Jonny Fry / James Tylee of Digital Bytes by Team Blockchain on Cyber.FM featuring Andrew Delves, Senior Relationship Manager, ClearBank

DeFi, and how it is challenging financial markets - DeFi is financial applications on an open, programmable blockchain for activities such as saving, lending, sending money, trading, investing and more. Rather than relying on third parties, DeFi encourages open-source cooperation whilst maintaining security. DeFi is able to learn from and use many of the traditional financial tools. However, compliance staff are inherently nervous of change and the potential unknown risks associated with innovation, so adoption of DeFi by regulated institutions will be slow to gather momentum.

Some different ways in which to invest in cryptos - the investment choice available has expanded considerably given the explosion of cryptocurrencies: NFTs, DeFi tokens, utility tokens, security tokens, stablecoins etc. The technology that powers cryptos is revolutionising the finance sector, so are there any changes that it brings to investment? Is there anything to keep in mind when looking to invest in cryptos?

How NFTs can be used in loyalty programs - with global brands engaging with NFTs, the potential is that these digital assets are going to change the relationship between organisations and their consumers, enabling firms to create new innovative loyalty programs. But, in order to capitalise on this, venturing brands must know what they are embracing, as challenges abound - likewise, the opportunities.

Can cryptocurrency go from underground punk to stadium rock? - familiarity doesn’t always breed contempt - sometimes it helps engender trust. The Rolling Stones were once seen as an incredibly bad example to a generation of kids, now they’re a regularly touring legacy rock band. Time has a way of eroding sharp edges, making what was once unpalatable into wholesome family entertainment. Is this crypto’s problem? Is it simply too new to be trusted, and all that’s needed to fix the problem is time? In this article, Andrew Delves, Senior Relationship Manager at ClearBank, examines crypto’s trust problem and how regulation, standards and emulating the competition will be key, making this hellraiser a lot cuddlier.

Digital Bytes Show on Cyber.FM - on this week’s Digital Bytes Show, we talk to Leon-Gerard Vandenberg, CEO of Sunified, about the use of Blockchain technology to create crypto anchors meaning that consumers can have greater assurance as to how the electricity they use is being generated. This is facilitated by putting a digital wrapper around electrons thereby creating a new asset class for investors. Potentially these tokens of electricity can help fund the huge capital requirement the electricity industry faces in order to upgrade the world’s ageing electricity grids which are, themselves, under ever greater pressure as we decarbonise society and rely less on petrochemicals and more on electricity to power our vehicles, homes and workplaces.