Future of Crypto?

Sorry for the somewhat vague title here, but I really am interested what you all think about the future of crypto after this week’s events?

The downfall of both Terra and FTX is sure to ignite the wrath of regulators on the crypto space.

Like you all, I believe that the underlying technology behind cryptocurrencies can help to solve a myriad of societal problems. At the same time, having worked in the tech industry for two decades, it’s also clear to me that radical technologies, like the Internet and cryptocurrencies, do not always evolve in an ideal way.

What I’m particularly curious about is what a future with Crypto, CBDCs, and inevitable regulations will look like. What will be the role of crypto?

I’ve been thinking about this even more recently, and my conclusion is that, barring an effective banning of crypto (which I believe is pretty much impossible at this point), crypto will serve as both a testbed and release valve for fiat policies.

Consider that Bitcoin started in response to the 2008 financial crisis and exploded in popularity due to unpopular fiat policies, particularly Quantitative Easing. It has also served as an independent safe haven for residents of nations dealing with a failed fiat currency. However, it has (so far) not lived up to the promise of a hedge against inflation.

The advent of Ethereum and unlocking of smart contracts is another great example where cryptocurrencies shined and provided a testbed for financial experiments. This would otherwise have been impossible in a strictly fiat world.

What do you think?