Timothy Enneking

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Digital assets can present expansive and valuable opportunities for a TradFi institution that's prepared to lay the necessary foundation. As digital asset options continue to gain attention and acceptance from investors, traditional financial institutions may be considering adding digital assets to their offerings and/or portfolios. As with any other industry, "standing still" isn't an option in the financial sector, and tapping into the potential of digital assets can help TradFi organizations tap into an enthusiastic and growing new customer base. Further, adding digital assets can diversify a traditional portfolio, offering a hedge against market downturns. However, any upside achieved from being viewed as an innovative early adopter can quickly be erased if a TradFi institution isn't thoroughly prepared for the unique opportunities, challenges and risks that come with digital assets. Below, 11 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share essential things any TradFi organization must be prepared to do if it's considering digital assets and why these steps shouldn't be skipped.

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Respect for users’ personal privacy must be top of mind when developing proof-of-humanity identity solutions. Trust is in shorter supply in the digital world these days. As artificial intelligence evolves and produces more “humanlike” and realistic results, users of digital services are increasingly concerned with knowing who and/or what, precisely, they’re interacting with. With a commitment to decentralization and broad access, the crypto industry in particular needs proof-of-humanity solutions to avoid issues like fake accounts and automated bots — and, of course, to comply with Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering regulations. The crypto industry is nothing if not innovative, and proof-of-humanity solutions that leverage verified video registries, social connections and biometric identification are among those in the works. But user privacy and control are a cornerstone of the crypto philosophy, so it’s essential that developers demonstrate a commitment to these principles. Below, nine members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share their advice and ideas to help developers of proof-of-humanity solutions preserve the privacy of personal information.

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The ultimate impacts of CBDCs on the crypto industry may be a mixed bag of positives and negatives, and insiders need to monitor developments. In June 2023, the Atlantic Council, based in the United States, announced the results of a study on global nations' interest in and progress toward creating their own central bank digital currencies. Eleven countries have already launched CBDCs; 130 others are in the exploratory phase, and about half of those have begun the development process.  Market watchers cite multiple factors behind governments' push toward CBDCs, from the decreasing use of cash by the general population to geopolitical tensions and events. Whatever the underlying reasons, though, crypto industry players need to keep an eye on developments and consider how the rise of CBDCs could impact the industry and global marketplace. Here, 11 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share their predictions for possible outcomes from the ever-expanding development and introduction of CBDCs.

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A combination of trends already underway and deliberate industry action could lead to crypto’s watershed moment in terms of public adoption. For many, the crypto industry feels as though it's hovering on the brink. It attracts high-profile attention and headlines; yet widespread public interest and adoption haven't yet followed.  There may be a variety of factors giving the public pause, ranging from stories of misconduct by bad actors to simply a lack of understanding of the industry's technology, philosophy and potential. But is it possible some significant trend or development could tip the scales in crypto's favor? Below, 13 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle speculate about some of the factors and events they believe could lead to a groundswell of interest in the crypto industry among the general public.

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Cross-chain operability may only be achieved when there’s not only a way, but a will to move forward. Even crypto industry outsiders are gaining clarity on the benefits of blockchain technology, which is a significant step forward for the ecosystem. However, a challenge remains: The industry still struggles with interoperability between blockchain networks.  Unless different chains can safely and efficiently communicate and exchange data, the full power of blockchain — including true decentralization, new use cases, lower costs and, ultimately, further innovation — can’t be achieved. Here, 10 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle discuss some of the challenges still standing in the way of achieving cross-chain interoperability and how they can be overcome.

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Blockchain companies aren’t just selling themselves; they’re also selling the industry’s technology and principles as a whole.  Word about blockchain technology’s benefits has penetrated the global marketplace, so now’s the time for blockchain businesses to begin deliberately refining and sharing their marketing messages. Like other service businesses, blockchain companies have to find effective ways to explain why their service in particular is the right choice for a potential client’s unique needs. However, unlike service companies in other industries, in many cases, blockchain leaders will be marketing a service that B2B clients may be intrigued by but don’t understand well. Marketing a business always takes a lot of hustle, and blockchain technologies will likely need to blend traditional marketing methods focused on their own unique benefits with new strategies to make B2B clients outside the industry excited about what blockchain can do. Below, 16 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share tips to help blockchain companies improve their marketing strategies to attract and land potential clients.