What’s Coming Up?
Will the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality of the Game Boy era driving greater blockchain adoption?
A digital euro to meet the expectations of Europeans.
The best of both worlds: centralised and decentralised financial services cooperating.
Decentralising The Internet: The Hitchhiker's Guide
While Internet usage grows at an unprecedented pace, giant tech companies are harvesting enormous amounts of personal data to predict future behaviours and ultimately increase their value—this leaves users little control over their data and security. However, with more data breaches every year, the centralisation of the Internet shows clear signs of diminishing returns. Blockchain technology aims to disrupt our current centralised systems to give the power back to the people and improve data security.
Could Gamifying Blockchain Lead to Greater Adoption Overall?
Back in 1996, the Pokémon Red and Blue games used tradable virtual creatures to merge digital achievements with a sense of real-world ownership and transaction. Today, blockchain games represent a bold new extension of such games — a full-fledged gaming economy. In this case, the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality of the Game Boy era applies to a network of decentralised collectables and real-world payments. People are investing an insane amount of money in these games, gesturing towards possible future uses in driving greater adoption.
Author: Maksim Tarasov
Don’t Fear the Coming Regulation Wave
The possibility of imposing impossible-to-achieve requirements on crypto companies and increasing transparency and compliance demands sparks concern among blockchain companies and investors. Paul Brody, Global Blockchain Leader at EY, though, anticipates the risks of regulation and outlines the delicate balance that needs to exist for regulatory compliance to move forward without having significant negative consequences for the blockchain industry.
Top Headlines 💥
🎨 You Can Buy a Banksy With BTC or ETH From Sotheby’s
💳 Revolut announces Bitcoin withdrawals in hastily deleted blog post
📦 EBay Is Exploring Ways to Enter NFT Market
🥶 New York Bill Would Freeze Bitcoin Miners Pending Environmental Review
🤝 Mastercard Revealed as Partner on Gemini Crypto Credit Card
📈 JPMorgan to Let Clients Invest in Bitcoin Fund for First Time
Tweets of the Month
🗞️ European Ecosystem News
Report on the public consultation on a digital euro
The European Central Bank asked 18 questions to collect views on the benefits and challenges of issuing a digital euro and its possible design. With the release of this report, the ECB aims to provide an overview of the 8,221 responses gathered. The public consultation will provide important input for the Governing Council’s decision in mid-2021 to launch a digital euro project to investigate its possible design and use formally.
Norges Bank will test technical solutions for central bank digital currency
Norges Bank’s research into CBDCs ran for four years. The next element moving ahead will be technical testing combined with further analysis of the need for, and the implications, of introducing a Central Bank Digital Currency. One of the aims of technical testing is to find a preferred solution if it becomes relevant to implement a CBDC in Norway.
Latest Article from dGen
‘Once it’s on the internet, it’s there forever’.
The Internet brought the capacity to spread and replicate information, and the not-so-old adage above confirms this. However, blockchain offers to change this replicability and part of our online interactions. Our Editor, Maggie Clarendon, explores how blockchain takes this one step further to enable a new era of digital ownership and what that means for both investors and creators.
🎥 The rise of CBDCs and their potential regulation - AMA with Joaquim Matinero
Joaquim Matinero, a Spanish lawyer and expert on banking and financial models, provided the Chainlink Community with his vision on how the advent of Central Bank Digital Currencies could be regulated.
📺 Financial Inclusion, Advanced by Digital Currencies
Considering the CBDC worldwide race - where 86% of central banks actively research its potential - and the adoption of crypto in emerging markets, Consensys will host a webinar to collate insights from industry leaders committed to move forward crypto adoption in emerging markets.
🎙️ The Roast of Non-Fungible Tokens (The Good and Very Bad of NFTs)
Anthony Day, IBM Partner, with five blockchain experts bring different perspectives from the good to the very, very bad of how companies and individuals are looking to transform the world with NFTs and tokens.
Top Research 📚
Lessons Learned from Decentralised Finance
Cryptocurrencies have shaken up payment methods, but DeFi could be even more disruptive for banks. Blockchain and DLT are transforming existing centralised financial services. This led to a divide between centralised and decentralised financial services that could lead to discrimination against either service. In this white paper, ING analyses the properties of DeFi and provides lessons learned for both financial services and how cooperation may lead to the most gains for both.
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dGen is a non-profit Think Tank based in Berlin focused on how emerging technologies might contribute to shaping a decentralised future in Europe. Our research reports aim to educate and foster discussion among decision-makers in the ecosystem.
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