united nations headquarters - february 10, 2017

CanBitcoinSolve Global Poverty?

© 2017 Juan Llanos

United Nations Headquarters, February 10, 2017

@JuanLlanos

© 2017 Juan Llanos

Is the United Nations the world’s hospital?

Adult population with NO USE OF formal or semiformal FINANCIAL SERVICES

© 2017 Juan Llanos

SCALE

GLOBALUNIVERSAL

© 2017 Juan Llanos

“Poverty is the greatest challenge facing the world today”2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda

cryptocurrency (b)value transfer network (B)

open platform (B)© 2017 Juan Llanos

O P E N / P U B L I C

P R O G R A M M A B L E

D I S T R I B U T E D C O N S E N S U S

N O D O U B L E - S P E N D

T R A N S PA R E N T L E D G E R

REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY

freedom to ownfreedom to transferfreedom to innovate

© 2017 Juan Llanos

PERMISSIONLESS INNOVATIONCORRUPTION- & CENSORSHIP-RESISTENCE

the moneyopportunity

© 2017 Juan Llanos

PROBLEMmisguided/incompetent/corrupt governments take advantage of fractional-reserve-based monetary system

high/hyper inflation, currency controls, monetary debasement hurt millions

OPPORTUNITYbitcoin/cryptocurrencies as alternative store of value

preferable even despite volatility

© 2017 Juan Llanos

Cutting prices by at least 5 percentage points can save up to $16 BILLION/YEAR.

the remittancesopportunity

© 2017 Juan Llanos

PROBLEMdisadvantaged/emerging economies are highly dependent on family remittances

cost of remittances highest where infrastructure underdeveloped, competition limited and regulation restrictive

OPPORTUNITYcutting prices by 5% can save senders up to $16 billion/year (World Bank)

bitcoin/cryptocurrencies as cheaper alternative transfer mechanismsP2P de-monopolizes remittance corridors

the global commerceopportunity

© 2017 Juan Llanos

PROBLEMdisadvantaged/emerging economies are cut off from global (e-)commerce

talented entrepreneurs and merchants blocked from exporting goods and services

OPPORTUNITYleverage increasing mobile connectivity with the “Internet of Value”

potential explosion in “gig economy” micro-enterprises

© 2017 Juan Llanos

HERNANDO DE SOTO SHOWS AN ”ARTISANAL” CHAIN OF TITLE

Underground economy

© 2017 Juan Llanos

$10 TRILLION

the property rightsopportunity

© 2017 Juan Llanos

PROBLEMunregistered assets are “dead,” cannot serve as capital

rightful owners of property at mercy of corruptionlack of credibility of right ownership and transfer at a distance (time + space)

OPPORTUNITYleverage decentralized, tamper-evident, anti-fragile properties of open blockchains

the identityopportunity

© 2017 Juan Llanos

PROBLEMcurrent systems: invasive, ineffective, exclusionary, non-interoperable, vulnerable

human rights violations; inability to engage in binding contracts; impediment for financial inclusion

OPPORTUNITYleverage decentralized, tamper-evident, anti-fragile properties of open blockchains

enable self-sovereign identity (user autonomy and control)meet both civil liberties and law enforcement goals

the renewable energyopportunity

© 2017 Juan Llanos

PROBLEMoil-based energy expensive, negative environmental impact, unsustainable long-term

oil and gas traded only in USD à impact on local economies

OPPORTUNITYCommunities as consumers + producers of renewable energy (smartgrids)

tokenization + kwh-denominated trading

PARADIGMScha l lenged

m o n e ys o v e r e i g n t y

s e c u r i t yr e g u l a t i o n

p r o p e r t yi d e n t i t y

l a wg o v e r n a n c e

© 2017 Juan Llanos

© 2017 Juan Llanos

THE ULTIMATEOPPORTUNITY

PROBLEM“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” (Lord Acton)

most humanitarian actions address symptoms, not root causespower imbalances and asymmetries are at core of inequality

OPPORTUNITYlower ”our vulnerability to the whims of strangers” (Nick Szabo) via open blockchains

reduce human subjectivityenhance access, equality and freedom

@JuanLlanos

Thank You

united nations headquarters - february 10, 2017

Economy & Finance