John Wingate

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Crypto is a new frontier, and before taking steps, regulators need to learn its nuances, not just rely on historic precedents. What may be coming in terms of industry regulation is a common concern and area of speculation among crypto insiders. As regulators steadily prepare for crypto’s growth, they may be struggling with confusion around its new and varied assets, or they may be wondering if there are aspects of the underlying technology that must also be addressed. As the people who best understand the industry, its technology and its unique assets, crypto leaders need to ensure their input is heard by global regulatory agencies. Here, 13 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share important things regulators should keep in mind when reviewing crypto as an asset class.

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The crypto industry might gain traction and win consumer confidence more quickly by learning some do’s (and don’ts)  from traditional markets. There’s an old saying that many of us live by, whether consciously or not: better the devil you know than the devil you don’t. While the stock market and traditional investment tools carry many of the same risks as cryptocurrency and decentralized finance, they’re familiar to investors, there are thousands of industry experts and financial firms, and there are uncounted digital media and print resources to help guide both newcomers and seasoned traders. While leaning into the unique benefits and potential of crypto, it may be wise for cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms to look to traditional markets to gain insights on managing risk and boosting investor confidence. Below, 11 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share lessons crypto exchanges can learn from traditional markets and finance.

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Pioneering a new way of doing business always comes with both risks and rewards, and adopting crypto payments is no different.  Business owners who are crypto enthusiasts or who simply have an innovative mindset may be considering allowing their customers to pay for their goods or services in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. While in some ways this could simplify transactions (particularly international ones), crypto transactions are still very new to most consumers, and they come with unique benefits and risks. Before jumping into crypto transactions with your business, it’s essential to think through all the ramifications first so your decision nets the results you’re hoping for. Below, 12 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share advice for businesses considering accepting crypto for payments.

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To garner more adoption, the DeFi industry must proactively address both actual and perceived barriers to entry.  Decentralized finance has the potential to bring revolutionary ease and security to financial transactions through the use of blockchain technology. And with its ability to introduce a unified, standardized system across the globe, DeFi can open up new financial opportunities to those who may not have had them before. As with much of the crypto industry, however, DeFi struggles with both prevailing ignorance of its structure and capabilities, as well as widespread skepticism about its trustworthiness and scope. Below, 15 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share ways DeFi pioneers can help build the industry’s credibility and reach.

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To fully realize the potential of blockchain technology, it’s important to understand possible limitations — and how to address them. Blockchain technology’s potential is one of the most exciting facets of the crypto industry for both insiders and the crypto-curious. A shared, immutable, verifiable method to store and track data has clear possibilities outside cryptocurrency for industries ranging from stock trading to healthcare. As with any technology, though, there are potential stumbling blocks. Blockchain scalability is an important concept for consideration for both existing and new blockchains, which must be able to manage and process ever-increasing amounts of data.  While experts in crypto agree that it’s important to grasp the fundamentals of blockchain scalability, many assert that it’s not an insurmountable obstacle to crypto’s growth. Below, members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share details about blockchain scalability that they think are important for less-experienced players to understand, and why.

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Blending strong customer service with a commitment to transparency can help new and growing crypto businesses earn market trust.  Gaining market trust is an early hurdle for any new company — gaining market trust as a new company in a new industry is an even bigger challenge. Those new to the crypto industry can be wary because they’re still learning its complexities and technologies, while those who have been in crypto for a while place a high value on transparency and community. According to crypto leaders, combining robust customer service with transparency about their work in an ever-evolving industry helps earn the trust of customers and colleagues. Here, 11 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share specifics about what they’re doing to foster trust in their unique missions and work.

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Crypto’s tools and methods can improve many business functions, from tightening transactions to building a loyal community. It’s easy for outsiders looking at the crypto industry to get all tied up in the tech lingo, but crypto pioneers will tell you there’s much more to the industry than its cutting-edge tech tools. For industry leaders, crypto’s central goal of building communities is as (or more) important as the innovations tech tools like blockchain bring. Crypto leaders are not only enthusiastic about the ways industry technology can smooth and tighten business transactions, but they’re also proud of the intrinsic ways that not only they, but also their followers, can be rewarded. Below, 13 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share some of the significant strategic advantages business leaders can realize through crypto.

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Crypto leaders’ toughest challenge may be countering the widespread misinformation circulating about the industry. The crypto industry has proven skeptics wrong on many fronts, but myths still persist that may be keeping newcomers out. As a digital industry, crypto may intimidate those who aren’t already tech-savvy. Others may misunderstand how blockchain and crypto technologies function and struggle with trust, or worry that issues like regulation and environmental impact aren’t being seriously considered by industry insiders. There are several myths that are likely holding the industry back, and it’s up to crypto insiders and leaders to address them head-on. Here, 11 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle discuss the misinformation about the crypto industry that’s in widespread circulation and the truth that needs to be shared.

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From new financial solutions to community development through NFTs to gaming, crypto is set to make a splash in the months ahead. Crypto may not have intentionally been flying under the radar for the last few years, but many average consumers had little to no experience with or understanding of the industry. In recent months, though, crypto has hit the headlines, and a worldwide audience is coming to understand that there’s more to the industry than Bitcoin.  With new players ranging from global corporations to gamers jumping into the space, crypto is going to see both evolution and new developments in the months ahead. Here, 13 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle discuss the trends they see coming in 2022. 

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There’s more than financial profit in using NFTs to build a brand. Companies paying close attention to high-profile nonfungible token projects by celebrities, sports teams and companies may have been impressed by the initiatives, but unclear on how NFTs can generate more than just a little extra revenue. While many leaders in the space don’t discount the direct impact to profit a successful NFT launch can have, they’re much more excited by how NFTs can build up a brand’s identity, community and customer loyalty. So how, specifically, can brands leverage NFTs to better engage customers? There are many ways, several of them detailed below by members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle.