Earlier this week, Dadi Kristjansson, CEO and Co-Founder of Viska Digital Assets, had the privilege of moderating a panel at the Digital Assets Forum in London. The panel, titled "Industry Outlook: Macro Trends and Predictions for 2025," featured a robust discussion with Tim Grant (Deus X Capital), Patrick Heusser (Trident Digital), and Oliver Tonkin (BCB Group).

Viska was also represented at the conference by Gulli Gislason, and Jon Gronvold, both of whom were present to contribute to the discussions and gain further insights into the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.

Gulli Gislason, Jon Gronvold, Dadi Kristjansson and Siam Kidd of DSV Fund at the Digital Assets Forum.

Key Themes Discussed at the Panel:

1. Political Shifts in the US

The panel discussed how the US is positioning itself to take the lead in the digital asset space. The panelists emphasized the potential for US leadership to drive global innovation in the industry. With the US moving ahead with more favorable policies and regulations, questions were raised about how this would impact Europe. Will Europe manage to keep pace, or could it fall behind as other regions embrace digital assets more rapidly?

2. Institutional Adoption and the Need for New Capital

Another focal point was institutional adoption. The success of ETFs and the growing interest from US banks in the digital asset market were highlighted as positive developments. However, the conversation also touched on the challenge of attracting fresh capital from large institutional players, including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and insurance companies. The panelists discussed the critical need for the industry to better understand the requirements and risk comfort levels of these major capital sources in order to encourage their participation.

3. Nation States and Central Banks Exploring Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset

A significant topic of conversation was the growing interest in Bitcoin and other digital assets being considered as reserve assets by nation-states and central banks. Examples were cited, such as the Czech Central Bank's exploration of Bitcoin as part of its reserves. While there is increasing dialogue on this, some panelists, including Oliver Tonkin, expressed skepticism about whether major central banks like the European Central Bank would adopt Bitcoin in any substantial way.

4. Regulatory Challenges and the Importance of European Action

The panelists also pointed out that regulatory clarity is essential for the growth of the industry. While the US seems to be moving quickly with aggressive regulatory approaches, there was a strong consensus that Europe needs to catch up.

Key Observations and Predictions for 2025:

The panelists noted that stablecoins are likely to remain at the center of digital asset discussions throughout 2025, with their use cases and circulation continuing to rise globally. Regulatory frameworks will need to evolve to keep pace with innovation, especially as the market expands and the need for clarity around digital asset policies grows.

Forum proved to be an invaluable opportunity for Viska’s team to engage with industry leaders and gain insights into the macro trends influencing the digital asset market.

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