As digital currencies begin to gain more recognition in the global financial market, the WEF is focusing more on blockchain technology and the crypto space at large
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has included cryptocurrencies on its Davos Agenda. According to the schedule, the organization would hold two sessions on cryptocurrency during the upcoming event. Notably, this is the first time cryptocurrency would be a topic for discussion at the World Economic Forum Davos meeting.
The World Economic Forum would be holding sessions on cryptocurrency on the 25th and 28th of January. Nine speakers would participate in the cryptocurrency sessions.
World Economic Forum (WEF) Includes Cryptocurrencies on Davos Agenda
The first session would feature five public speakers. The Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey is one of the participating speakers for the session. Another public speaker for the first session is the president and CEO of Western Union, Hikmet Ersek. Other panelists include the head of Blockchain and Data Policy at the WEF, the CEO of BTC AFRICA S.A. Elizabeth Rossiello, and the CEO of North Island Ventures, Glenn H. Hutchins.
In addition, the next session for cryptocurrency scheduled for the 28th of January would feature four speakers. The speakers include a senior minister for the government of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam and chairman of the National Institute of Financial Research Zhu Min. Other speakers are the chief executive of Overseas Development Institute Sara Pantuliano and CoinDesk’s chief content officer Michael Casey.
The scheduled sessions to discuss cryptocurrency shows the importance and significance of digital assets in today’s global market. The World Economic Forum (WEF) mentioned the gradual global acceptance of digital assets in a prospectus. The prospectus also referred to the ongoing global effort for the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs):
“COVID-19 has accelerated the long-term shift from cash. Meanwhile, central bank digital currencies are emerging, potentially transforming how people use money worldwide. What policies, practices and partnerships are needed to leverage the opportunities posed by the rise of digital currencies.”
The Davos Agenda has different topics up for discussion under separate themes. The cryptocurrency series is under the theme – “Fairer Economics.” Other themes for the WEF Davos Agenda are “Tech for Good,” “How to Save the Planet,” and “Healthy Futures.”
WEF’s Global Future Council for Crypto
As digital currencies begin to gain more recognition in the global financial market, the WEF is focusing more on blockchain technology and the crypto space at large. To study the crypto market, the WEF founded the Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies. The working group recently published its inaugural review on the 17th of December. The group noted in the foreword that the review was published to “highlight a non-exhaustive list of companies, protocols and projects that represent the diversity of use cases that cryptocurrencies and the networks which they power can enable.”
Furthermore, the group noted Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), XRP, Tezos (XTZ), Celo (CELO), Filecoin (FIL), Zcash (ZEC), and Arweave (AR) as base layer assets.
Ibukun is a crypto/finance writer interested in passing relevant information, using non-complex words to reach all kinds of audience. Apart from writing, she likes to see movies, cook, and explore restaurants in the city of Lagos, where she resides.