The Feverish Blockchain Buzz
There’s a palpable excitement in the air, akin to a rollercoaster ride that one is weirdly thrilled to hop on—until you remember you might want to avoid those seats worn slippery by the adrenaline and something less savory. London Blockchain Week has bundled itself in a glow of neon and nerdy chatter about blockchain, but as the hand sanitizer flies off the shelves, the dread of the Coronavirus crisis lurks around every corner.
Fist Bumps and Elbow Taps: A New Normal
The quaint tradition of shaking hands has been replaced for the time being by a more cautious approach: elbow taps and fist bumps. While the blockchain evangelists gather in high spirits amidst the uncertainty, it’s hard to ignore the discomforting elephant that can comfortably fit in the spacious venue of 8 Northumberland Avenue: the spiraling health crisis.
Blockchain: A Future-Paving Force
Opening the summit with a hearty rib, Jamie Burke, the founder and CEO of Outlier Ventures, charmed attendees with his gallows humor. “Who’s crazy enough to attend this conference?” he quipped, before diving into the heavy stuff—Web 3.0, the next evolutionary leap of the internet. Burke’s vision is optimistic, envisioning a world where social platforms submit to the will of the user. Picture this: flipping the data privacy game to a point where sovereignty over our data transforms everything—that’s what he’s selling.
Cautious Optimism from Industry Heavyweights
Not everyone is throwing confetti at the blockchain parade. Joanne Thornton of Parim Solutions is wary about the lack of regulatory clarity and liquidity, echoing a common concern. “We aren’t there just yet,” she reminds everyone, displaying the serious tone needed amidst the revelry. Meanwhile, Swen Werner from State Street reinforces her stance. In a world where the lure is bright, their cautious nature starkly contrasts the exuberance around them.
Rethinking DeFi: Cracks in the Foundation
DeFi—the shiny new term on everyone’s lips—draws a mixed bag of sentiments. Jonathan Dunsmoor, ever the provocateur, cries foul at digital currencies being the backbone of DeFi, highlighting their ups and downs worse than a kid on a pogo stick. Meanwhile, Daniel Coheur advocates for the need to drop the ‘DeFi’ moniker altogether. “What we have is centralized finance on a decentralized network,” he snaps, drawing gasps along with some laughs, and perhaps a bit of murmured agreement.
Conclusion: Where’s the Exit?
Even as Coronavirus weaves its way through life in London, the blockchain community continues to push forward. The reality remains, however, as grim as it may seem, with a cryptic promise from Burke to see attendees next year, albeit with a playful disclaimer, “No guarantees.” The curtain might be drawn, but the show must go on, and who knows what surprises could await in our next update from Blockchain Week? Spoiler alert: probably not just blockchain cheerleaders.
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