In a recent episode of the “Unchained” podcast, hosted by Laura Shin, the guest speaker was none other than Tom Robinson, the co-founder and chief scientist of Elliptic, a blockchain analytics and cryptocurrency compliance firm. Robinson has been in the crypto space for quite some time, having co-founded Elliptic in 2013, and he shared his thoughts on the current state of the industry.
The episode starts with Robinson explaining what his role entails. Robinson explains that he manages the developer product group responsible for internal crypto infrastructure, developer-facing products and protocol-facing efforts. Despite the regulatory activity and “drama in the market,” Robinson believes building in the crypto space has never been this exciting. He also talks about how Elliptic is helping to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the crypto world, by providing compliance solutions for financial institutions that want to get involved in crypto.
Robinson also discusses the current state of regulation in the crypto space. He notes that while there are some jurisdictions that have been very proactive in regulating crypto, such as Japan and Switzerland, there are others that have been less so. Robinson believes that this lack of regulatory clarity is hindering innovation in the space, as companies are hesitant to invest in new projects without knowing what the regulatory landscape will look like in the future.
When asked about the recent rise in popularity of decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, Robinson notes that while there are some exciting projects in the space, there are also a lot of scams and fraudulent projects. He believes that it is important for investors to do their due diligence and research projects thoroughly before investing.
Robinson also touches on the topic of privacy in the crypto space. He notes that while privacy is an important feature for some users, it can also be used for illicit activities. Robinson believes that it is important to strike a balance between privacy and transparency, and that there are ways to achieve both.
Overall, Robinson is optimistic about the future of the crypto space. He believes that we are still in the early stages of development, and that there is a lot of potential for innovation and growth. However, he also notes that there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as regulatory clarity and the need for better security measures.
In conclusion, the “Unchained” podcast episode featuring Tom Robinson provides valuable insights into the current state of the crypto industry. Robinson’s experience and expertise in the space make him a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
