Key Points
- Hassan Ahmed, Coinbase’s regional director for Southeast Asia, remains optimistic about the long-term prospects of the digital asset industry despite current market conditions.
- Ahmed suggests that the changing U.S. policies could lead to a significant shift in global crypto regulations, with potential benefits for the industry.
Hassan Ahmed, the Southeast Asian regional director for Coinbase, shared his views on the current state of the cryptocurrency market in a recent interview.
Despite the current market downturn, Ahmed remains positive about the future of the digital asset industry.
Macroeconomic Factors Influencing Crypto
In response to a question about whether the current market slump is driven by general sentiment or larger macroeconomic factors, Ahmed pointed to the latter.
He spoke of a “macro malaise” phase, with a strong focus on fiscal policy, tariffs, rate cuts, and the maturing U.S. government debt.
Shifting U.S. Policies and Global Impact
Ahmed also touched on the potential for global cryptocurrency policies to change under the current U.S. administration.
He suggested that a move away from the previous administration’s stance on crypto could be a “huge regulatory and structural unlock”.
He referred to initiatives like Operation Choke Point, which created a challenging environment for financial institutions to engage with crypto firms.
However, Ahmed believes this is changing, with the U.S. now “leaning into crypto big time”.
Ahmed also suggested that financial hubs, particularly Singapore, may need to reassess their approach to the crypto sector and their vision for its future.
He argued that all jurisdictions should reconsider their policies in light of the G20.
Furthermore, he proposed that establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve could be a wise move for nations aiming to strategically position themselves in the digital economy.
