Major Conference in Asia To Hear Different Views On Bitcoin’s Future
Billed as “The Future of Payments, Innovation, Disruption, Collaboration,” Cards and Payments, Asia 2015 will give payment professionals a chance to hear different perspectives on bitcoin and digital currency. The show, April 22 and 23 at the Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore, aims to help payment industry decision-makers figure out which solutions are most likely to dominate commerce. Organizers expect 8,000 attendees will visit exhibits and hear more than 200 speakers at 120 sessions.
Erik Wilgenhof, chief compliance officer of ItBit, the Singapore-based bitcoin exchange, will speak on “Where digital currencies come from and where they are going.” Wilgenhof’s will speak on Wednesday, April 22.
Creating confidence in bitcoin
Wilgenhof is a natural choice to speak on bitcoin, according to Mildred Ang, conference producer for Terrapinn Pte. Ltd., the show organizer. “His title as the compliance officer will provide us with an interesting session because he’ll talk about creating confidence in bitcoins– an area which many are concerned with,” Ang told CCN.com.
On day two, Dante Fuentes, chief compliance officer at Philippines-based Security Bank Corp., will speak on “The unregulated e-moneys” and “Fighting ID fraud in money transfers.” “The Philippines is a growing market for cryptocurrencies,” Ang explained. “Coming from a bank’s perspective, he will able to provide a set of insights that is different from crypto advocates.”
Fuentes told CCN.com he has been studying alternative currencies, bitcoins, and alternative payments for two years.
“As president of the Philippines Association of Bank Compliance Officers, Inc. (ABCOMP), I experienced the concerns raised two years ago by ABCOMP members of regarding several bitcoin companies setting up in the Philippines and opening bank accounts,” he said. “This led me to focus and study alternative currencies, bitcoins and alternative payments.”
Ang said digital currencies are a technology that merits attention at Cards and Payments, Asia, 2015.
“We have seen a growing number of innovative technologies that are disrupting the traditional means. It will be interesting to observe the future direction of bitcoins in Asia; the markets which are most receptive, and the different uses for bitcoins and the statistics of adoption rates.”
Digital brings a new payment model
“We place a strong focus on disruption and innovation, and new technologies are always a part of our program,” Ang continued. “In this case, digital currency and bitcoins is definitely changing the traditional modes of payments, thus our decision to touch on this area. Though uptake is relatively slower in Asia, we see the rise in recent years. Thus, we believe it’ll be a refreshing viewpoint for our audience who are in the payments field.”
“Secondly, Cards & Payments is a platform to form new networks and share ideas with the whole community from the banks, regulators and telcos in Asia. Thus, we are happy to have non-traditional players like bitcoin advocates to exchange their insights and ideas on the technology and hear what others have to say.”
Ang noted that connected commerce is changing how retailers and merchants connect with customers, who demand easier, faster alternatives to cash, and traditional payment methods. Digital wallets are launching across the globe; banks are developing their own apps and now with the emergence of bitcoin and digital currencies, the future is unpredictable.
Five shows for the price of one
Show attendees will also be able to attend four complementary shows in addition to Cards and Payments Asia 2015. They include Retail World Asia 2015, Ecommerce World Asia 2015, FutureBank Asia 2015, and Cash Handling Show Asia 2015.
