'What's the Problem?' and Four Other Questions About Cryptocurrency

But with Bitcoin meeting gravity — falling from a high of $20,000 in December to $7,000 this month — is it also at risk of becoming the latest bubble to pop?

We put that question to three cryptocurrency experts at our most recent RBCDisruptors event:

Hilary Carter, Research Director at the Toronto-based Blockchain Research Institute;

Christian Lassonde, Founder and Managing Partner of Impression Ventures, who specializes in fintech investing;

and Matthew Spoke, the CEO of Nuco, a blockchain company that’s building a network to connect blockchains around the world.

Lassonde thinks crypto is more of a speculative asset than a medium of exchange, and fueled largely by greed and hype. Spoke disagreed, believing cryptocurrencies address a discontent with the centralized financial system. Either way, Carter thinks big companies and governments need to explore underlying blockchain technologies that can eliminate the frictions and costs of centralized book-keeping, whether for financial transactions or other methods of exchange.

Here’s some of what was said:

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1. What’s the Problem?

For centuries, money has been centrally controlled and managed, for reasons of personal security and economic stability. But with universal access to electronic exchanges and cloud computing, those central ledgers may no longer be needed. Or so the cryptocurrency advocates would have you believe. They think every financial transaction can now be instantly recorded — and encrypted — on every computer in the world. Think of it as one of those card games that doesn’t require a dealer. But what if we like having a dealer, to keep track of the cards and score, and to keep an eye on the other players for us? Centralization is something most consumers seem happy with, whether it’s centralized social media platforms (Facebook), entertainment platforms (Netflix) or money (U.S. dollars). And we’ve already got a range of systems, including digital payments, that work fairly well. Even where there are areas of friction — cross-border payments, for instance — improvements are emerging through technology and competition. Carter still believes cryptocurrencies may be most useful in parts of the world where technology and competition are not widespread, or where trust in the banking system may be weak. She estimates there are 2.5 billion “unbanked” people in the world without access to traditional financial institutions. For them, cryptocurrencies offer an alternative — and may even be necessary for those wanting to protect their money from corrupt governments.

2. Isn’t That a Side Door to Money Laundering?

Crypto is sounding alarm bells with regulators because of its obvious appeal for those who want to go unnoticed. Even big investors may not want to be connected to it because of its links to the underground economy and illicit activities like smuggling, tax evasion and terror financing. As Lassonde put it, “the money that’s coming in doesn’t want to be known, doesn’t want to be traced.” He thinks cryptocurrencies are so useful to money launderers and sanction-busting governments that they won’t escape the long arm of global regulators for much longer. Can those concerns be addressed in time? Spoke, a crypto proponent, admits that’s unlikely, as the technology is out of the bag and “regulatory arbitrage” is already underway. But he feels the underlying technology can still be useful to identify patterns of abuse, and root out the wrong-doers, who will always be looking for alternative channels to move money. Throw out crypto, he said, and the evaders will find something else. “With every new technology, comes the good and bad and you just hope that over time, the good outweighs the bad, and this is a perfect example of that.”

3. What If Regulators Move to Shut It Down?

The Chinese government has cracked down on crypto activity, last year banning Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and this year announcing it will scrutinize crypto exchanges. Do crypto investors in Canada face similar risks of a regulatory crackdown? Lassonde thinks so, likening it to the peer-to-peer music sharing platforms that disappeared after regulations were imposed. “We may see a change in the laws here in the next five plus years, where the ownership of crypto has become illegal — there’s very effective tools from centralized states to crush this stuff,” he argued. Carter and Spoke see it differently, with an opportunity for Canada to lead. Recognizing cryptocurrencies as currencies would allow the federal government to license digital wallets, a move that would help Canadians keep their assets safe, they said. But Spoke worries public officials aren’t spending enough time on the issue. “If anybody understands this the least,” he said, “it’s governments and regulators around the world.”

4. With So Many Concerns, Will Crypto Ever Become Mainstream?

Crypto remains on the fringes, used largely by early tech adopters, speculators and thrill-seekers. Lassonde believes that taking that into the mainstream will require massive behavior change. And that usually requires a large organization investing heavily in the infrastructure needed to create platforms for entrepreneurs and developers. He likened it to what Apple did for smart phones — except with crypto, no major developer is stepping forward. Without that investment, he argued, massive growth will be hard. Spoke agreed, saying,“if we can’t get these systems to a point where they’re significantly more accessible and more efficient, I don’t think they will hit the mainstream.”

5. Could Crypto Find a Second Life in Other Areas?

If regulators crack down on crypto-currencies, the underlying technology may find a home in less regulated fields like voting and business registration. Carter says governments are interested in “non-payment applications” as a way to reduce inefficiencies, and they may be willing to launch test cases in fields that currently require a centralized ledger. Drivers licenses and vehicle registration, for instance. “If you’re the Blockbuster of today,” she asked, “what’s the Netflix of tomorrow?”

As Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, John advises the executive leadership on emerging trends in Canada’s economy, providing insights grounded in his travels across the country and around the world. His work focuses on technological change and innovation, examining how to successfully navigate the new economy so more people can thrive in the age of disruption. Prior to joining RBC, John spent nearly 25 years at the Globe and Mail, where he served as editor-in-chief, editor of Report on Business, and a foreign correspondent in New Delhi, India. Having interviewed a range of prominent world leaders and figures, including Vladimir Putin, Kofi Annan, and Benazir Bhutto, he possesses a deep understanding of national and international affairs. In the community, John serves as a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, C.D. ‎Howe Institute and is a member of the advisory council for both the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute and the Canadian International Council. John is the author of four books: Out of Poverty, Timbit Nation, and Mass Disruption: Thirty Years on the Front Lines of a Media Revolution and Planet Canada: How Our Expats Are Shaping the Future.

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