Is Crypto Dead? What to Buy/Mine? FinTechs beyond Blockchain?

A close-up of a Bitcoin held against a price chart showing market fluctuations, symbolizing the debate on whether crypto is dead and highlighting opportunities in blockchain and FinTech investments.
Bitcoin held in front of a declining price chart, reflecting the question ‚Is Crypto Dead?‘ and exploring future investment strategies. | Photo Credit: via Marco Verch

Is crypto dead? With Bitcoin crashing to its lowest this year, losing over 25% in a week, many investors are asking this exact question.

Yesterday, on my way to an AI roundtable, I had an interesting conversation about the future of crypto assets. I met Michael, who works for one of the world’s biggest insurance companies, on the train from Frankfurt to Munich. Of course, our conversation started with a nifty 7-minute Tableau demo – a wonderful ice breaker!

After closing the demo with the Bitcoin Dashboard on Tableau Public, the conversation quickly headed towards crypto assets and (non-)blockchain FinTechs. These are the top 3 of Michael’s questions that I want to share with you – together with my answers:

1. Is the blockchain innovation dead or is crypto dead?

Absolutely not! Blockchain is a relatively new technology which has a long way to go before it becomes mainstream. Last year, the most successful projects were those that aimed at adapting new technologies for convenient use. Furthermore, crypto assets create a new structure of safe and anonymous storage and management of information. Projects like Ethereum have proven to be extremely useful for building steady and secure smart contracts, cloud storage, and product quality control.

For a deeper dive into blockchain’s potential, I recommend my previous post: Digital Banking: The Opportunities of Blockchain, AI, and Machine Learning.

2. Are there still interesting crypto assets to buy or to mine?

Yes, indeed! In particular, I suggest focusing on crypto assets targeting innovative use cases. If you buy these, you are actually investing in technology projects:

  • Chainlink (LINK): Provides decentralized oracles that connect smart contracts with off-chain data, essential for the future of decentralized finance (DeFi).
  • Stellar (XLM): Focuses on cross-border payments and financial inclusion, making it ideal for emerging markets.
  • VeChain (VET): Specializes in supply chain management and ensures transparency in logistics.
  • Factom (FCT): recently announced a partnership with Equator PRO, and according to the press release that announced the -partnership, Equator PRO is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that aims to offer efficiency and oversight to help other mortgage servicers.
Factom use cases highlighting blockchain applications such as proof of existence, digital identity, audit history, and compliance—examples that address whether crypto is dead or evolving.
Factom use cases demonstrating blockchain solutions like proof of existence, data integrity, and compliance—key insights into the ‚Is Crypto Dead?‘ debate.

For mining, consider these:

  • Grin (GRIN): Uses the privacy-focused Mimblewimble protocol, offering scalable and anonymous transactions.
  • Ravencoin (RVN): Focuses on asset tokenization and remains a strong candidate for mining enthusiasts.

For more insights into diversifying a long-term crypto portfolio, see my blog post: How to Diversify a Long-term Crypto Portfolio.

Definitely! FinTech innovation goes far beyond blockchain. Key areas to watch include:

  • AI-powered Financial Analytics: Platforms like Tableau and Microsoft Power BI are transforming how businesses visualize and analyze data in real-time. AI integration can deliver actionable insights faster than ever.
  • Robo-Advisors: Tools like Betterment and Wealthfront use machine learning to provide personalized investment strategies.
  • Alternative Lending Platforms: Companies like Mintos and Funding Circle are making loans more accessible to small businesses, leveraging AI and data analytics for risk assessment.

Outlook: Is Crypto Dead or Ready to Evolve?

The question „Is Crypto Dead?“ often arises during downturns, but history suggests resilience. Blockchain technology is still in its early stages, and future innovations, such as quantum-resistant cryptography and tokenized real-world assets, will shape its evolution.

We may soon witness seamless integration of AI with blockchain, enabling self-governing smart contracts and predictive financial models. Moreover, decentralized finance (DeFi) is set to challenge traditional banking structures, creating opportunities for financial inclusion on a global scale.

For a broader discussion on trends impacting digital banking, explore my earlier post: Digitalization Trends in Finance.

What’s your view on crypto?

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Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.