Recently, outlets reported on comments from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey made at a conference, as well as on an earnings call, where the executive continued to prosecute the case for emerging blockchain-based technologies, including cryptocurrencies. He noted that cryptocurrencies are part of a technology trend which is beginning to mature and mainstream simultaneously, including artificial intelligence and decentralization.
“It is important to note that Jack Dorsey isn’t just a social media kingpin. He also was the founder of Square. He understands the payments stratosphere, and if he’s looking at cryptocurrencies and other blockchain-based payments to remain a considerable player in the way the world transacts its business, it’s definitely worth noting,” said Richard Gardner, CEO of Modulus, a US-based developer of ultra-high-performance trading and surveillance technology that powers global equities, derivatives, and digital asset exchanges.
Dorsey wrapped up the earnings call saying, “With decentralization, we increased the size of the corpus of conversation we have access to and improved conversational help by giving more people, more power to individuals. And with the global currency, we can ensure people and companies can freely trade goods and services anywhere on the planet.”
“Dorsey is making the same argument that I’ve been making for several years. Blockchain is bigger than blockchain. Blockchain itself is a gamechanger. But, adopting the technology is meaningful, even beyond the immediate implications in the payments space. Dorsey is talking about how shareholders will benefit from the company participating in the space and investing ‘aggressively’ in it. But, it isn’t just an opportunity for shareholders and individual companies. There could be implications for entire economies,” noted Gardner.
“To see that, I really think you need to look at just how Estonia has transformed over the past couple decades. Today, it has carved itself a niche as a startup destination. That was done over the course of time, with leadership which took methodical steps to create a culture of innovation. That same model can be replicated today, as new technologies and innovators are looking for jurisdictions which are friendly,” opined Gardner.
Modulus is known throughout the financial technology segment as a leader in the development of ultra-high frequency trading systems and blockchain technologies. Over the past twenty years, the company has built technology for the world’s most notable exchanges, with a client list which includes NASA, NASDAQ, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Barclays, Siemens, Shell, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Cornell University, and the University of Chicago.
“You’re going to see some startups flock to tech hubs like Silicon Valley or Tel Aviv. But, a lot of innovators that feed into the blockchain pipeline will look for a home that provides regulatory guidance which is friendly to innovation. By now, we’ve found out that innovation moves much faster than bureaucracy. As countries begin to roll out central bank digital currencies, leadership in that arena could be just what a developing economy needs to stand out from the pack. I think we’ve seen countries like The Bahamas, El Salvador, and Ghana all work to begin to build a culture that is seen as friendly by the fintech community. There’s no reason that countries like Kenya or Morocco, or even others that might find themselves well positioned in Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia, to begin to build a regional presence, as well. Right now, the industry is still evolving. Welcoming blockchain-based technologies is the first step to creating a culture that values technology as a way to create jobs and strengthen an economy,” said Gardner.
