On Sunday, August 11th, at Foresight 2024 Hong Kong, Ben Caselin, the Chief Marketing Officer of VALR, the cryptocurrency exchange backed by Pantera, gave a keynote speech on the unique adoption trajectory of cryptocurrencies in emerging markets.
Caselin’s presentation clarified the notable distinctions between the adoption of cryptocurrency in nations such as Hong Kong and those in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
While Hong Kong has certainly become a center for financial and cultural innovation, both historically and now, under the umbrella of Web3, we are also seeing the emergence of independent crypto hubs in developing economies, such as South Africa and El Salvador.
Caselin explained:
“These regions are witnessing a rapid shift towards financial participation through crypto. 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 discussed the cultural, financial, and monetary aspects as the three main facets of the crypto revolution. He said Hong Kong has shown excellence in community building, Web3, NFTs, and cultural transformation. It has also shown initiative in the financial sector, as seen by the recent introduction of Ethereum and Bitcoin ETFs. However, there is a more noticeable financial and monetary shift taking place in emerging nations.
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.”
