Singapore, Singapore, August 13th, 2024,
Chainwire
Ben Caselin, Chief Marketing Officer of VALR, the Pantera-backed crypto exchange, delivered a
keynote at Foresight 2024 Hong Kong on Sunday, August 11th
addressing the distinct trajectory of crypto adoption in emerging
markets.
Caselin’s presentation shed light on the significant differences
between what crypto adoption looks like in places like Hong Kong
versus various countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin
America.
While Hong Kong has undoubtedly emerged as a hub for cultural
and financial innovation, both historically and now under the
banner of Web3, in the emerging markets, including El Salvador and
South Africa, we see the formation of crypto hubs in their own
right.
Caselin talked about three primary dimensions of crypto
transformation: cultural, financial, and monetary. He noted Hong
Kong excels in cultural transformation, embodied by Web3, NFTs, and
community building, and has also been pro-active on the financial
front, such as with the recent launch of both Bitcoin and Ethereum
ETFs. Emerging markets, however, are experiencing a more pronounced
financial and monetary transformation.
“These regions are witnessing a rapid shift towards financial
participation through crypto,” Caselin explained. “We’re seeing a
surge in remittances, payments, and the development of new
financial infrastructure to make it easier to hedge against
domestic conditions. Moreover, the potential for monetary
transformation, including a decoupling from established fiat
currencies, is more pronounced in emerging markets.”
Caselin noted VALR’s role in driving this transformation. “Our
platform is facilitating institutional and corporate participation
in the crypto economy, enabling access to innovative financial
products and services,” he said. “We believe that by providing
robust infrastructure and supporting local fintechs, we can
accelerate the adoption of digital assets and improve financial
well-being for millions of people.”
About VALR
Founded in 2018, VALR is a global cryptocurrency exchange
serving over 1,000 corporate and institutional clients and close to
700,000 traders worldwide. Headquartered in Johannesburg, VALR is
licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South
Africa, approved to offer services in Europe, and has received
initial approval from Dubai’s VARA. The exchange has secured $55
million in equity funding from prominent investors, including
Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Avon Ventures, affiliated
with Fidelity Investments' parent company. For more information,
visit: valr.com.
Contact
VALR
press@valr.com