Citigroup Strategic Advisor: Reflections on Bitcoin

The cryptographic advances and technologies underlying Bitcoin will likely play a major role in the development of the Internet of Money, that is, an Internet era, digital money ecosystem. But, as is the case with all complex platforms, its architecture, protocols and governance will have to evolve. It remains to be seen whether the resulting platform will still be called Bitcoin or something else will have taken its place.

For the foreseeable future, the bulk of the money flowing through such a digital money ecosystem will continue to be based on existing currencies. Digital currencies may play important niche roles. It’s not clear at this point whether Bitcoin itself will be one of the surviving digital currencies.

Given the central role played by money in all aspects of the economy, society and our personal lives, governments will continue to regulate its use, whether based on existing or new digital currencies.