Ethereum: The Transformative Force in Traditional Finance
Ethereum, often depicted as traditional finance’s adversary in the struggle for decentralization, is actually improving the sector. Ethereum’s value propositions are relevant to financial institutions, and can be realized within regulatory frameworks. The platform has already taken steps towards institutional adoption, and its decentralized network is expected to become the primary settlement layer for financial transactions worldwide.
Neutrality in a Multipolar World
Ethereum offers neutrality to the global financial system, acting as a fair referee. In today’s eroding geopolitical stability, it’s more important than ever for the financial system to maintain reliable rules. Ethereum’s incorruptible system for settling transactions and storing data, and its unbiased code, promise to prevent disputes and maintain trust.
Solving the Principal-Agent Problem
Ethereum offers foundational solutions to the principal-agent problem, unlike the traditional approach of regulation. Trustless smart contracts and distributed ledgers can remove certain dimensions of the principal-agent problem entirely. Soon, Ethereum will permeate traditional banking and asset management, with almost every investor self-custodying their assets in trustless smart contracts. Regulated on-ramps will make the tokenization of fiat currencies frictionless. Ethereum’s impact on state censorship will be limited.
Nascent Institutional Adoption
Ethereum’s building blocks are already here, and Decentralized finance (DeFi) spurred considerable innovation in 2021. Regulated fiat-to-crypto on-ramps and custodians are emerging to connect DeFi with the broader financial system. Expect to see a proliferation of tokenized securities and heavy investment in Ethereum staking pools. Other areas of focus include on-chain financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and institutional-grade tokenized derivatives.
Tending the Infinite Garden
Ethereum’s transformative impact on traditional finance is only just beginning. Large swaths of Ethereum’s ecosystem will be weeded out due to regulatory pressure, but those that remain will be well adapted to integration with the existing financial system.