Digital assets: building the markets of the future

OMFIF’s Digital assets report examines the forces shaping the future of digital finance.

Following the success of our Digital assets report in 2022, this year’s edition examines the developing crypto ecosystem, as efforts to rationalise technological and financial regulatory standards – particularly in the UK, European Union, Dubai and Japan – are delivering the clarity markets have been asking for. In the US, however, new enforcement actions are jeopardising major players in the crypto system. We explore these developing tensions, examine the likely consequences and identify which jurisdictions might benefit or suffer.

Development in traditional finance is just as dynamic, but is focused on technological advancement rather than regulatory change. After years of relying on legacy technical infrastructure, banks are becoming more confident in using new technologies, including distributed ledgers, to revolutionise their offerings.

The report, as well as the pre- and post-launch events and discussions, is a prime opportunity for infrastructure and service providers in the digital and traditional assets markets – including banks, exchanges, custodians, lawyers and technology providers – to showcase their credentials and shape outcomes in a rapidly developing area of finance.

Our panel of expert speakers will explore key regulatory considerations for cryptocurrencies, including digital asset classification and registration, consumer protection, licensing, segregation of customer assets, liquidity controls, wider prudential requirements and coordinated cross-border supervision. The panellists will also share insights on how traditional finance organisations are evolving to support digitalised versions of traditional financial instruments and systems.

Key questions explored in the report:

• Who will own the plumbing for the digital asset ecosystem?
• Who will shape the rules and policies that govern it?
• How will digital asset technology change the world of traditional finance?
• What asset classes will transition to digital first?
• Which infrastructure providers have distinguished themselves as high-quality, robust and stable components of a healthy marketplace?
• How will regulators seek to reshape the cryptocurrency market in the aftermath of the crypto winter?