have bank accounts.

So, what I'm really seeing here is a hopeful global change unfolding in the fourth industrial revolution. Non-democratic countries are being affected by the notion of increased financial equality, and increased access to banking for people. Blockchain technology has the power to empower individuals with more freedom. Oppressive regimes will continue to fight crypto, but the dispersed global network of blockchain technology and their services are clearly difficult to stop and changing society. That’s why it’s called a revolution.

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Business & Society

Peter Schiff Under Scrutiny: Challenging His Claims on Bitcoin’s Value

The other day, I listened to an annoying dialogue between Raoul Pal and Peter Schiff. “Bitcoin has no intrinsic value,” said Schiff. I was stunned. Frankly surprised about the lack of nuance and knowledge of Peter Schiff who is a prominent actor in traditional finance.

“Bitcoin has no intrinsic value,” said Schiff, arguing that gold is the commodity with top-notch intrinsic value as it’s used in creating actual physical products. He is right; between 50% and 60% is utilized for ornamental purposes like jewelry, and approximately one third of new gold is used for investment purposes.

To him, sound money should be backed by gold. That sound great, but I would like to remind Schiff that the gold standard system, connecting currency value to a fixed amount of gold, collapsed during World War 1. They needed to print money to cover the expenses of the war and did not have enough gold to back it. Yes, nations still store gold (and should store more to back paper money) but as of 2022, none of the world's countries are currently on the gold standard.

Oh, did I mention that his company, SchiffGold, offers services to buy and sell gold… I digress.

So, what is intrinsic value?

Intrinsic value is not a fixed or immutable concept but rather a dynamic force shaped by human interaction, technological innovation, and socio-economic factors. Now let’s consider what is the prominent development in today’s world: Digitalization. There, what has intrinsic value needs to be both physical and digital. Honestly, a conversation about what possesses intrinsic value needs to be nuanced and grounded in reality. By 2024, the global number of internet users surpassed 5.35 billion, with individuals spending an average of 6 hours and 40 minutes online daily. This means that 66% of the global population is online.

Money is obviously going digital because of the socio-economic and technological developments in society. Therefore, what holds intrinsic value must also consider the digital world.

The dynamic forces of human nature must be considered when we discuss what holds value. Take fiat money (paper money) and Bitcoin. I can argue that neither possesses inherent worth in the traditional sense, yet both are imbued with value through societal trust, utility, and perception.

Hear my frustration! The intrinsic value aspect in the digital realm obviously needs to be considered as our existence is highly digital. “We are experiencing a digital revolution; our perspectives on value must change. Do you hear me, Schiff?”

Bitcoin is often compared to gold not just because it holds intrinsic value despite being immaterial, but because our financial lives are digital. We do not have to melt down different metals to create coins or things to use in trading and investments. We code.

Things hold value because they are rare, useful, long-lasting, authentic, meaningful to culture, desirable, perceived as valuable, easy to carry, can be verified, and are influenced by economic conditions. Bitcoin and some other cryptocurrencies check all these boxes and therefore hold intrinsic value.

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Business & Society

Bitcoin DeFi: What Is It and Why Should You Care!?

Bitcoin used to be digital gold with an important but limited use case. A sort of retirement plan on a cold wallet. But, slow and steady, even Bitcoin is changing. Let me tell you why you should care.

Bitcoin DeFi, short for decentralized finance, is poised to make significant strides in the coming years, according to industry experts. Do you remember that I mentioned tokenization in a previous article? Anyway, according to big players in finance tokenization is the future. I believe that I will thank myself for knowing about it this early.

The gist of the tokenization story is that other coins than Bitcoin have created a thriving market to trade, earn yield and borrowing and lending. The Ethereum blockchain alone has transformed the financial landscape with its use case. Now Bitcoin is hoping to do the same with the backing of the safe and sturdy Bitcoin blockchain.

The Bitcoin ecosystem is creating standards for creating tokens on the blockchain including Taproot assets, ZK coins, and RGB. I know the crypto space is hopelessly bad in naming developments. In short, Taproot Assets is a protocol for issuing assets on the Bitcoin blockchain, ZK coins are a type of cryptocurrency that focus on privacy and anonymity, and RGB is a protocol for issuing and transferring digital assets on the Bitcoin blockchain. You need to know that these are likely set for exponential growth in the coming years. At least according to industry insiders…

Bitcoin DeFi places strong emphasis on sound finance, wealth preservation, decentralization, and good governance.

The word in the crypto space is that the Bitcoin community is driven by the creation of tools for real-life financial transactions rather than speculative activities.

Sure that sounds great, but who cares?

This unique focus on robustness and security sets Bitcoin DeFi apart. Basically Bitcoin is betting that the oldest and most trustworthy blockchain of all will attract investors. They sure have a point as Bitcoin is the biggest of all cryptos. There’s even a big community that thinks that Bitcoin is the only necessary crypto coin. All other coins are shit. I do not agreee. Let’s build together instead.

Anyways, leading the charge in Bitcoin DeFi the Sovereign ecosystem and the broader Rootstock sidechain ecosystem. Sovereign, has emerged as the dominant platform in Bitcoin DeFi, offering a comprehensive suite of features, including swaps, trades, limit orders, margin trading, and borrowing and lending. Its been developing for over two years and currently represents over 50% of all Bitcoin DeFi activity.

The rise of Bitcoin DeFi has captured the attention and interest of both the Bitcoin community and the wider crypto world. Developers and innovators are shifting their focus from Ethereum to Bitcoin, citing concerns over Ethereum's scalability and a desire to build on a more stable and enduring platform. Not a lot has happended on the Bitcoin blockchain since it started and these developments feels like new birth.

The impact of Bitcoin DeFi on society is expected to be profound as tokenization gains momentum on the Bitcoin blockchain. As always, I raise a warning voice. No one knows the future, but this development is worth following. The ability to create tokens on good-old Bitcoin will expand opportunities for wealth creation and financial inclusion.

In summary, Bitcoiners will say that other blockchain projects will struggle to compete with the reliability and neutrality that Bitcoin offers. But proponents of Ethereum and other altcoins will disagree. I agree that Bitcoin DeFi will make Bitcoin increasingly relevant and keep it on top of the crypto market place. But I am also convinced that the use case of altcoins will continue to revolutionize the financial space. Keeping an eye on the entire space is wise.

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Business & Society

Understanding the Inherent Value of Bitcoin: A Beginner’s Guide to Crypto

Bitcoin has sparked much debate about its intrinsic value. I seem to have these discussions frequently and I would like to address the most frequent beliefs about crypto and Bitcoin.

Some argue that Bitcoin has no real value, while others believe it has great value. What do I say in this discussion. Does it really hold value?

Bitcoin is valuable because it is a decentralized currency. This means that it is not controlled by any government or financial institution and its value is determined solely by supply and demand. In a world where central banks can manipulate fiat currencies, Bitcoin's decentralized nature makes it a worthy alternative.

Bitcoin is valuable because of its scarcity. There are only 21 million Bitcoins, and this rarity is similar to precious metals such as gold. The more people accept bitcoin, the more its scarcity becomes apparent and its value increases.

Bitcoin is valuable because of its utility. It can be used to purchase goods and services, and can also be used as a store of value. This means that people can hold onto Bitcoin and watch its value rise over time, just like investing in stocks or other assets.

Bitcoin is valuable because of its security. The Bitcoin network is based on blockchain technology and is highly secure and difficult to hack. This makes Bitcoin a safe and reliable way to transfer value, adding to its value proposition. After all, Bitcoin is valuable because it is a global currency. Unlike fiat currencies, which are tied to a specific country, Bitcoin can be used anywhere in the world. This is an attractive option for frequent travelers and those doing business internationally.

In fact Bitcoin hold value for similar reasons as fiat currency. Belief!

Like fiat currency, Bitcoin's value is based on belief and trust in the system. Fiat currency is backed by government commitments to recognize it as legal tender and to regulate its supply and demand. Basically, it’s about belief in politicians and the governmental and financial system. Similarly, Bitcoin's value is based on belief, but on the belief of a decentralized system that it will continue to be widely adopted and will continue to function well.

But crypto is super volatile! Right?

Like fiat currencies, Bitcoin's value is also influenced by market forces such as supply and demand, geopolitical events, and investor sentiment. Due to these factors, both fiat currency and Bitcoin experience fluctuations in value. But yes, crypto may be seen as a higher risk than stocks depending on what you invest in. Yet, Bitcoin is the highest performing asset of all 2023 according to JP Morgan. Infact, the highest performing asset the last 12 years.

So there we have clear reasons why Bitcoin has inherent value. Its decentralization, scarcity, availability, security, and global nature all contribute to its value proposition.

We all have different tolarance of risk and volatility is in the eyes of the beholder.