The Future of Money is Now Visible: What Does It Mean for You?

A Future of Finance Webinar on Thursday 30th November at 2pm UK time

What is the event about?

Once true digital money is available on blockchain networks, the token revolution will begin. What that money will be is coming into focus. The idea that cryptocurrencies and Stablecoins will one day replace fiat currencies seems less realistic today than at any time since blockchain technology was first applied to traditional financial markets. In fact, the most plausible future of money is now one in which an inverted pyramid of tokenised deposits sits on top of a fulcrum made of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). It looks awfully like a past and present in which commercial bank money (including e-money) sits on a fulcrum of central bank money. Which suggests that national and international monetary establishments have reasserted their control of money, defeating the ambitions of the libertarians and the innovators that spawned myriad cryptocurrencies. The truth is more complex. The innovative ideas and technologies of the cryptocurrency pioneers are now being embedded in a monetary system that is evolving towards faster, cheaper, more transparent and more open forms of money and payment but which has yet to find its equilibrium. Instead of re-visiting details, such as CBDC design choices or the regulation of Stablecoins, this webinar discussion will stick to a higher-level question: What is the likeliest future of money now?

Why watch?

It is often forgotten that the cash leg – in particular, the lack of fiat currency on blockchain networks – is the major obstacle to the success of the tokenisation revolution. If, as seems likely, it is about to be solved, a clear understanding of the implications for the real as well as the financial economy is absolutely essential.

Who should watch?

Anybody working in the securities, money, payments or foreign exchange (FX) markets, and any users of securities, money market, payments and FX services.

When it happened?

At 14.00 London time on Thursday 30 November 2023.

What topics were discussed?

1. Is regulation intended to restore public confidence in cryptocurrencies or destroy it?
2. Are CBDCs in major currencies ready to move beyond the experimental stage?
3. Are CBDCs a workable solution to inefficiency in cross-border payments?
4. Are CBDCs relevant to making domestic payments faster?
5. Are Stablecoins now a relic of the cryptocurrency past?
6. Are tokenised deposits a glimpse at the future of commercial bank money?
7. Is atomic settlement a flawed concept?
8. Why is netting making a comeback?
9. Where do Fnality, Partior and the ideas of The Regulated Liability Network (RLN) fit into the future of money?
10. Has T+1 accelerated or postponed the payments revolution?
11. Is tokenised, programmable money a reality already?
12. Could all forms of digital money and digital assets be issued, traded, stored and serviced on a common, programmable platform?

Who was on the panel?

Matthew Osborne, Senior Manager for Payments Policy at Bank of England https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-osborne-49552716/

Gilbert Verdian, CEO at Quant https://www.linkedin.com/in/gverdian/

Jack Fletcher, Head of Policy and Government Relations (Digital Currencies) at R3 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-fletcher-465060101/

Mathias Studach, Head Finance, Risk and Organisational Development at SDX https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-studach-77a427a0/

Moderated by Dominic Hobson, Co-Founder at Future of Finance https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-hobson-49b8222/

For more information or to ask questions please contact Wendy Gallagher at wendy.gallagher@futureoffinance.biz