CoinSummit kicked off its first day in London's financial district, bringing together Bitcoin enthusiasts to discuss the future of virtual currencies. Held under a grand glass roof—a fitting metaphor for transparency—the two-day event featured 10 panel discussions and presentations, offering startups a platform to showcase their ideas to investors, media, and peers.
Roger Ver: "The Future Belongs to Us"
Roger Ver, often called the "Bitcoin Jesus," opened the summit with a speech titled The Future Belongs to Us. He began by asking the audience who was "bitcurious" or eager to learn more about Bitcoin, sharing his own journey of discovering Bitcoin three years ago. Ver concluded by urging attendees to educate their friends and families about Bitcoin's benefits.
A globetrotting evangelist, Ver recently flew from Hong Kong to New Jersey and then to London—a 20-hour trip made more exciting by booking his Expedia.com hotel room with Bitcoin.
Venture Capital's Growing Interest
Ver and Garrick Hilleman presented CoinDesk's Q2 Bitcoin report, highlighting a surge in venture capital (VC) investments. The panel included:
- Barend van den Brande (Hummingbird Ventures)
- Jan Hammer (Index Ventures, BitPay investor)
- Geoff Lewis (Founders Fund)
- Pantera Capital (Bitcoin Arbitrage Fund)
Lewis was the most outspoken, comparing Bitcoin's startup boom to the rise of Web 2.0 and social media. Van den Brande noted European VCs' caution: "We’re stepping out of our comfort zone, but most are still观望." Hammer emphasized the need for consumer-focused apps, warning that merchant adoption had outpaced consumer demand.
When asked about VC value in an era of crowdfunding, Lewis quipped: "Assume their primary value is writing checks."
Wall Street's Cautious Stance
Participants debated when Wall Street giants would join the crypto economy. Panelists included:
- Chad Cascarilla (Liberty City Ventures, itBit CEO)
- Alec Petro (Bay Hill Capital)
- Michael Terpin (Social Radius)
Terpin asked Wall Street to rate Bitcoin on a scale of 1–10. Cascarilla gave a 3.5, citing regulatory hurdles: "Banks make it复杂的. If regulations were clearer, I’d say 7–9." Petro speculated that institutional funds were already quietly investing.
Bitcoin and Financial Services
This panel explored Bitcoin's integration into traditional finance:
- Matthias Kroner (Fidor Bank): "Bitcoin is financial education. People who discuss it are unafraid of volatility."
- Tim Parsa (BitReserve) dismissed Bitcoin as a U.S. currency: "We won’t even adopt the metric system!" He criticized盲目 supporters, comparing them to Esperanto salesmen.
Bitcoin Price Predictions
Experts shared 2014–2017 forecasts:
| Name | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Steve Waterhouse | "Prices are rising." |
| Jan Hammer | "Not my job to guess." |
| Geoff Lewis | "$2,000 by 2014." |
| Chad Cascarilla | "$1,850 (2014); $18,500 (2017)." |
| Alec Petro | "$1,200 (2014); $3,000 (2017)." |
FAQ
Q: Is Wall Street investing in Bitcoin?
A: Only selectively, like Pantera Capital. Most await clearer regulations.
Q: Why focus on consumer apps?
A: Merchant adoption is ahead, but sustainable growth requires user demand.
Q: Can Bitcoin become a national currency?
A: Unlikely, per Parsa—"Americans won’t even use metrics!"
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