July 17, 2018
I worked in the financial services industry for 15 years. I believe the industry needs to keep up with new technologies like cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Not only are these new technologies more efficient, they are more secure. This will benefit businesses and their customers (see attached: Risk Insights: Cryptocurrencies and What They Mean for Business)
While these new technologies may be disruptive to some entrenched interests and organizations in the financial services industry and in other spheres of life, the overall benefits, especially to individuals, on the whole, will be well worth the temporary disruption. This is the way its always been with new, transformational technologies. (see attached: The (R)evolution of Money: Blockchain Empowered Digital Currencies)
The United States, if it wishes to remain a leader in innovation, MUST lead in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies in order to remain competitive on the global stage.(see attached "The Blockchain Corridor: Building an Innovation Economy in the 2nd Era of the Internet.")
Most importantly and significantly, cryptocurrencies and blockchain will help us meet challenges IN REAL TIME which traditional industrial and financial technologies cannot achieve.
Clearly current technologies need an upgrade and approving a bitcoin ETF will help legitimize these new technologies and help propel their adoption