Blockchain
Transparency, egalitarianism and inclusiveness – these are the fundamental principles behind bitcoin (BTC), the software that spawned the rapidly evolving crypto industry.
However, with the acceleration of this relatively nascent sector, it has become clear that these values are not always fully realized, as underlined during the “Crypto Integrity: Zero Knowledge Protocols and the First Decentralization Index” panel at the recent Money20/20 event.
Participants Aggelos Kiayias from the University of Edinburgh and Joel Telper from Input Output Global delved into the critical challenges facing the industry, highlighting the potential of zero-knowledge protocols and the development of a decentralization index.
Transparency and the role of zero-knowledge protocols
One of the main themes discussed was the vital importance of transparency within the crypto ecosystem. Recent events involving Tara and FTX, as well as pending litigation, highlight the problem of information asymmetries and mismanagement of funds.
Zero-knowledge protocols, while technically complex and labor intensive to develop, could be a robust tool for ensuring transparency. Essentially, these protocols allow one party to prove to the other party that they have specific knowledge without disclosing any information about that knowledge.
The promise of these protocols lies in their ability to maintain privacy while ensuring secure, trustworthy transactions, adding a vital layer of integrity to blockchain systems.
The decentralization index
An equally compelling point of discussion was the level of decentralization inherent in blockchain systems.
Decentralization is a fundamental feature of these systems and a major draw for those involved in crypto. It is also attracting attention from a regulatory perspective due to concerns about information asymmetry and systemic risk.
However, the lack of a common definition of decentralization complicates the assessment of this aspect in blockchain systems.
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Researchers at the University of Edinburgh are tackling this problem with the development of a decentralization index. This open source is intended to provide a holistic and accessible measure of a system’s level of decentralization.
This innovative tool allows parties interested in assessing the decentralization of a system to do so with a robust, open methodology.
Turn off and regulate
The panel discussion further explored the complex subject of staking in crypto and its regulatory implications. Staking is holding a cryptocurrency in a digital wallet to support the activities of a blockchain network, such as transaction validation.
However, the nuances of strike can have a significant impact on the legal and regulatory stance.
For example, forms of staking similar to hedge funds – where crypto is pooled with others and possible penalties (slashing) exist – are very different from liquid staking, where ownership of the crypto is retained and no slashing is involved.
The panelists suggested that types of staking, such as liquid staking without cutting and transfer of ownership, should be exempted from the traditional regulatory framework.
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The process becomes complex, however, when temporary losses can occur with liquidity resistant bets on decentralized exchanges such as Uniswap.
The combination of staking and potential losses based on another party’s performance may resemble traditional investment vehicles, potentially triggering closer regulatory scrutiny. In addition, the loss of asset custody could lead to legal issues and potentially classify LP tokens as derivatives.
Regulations in the crypto industry
A central theme of the discussion was the need for crypto legal systems to help regulators without burdening non-traditional financial institutions with the same regulations as traditional banks.
The transparency, standardization and accessibility of data provided by blockchain technology can make regulation more efficient and effective.
As regulators become more familiar with blockchain technology, they can leverage its capabilities to oversee non-traditional financial services firms. This overview can be managed algorithmically, promoting a shift in the dynamics of the regulatory system.
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