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The TOKEN2049 conference concluded at Marina Bay Sands, where the global crypto industry focused on its transition from a niche movement to a mainstream financial sector.
Discussions among the more than 25,000 attendees centered on the practical applications of stablecoins, the urgent need for regulatory clarity, and the integration of digital assets with traditional finance.
Industry at the Crossroads
Charles Hoskinson, CEO of Input Output, defined the conference’s theme during his keynote.
- He stated that the crypto industry now has a “seat at the table” with regulators.
- “It’s easy to be the rebel,” Hoskinson said, “but now that we won, we now have to lead as an industry.”
- He called for a unified focus on the onboarding of the next billion users through secure and accessible systems.
This view was complemented by Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev. He predicted a future where “there will be no distinction between crypto and tradfi.”
Stablecoins and Asia Lead Discussions
Stablecoins were a primary topic, especially at the pre-conference Kaia Summit.
Panelists asserted that Asia is a global leader in stablecoin use and highlighted applications that included remittances in Indonesia and retail payments in South Korea.
Ploy Boonyavee of Tether Asia cited a Thai government plan for tourists to use stablecoins as an example of increased real-world utility.
A key development came from Base creator Jesse Pollak, who announced the launch of the Singapore Dollar (XSGD) and Australian Dollar (AUDD) stablecoins on his network. “What’s missing in all growth in the crypto economy is the non-dollar stablecoins,” Pollak said. He emphasized that local currencies are critical to drive adoption and connect national economies to onchain finance.
Institutions and Regulatory Clarity
Panel discussions with executives from Binance, Circle, CME Group, and Bitwise addressed institutional investment. Binance CEO Richard Teng stated his company’s goal is to serve both centralized and decentralized markets.
The conversation on regulation pointed toward a new phase of collaboration. David Katz of Circle said that clear rules promote good behavior and will ultimately unlock liquidity. While panelists acknowledged the U.S. remains the largest market for liquidity, they also recognized the importance of global talent and favorable tax policies in other nations.
Focus on User-Friendly Future
Industry leaders repeatedly stressed that user experience is as important as technical innovation. “A lot of web3 people are trying to make new chains… but what we need is ‘ease of use’,” said Jonathan Low of BipTap.
In a rare keynote, OKX founder Star Xu declared, “The Future of Finance starts in your wallet.” He presented his company’s strategy, which includes self-custody tools and a new Layer-2 network.
Across panels on Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and AI, the consensus was that the underlying technology must become simpler for the average user. Leaders from Aave and Hyperliquid predicted that complex products like perpetual swaps would soon become more accessible to a mass market.
Token2049 returns to Dubai and Singapore next year.
This article is published on BitPinas: Wrap Up: TOKEN2049 2025 Shows a Crypto Industry at a Crossroads
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