This news service hosted two separate webinars, in association with Nickel Digital Asset Management, exploring the themes around bitcoin and the fast-expanding world of digital assets. With bitcoin prices surging in recent weeks, the topic is hot, and drawing increasing interest from the mainstream financial sector.
The fast-expanding world of digital assets, such as bitcoin, and how they should fit into portfolios was discussed in two recent webinars involving this publication in association with Nickel Digital Asset Management.
Both panels – one pitched at the Asia market, and the other at Europe – featured Anatoly Crachilov, founding partner and CEO, at Nickel Digital Asset Management. (Crachilov has also recently spoken to this news service in an interview on his investment views – see here). In the Asia panel, other speakers were Anndy Lian, inter-governmental blockchain advisor, and Evrard Bordier, managing partner and CEO at Bordier & Cie. The European recording can be viewed here and the Asia recording here.
On the European panel – moderated by this news service’s group editor, Tom Burroughes – he and Crachilov were joined by Benedikt Kuka?ka, digital assets, at Julius Baer.
Both webinars addressed the question of why and how bitcoin has arisen, the best way of defining it, and what part it plays in the portfolios of high net worth clients. The panellists also discussed why digital assets are now becoming more mainstream, and what the future may hold.
Both webinars last an hour and, as readers can see, there is so much more left to discuss. Consequently, this publication’s editorial team intends to continue tracking this sector from a wealth management viewpoint.
The editors are keen to hear from the wealth sector about its views, so do please contact tom.burroughes@wealthbriefing.com if you have follow-up comments.
Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.
Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.
2020 was the year Crypto went Institutional and with some of the large institutions investing into Crypto including Private Banks, Asset Managers and wealth managers, we will discuss the fundamental drivers behind this market to help wealth managers understand the role of digital assets in portfolio construction. We will examine where this market is going, what are the opportunities and associated risks.
Questions covered:
– Define our terms: How best to understand what Bitcoin is?
– Why does the market exist, what’s driving it and how?
– Why wealth management clients should consider digital assets and how can they be part of portfolios?
– What challenges exist for private bankers and wealth managers in handling this business, such as around custody, settlement, regulatory controls?
Webinar Objectives:
– To clearly define and explain Crypto Assets and achieve a clear understanding of this asset class
– Discuss the benefits it can give a client portfolio, while assessing the risks and trying to reduce these
– Offer a discussion forum for questions related to this asset class
This webinar is held on 9th March 2021, organised by WealthBriefing and Nickel Digital. Speakers include Anatoly Crachilov, Founding Partner & CEO, Nickel Digital; Anndy Lian, Intergovernmental Blockchain Advisor; and Evrard Bordier, CEO and Managing Partner Bordier & Cie, Singapore.
“Bitcoin’s set cap makes it more reliable than other scarce assets. It will eventually function as a store of value and as a means of payment, even though that might not be the case today.
At this point, the inherent deflationary nature of Bitcoin leads to hoarding and speculation, driving price volatility. But once Bitcoin has finished accumulating value, when it has become a large and liquid asset, it will be much more stable than it is today. This trend is already visible.” Anndy Lian commented during the event.
Crypto Assets are a relatively new asset class very different from traditional asset classes but one that can add real value as an uncorrelated source of returns. Nickel Digital has just recently finished an analysis reflecting an impact of 1%-3% allocation to Bitcoin within a standard 60% equity / 40% fixed income portfolio. The findings (over a statistically significant 8-year period) indicate that such a controlled allocation not only boosts performance of the underlying portfolio, but also improves Sharpe ratio, thus resulting in a more efficient portfolio construction.
Speakers:
Anatoly Crachilov
Founding Partner & CEO, Nickel Digital
Anatoly is an investment professional with 25 years of experience in investment management and private equity. Prior to co-founding Nickel Digital in 2019, Anatoly was for seven years with investment management divisions of Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan dealing with asset allocation and portfolio construction.
Anatoly earned an MA degree in International Business from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia and Executive MBA degree from the University of Oxford in 2009. He returned to Oxford in 2018 to be among the first cohort of global investment professionals to complete Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme, which ultimately led to co-founding of Nickel Digital.
Anndy Lian
Intergovernmental Blockchain Advisor
Anndy Lian is an all-rounded business strategist with more than 15 years of experience in Asia. He has provided advisory across a variety of industries for local, international & public listed companies. Anndy played a pivotal role in not-for-profit and quasi government linked organizations. An avid supporter for incubating start-ups, Anndy has investments in a few health-related companies. He believes that what he is doing for blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses.
Evrard Bordier
CEO and Managing Partner Bordier & Cie, Singapore
Evrard Bordier is chief executive officer of Bordier & Cie, Singapore. In addition, he serves as managing partner of Bordier & Cie Group since 2011, and is president of the board of Bordier Bank (TCI) since 2000. Prior to his current role in Singapore, he was managing director of Bordier International in London for 10 years.
Evrard has been in the financial industry for over 25 years, during which he has garnered extensive international experience holding diverse positions in Singapore, Hong Kong, Geneva, Zurich, and London. Between 1997 and 2000, he served as chief of staff for the Financial Planning and Wealth Management Business Division of UBS in Zurich, overseeing all of its asset management business units across the world. Prior to that, he was a client adviser in the private banking department of Swiss Bank Corporation in Singapore where he covered the markets of Indonesia and Taiwan. He first moved to Asia in 1994 and joined Nomura International in Hong Kong as a broker. Evrard began his professional career as a lawyer at Lenz & Staehelin in Geneva, specialising in the banking and finance practice. Evrard is a direct descendant and fifth generation of the bank’s founding family. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Turks and Caicos Islands Bankers Association, the Financial Industry Association, and the Swiss Financial Planner Organisation.
Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.
Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.
Anndy Lian gave a speech on “Cryptocurrency Regulation & Commercialisation 2021” at the Digital Assets Investment Conference on 13 November 2020. Anndy is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial blockchain entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author “Blockchain Revolution 2030” and currently the Advisory Board Member of Hyundai DAC Technology. In his speech, he gave an overview of regulations for cryptocurrency globally for 2021 & beyond, commercial adoption & implementation, and finally trends to look out for in 2021.
An Overview
He started by sharing some positive headlines:
– Investment banking giant JPMorgan is about to see the first commercial transactions with its own cryptocurrency, JPM Coin.
– PayPal allows Bitcoin and crypto spending. It has gone live today.
– Jack Dorsey’s Square buys $50 million in bitcoin
– Mode allocated up to 10% of cash reserves to purchase #Bitcoin and adopt it as a treasury reserve asset
– DBS Bank Is Planning to Launch a Digital Asset Exchange
– 22 Indian Bank Branches to Begin Offering Crypto Banking Services
– Alibaba Founder Jack Ma: “Digital Currencies” Are the Future
– World’s Second-Biggest Bank, China Construction Bank (CCB) has tapped Labuan-based digital asset exchange Fusang for the issuance of $3 billion worth of debt securities over a blockchain.
Then he also shared the not so positive headlines:
– BitMEX founder arrested for violation of US anti-money laundering laws
– China’s OKEx halts cryptocurrency withdrawals after founder arrested
– $150M Stolen by Hackers from KuCoin Crypto Exchange
Based on the above, Anndy felt that this is a positive sign in his opinion and stated that the blockchain and cryptocurrency space is taking its shape. Regulations are catching up. Investors are more aware of what they are investing in. And it is heading for mainstream.
Government attitude
The surveyed countries have categorized cryptocurrencies differently for tax purposes, as illustrated by the following examples:
Israel→taxed as an asset
Bulgaria→taxed as a financial asset
Switzerland→taxed as foreign currency
Denmark→subject to income tax and losses are deductible
United Kingdom→corporations pay corporate tax, unincorporated businesses pay income tax, individuals pay capital gains tax
In Singapore, the nation has started recognizing cryptocurrencies in 2017. The Payment Services Act (PSA) in Singapore, which came into effect on 28 January 2020, stated that cryptocurrency businesses must obtain a license from MAS to comply with AML/CFT regulations. This expands to companies that both transfer cryptocurrency within Singapore and outside of Singapore.
Similarly, more forward-looking countries have also started their public consultation for specific crypto-related bills to be passed.
To sum up, in this part, Lian emphasizes that we have to follow the rules and be upfront and open when dealing on unclear grounds. Having said so, the crypto space has been shifting and changing very fast. Experts should also find channels to update governments of the latest developments like Defi, AMM, and PMM and keep them informed of the latest scams and Ponzi schemes in the market. Proper education and awareness must be told to their people to avoid any form of fraud. Leading exchanges like Binance are always giving free lessons and updates on the industry. Information from credible sources and channels like them should be a useful reference. A formalized think tank in blockchain and cryptocurrencies accredited by the government must also be set up to be the voice.
Paths to commercialization
There must be clear incentives for the stakeholders and clients to drive proper ROI on the blockchain solutions. It should potentially have the ability to create revenue and cost-saving outcomes by using this new technology.
Blockchain technology implementation is no different from other technology. There must be clear strategic objectives, road maps, and specialized skill sets needed to drive commercialization and deliver business value.
It should also be an integrative approach, able to scale and provide a level of standardization so that existing data management and process standards can be applied to the blockchain solution.
Trends in 2021
Anndy highlighted that prop trading would be introduced, and social trading will gain more popularity in early 2021. On top of this, he also stated that STO would be more mature in 2021, more licenses will be approved, and will be operational in Q4.
Lian also mentioned briefly that DeFI would be more sustainable next year, stating that most of the higher risk companies would be flushed out from the ecosystem because of competition.
He mentioned that there would be more licensed LOTTO businesses getting into the crypto space.
Finally, he is optimistic that 2021 will hit a new milestone for the leading blockchain companies, and governments will be supportive. He also ended with an insightful quote.
“I do think that it is possible that Bitcoin goes to $100,000 but once it starts to affect governmental monetary policy and fiscal policy. You will see a whole different reaction.”- Anndy Lian
About Anndy Lian
Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial blockchain entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author “Blockchain Revolution 2030” and currently the Advisory Board Member of Hyundai DAC Technology. He plays a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region. Anndy is also part of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Blockchain Special Committee, Government of Republic Korea, together with industry experts such as Brock Pierce. You can read more about Anndy’s work at www.anndy.com
About STOBOX:
STOBOX gives businesses access to a worldwide community of retail and private accredited investors. They provide a full range of services for issuing next generation digital security on a distributed ledger, including legal structuring, technical setup, preparation of marketing materials and organization of a fundraising campaign. The offering of digital securities is conducted in complete compliance with EU financial regulation.
Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.
Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.
