On the show we have Kokila Alagh, Founder of Karm Legal and Akshata Namjoshi, Senior Associate at Karm Legal speaking to us.

We discuss:

• How progressive the implementation of regulation has been
• Comparing regulations/initiatives around ADGM, DIFC, ESCA and Central Bank of Bahrain
• The recent public consultation paper issued by ESCA
• How to enter the MENA market from a regulatory and strategic standpoint? What licenses should companies look at? How as a company entering the region should we label ourselves?
• How long it takes companies to graduate from a sandbox?
• International regulatory landscape
• Why Karm Legal are bullish on security tokens?

Nic also asks his usual bunch of futuristic ‘What if’ questions which results in inspired answers and we also diverge into other Fintech topics too.

Special Guests: Akshata Namjoshi and Kokila Alagh.

Ahmed and Faisal sit together to open the 2019 year with 4 predictions and trends the duo expect to see in the new year.

The first trend is of course the rise of Security Tokens/Digital Securities and Security Token Offerings/Digital Security offerings (yes the industry has yet to properly set key terms and definitions, and so they are being used interchangeably). They explain what they are, why they are important and what we expect to see in this space.

The second trend is all about tech implementation. This revolves more around the simple fact that many big tech implementations such as Ethereum’s Casper, main nets of popular projects and the usability of layer 2 solutions are due to launch in 2019. This will showcase whether the complementary pieces that seeks to improve some of blockchain’s weaknesses will actually show some promise. It is a huge thing to look out for as the industry is depending on the tech advancements from these grand experiments.

The third is all about education and adoption. The duo believe there will be more education and adoption about the core tenets of the technology but also from the perceived benefits that this technology brings. Ahmed argues that we need to be comfortable as a society with fully automated and truly digital experiences before decentralisation seeks to take place.

Lastly, the pair touch on regional developments and what to expect from the UAE in terms of country wide regulation and how self-regulation is happening at a governmental level.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

AND

We have our feedback form abiut Encrypted, please do not forget to support us and fill it in! Tell us your thoughts about the show!

https://faisalalhawi.typeform.com/to/fxfOpk

Sources:
2019: The Year Digital Securities Offerings Become the New ICOs

Blockchain in 2019: Trends to watch

Then, the hosts discuss the recent Venezuelan government move which forces citizens who wish to obtain a passport to pay using the controversial Venezuelan cryptocurrency: Petro. They explain what the Petro cryptocurrency is and they discuss the impact of such a move and how it affects the country’s citizens.

Finally, the hosts share and discuss the announcement of the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of regulating ICOs as securities. They exchange opinions on this direction and how it could foster or hinder the ecosystem’s advancement.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Sources:
The Myth of the Infrastructure Phase
Crypto Now the Only Way Isolated Venezuelans Can Buy Passports
ICOs Get a Green Light in the UAE