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>> Okay, welcome back everyone to the Cube's live coverage
in Monaco.
I'm John Furrier, host of theCube.
Monaco Crypto Summit is the event
and there's a big conversation later at the yacht club
with Prince Albert and everyone else will be there,
and it'll be quite the scene.
And Rachel Wolfson is here.
She's with Cointelegraph.
They're the media partner of the event,
the official media partner of the Monaco Crypto Summit.
She's also MCing the event on stage,
presented by DigitalBits.
Rachel, thanks for coming on.
>> Thanks for having me, John.
>> So I know you're busy,
thanks for taking the time cause' you got to go jump back in
and moderate, and keep things on track.
This isn't an inaugural event.
So DigitalBits has exploded on the scene.
I just saw a thing on YouTube news
around this soccer player in Rome,
has DigitalBits logo on their jersey.
They're a big to do cause everyone's popular
and they got a couple teams.
So real world, kind of, assets coming together,
what's going on in the event that you're MCing?
What's the focus?
What's the agenda?
What's some of the conversations like?
>> Yeah, definitely.
Well, it's a great event.
It's my first time here in Monaco and I'm loving it.
And I think that Monaco is really becoming
the next crypto hotspot.
Definitely in terms of Metaverse and Web3 innovation,
I think that we're going to start seeing a lot of that here.
That's what we're seeing today at the Summit.
So a lot of the presentations that we're seeing
are really focused on Web3 and NFT platforms,
so for instance, obviously what DigitalBits is doing.
We watched a video before the break
on Ecosystem and the Metaverse that people can join
and be a part of, in terms of real estate,
but we're seeing a lot of innovation here today with that.
I moderated a great panel with Britney Kaiser,
Lauren Bissell, Taross, I'm blanking on his last name,
but it was about blockchain
and how governments are implementing blockchain.
So that was also really interesting to hear about
what the Ukrainian government is doing with blockchain.
So there's kind of a mix,
but I'd say that the overall theme is Web3 and NFTs.
>> Yeah. Britney was mentioning some of that,
how they're going to preserve buildings and artifacts,
so that in case they're looted or destroyed,
they can preserve them.
>> Right. I think it's called the Heritage Fund.
And I just think it's such an interesting use case
in terms of how governments are using blockchain
because the best use for blockchain in my opinion,
is recording data, and having that data be permanent.
And so when we can have artifacts in Ukraine
recorded on the blockchain, you know by being scanned,
it's really revolutionary.
And I think that a lot of governments around the world
are going to see that use case and say,
"Oh wow,
blockchain is a great technology for things like that."
>> So DigitalBits had a press conference this morning
and they talked about their exchange and some other things.
Did you attend that press conference
or did you get briefed on that?
>> I did not attend the press conference.
I was prepping for my MC role.
>> So they got this exchange thing
and then there's real interest
from Prince Albert's foundations to bring this into Monaco.
So Monaco's got this vibe, big time.
>> Rachel: Right. There's a vibe
(John chuckles)
>> What does it all mean,
when you're putting in your reporting?
What do you see happening?
>> So, I mean, I honestly haven't covered Monaco
actually ever in my reporting.
And John, you know I've been reporting since 2017,
but the vibe that I'm getting just from this summit today
is that Web3 and NFTs are going to be huge here.
I'm speaking, I haven't...
You know, there's a panel coming up
about crypto regulations,
and so we're going to talk a little bit about
laws being passed here in Monaco
in terms of Metaverse and digital identity.
So I think that there are a few laws around that here
that they're looking at,
the government here is looking at
to kind of add clarity for those topics.
>> I had a couple guests on earlier.
We were talking about the old days, a couple years ago.
You mentioned 2017, so much has changed.
>> Yes. >> You know,
we had a up and down.
2018 was a good year, and then it kind of dived back
and changed a little bit.
Then NFTs brought it back up again,
been a great hype cycle, but also movement.
What's your take on the real progress that's been made?
If you zoom out and look at the landscape, what's happened?
>> Right. I mean, well, a lot has happened.
When I first entered the space, I initially came in,
I was interested in enterprise, blockchain
and private networks being utilized by enterprises
to record data.
And then we saw public blockchains come in,
like Ethereum and enterprises using them.
And then we saw a mix.
And now I feel like we're just seeing public blockchains
and there's really... (John chuckles)
But there's still our private blockchains.
But today, I mean, we've gone from that in 2017
to right now, I think, you know,
we're recently seeing a lot of these centralized exchanges
kind of collapsing.
What we've seen with Celsius, for instance,
and people moving their crypto to hardware wallets.
I think that the space is really undergoing a lot
of transformation.
It's really revolutionary, actually,
to see the hardware wallet market is growing rapidly,
and I think that that's going to continue to grow.
I think centralized exchanges are still going to exist
in custody crypto for enterprises and institutions,
and you know, in individuals as well.
But we are seeing a shift from centralized exchanges
to hardware wallets.
NFTs, although the space is, you know,
not as big as it was a year ago, it's still quite relevant.
But I think with the way the market is looking today,
we're only seeing the top projects kind of lead the way now,
versus all of the noise that we were seeing previously.
So yeah, I think it's-
>> So corrections, basically?
>> Right. Exactly. Corrections.
And I think it's necessary, right.
It's very necessary.
>> Yeah. It's interesting.
You know, you mentioned the big players
you got Bitcoin, Ethereum driving a lot.
I remember interviewing the crypto kiddies
when they first came out,
it was kind of a first gen Ethereum,
and then it just exploded from there.
And I remember saying to myself,
if the NFTs and the decentralized applications
can have that scale,
but then it felt like, okay, there was a lot of jocking
for under the covers, under the hood, so to speak.
And now you've got massive presence from all the VCs,
and Jason Ho has like another crypto fund.
I mean, >> Right.
you can't go a day without another big crypto fund
from you know, traditional venture capitalists.
Meanwhile, you got investors who have made billions
on crypto, they're investing.
So you kind of got a diversity of investor base going on
and different instruments.
So the investor community's changing and evolving too.
>> Right. >> How do you see
that evolving?
>> Well, it's a really good point you mentioned.
So Cointelegraph research recently released a report
showing that Web3 is the most sought after
investment sector this year.
So it was DeFi before,
and Web3 is now leading the way over DeFi.
And so we're seeing a lot of these venture capitalist funds
as you mentioned, create funds allocated
just to Web3 growth.
And that's exactly what we're seeing,
the vibe I'm getting from the Monaco Crypto Summit
here today,
this is all about Web3.
It's all about NFT, it is all about the Metaverse.
You know, this is really revolutionary.
So I think we're definitely going to see that trend
kind of, you know, conquer all of these other sectors
that we're seeing in blockchain
right now. >> Has Web3 become
the coin term for Metaverse and NFTs?
Or is that being globalized
as all shifted, decentralized?
What's the read on it?
It seems to be like, kind of all inclusive
but it tends to be more like NFT's the new thing
and the young Gen Zs
>> Yeah want something different
than the Millennials and the Xs and the Boomers,
who screwed everything up for everybody.
>> Yeah. (John chuckles)
No, I mean, it's a great question.
So when I think of Web3,
I categorize NFTs and the Metaverse in there.
Obviously it's just, you know the new form of the internet.
It's the way the internet is-
>> Never fight fashion, as I always say, right?
>> Right. Yeah. Right. (John chuckles)
It's just decentralization.
The fact that we can live in these virtual worlds
and own our own assets through NFT, it's all decentralized.
And in my opinion,
that all falls under the category of Web3.
>> Well, you're doing a great job MCing.
Great to have you on theCube.
>> Rachel: Thanks. I'd like to ask you
a personal question if you don't mind.
COVID's impacted us all with no events.
When did you get back onto the events circuit?
What's on your calendar?
What have you been up to?
>> Yeah, so gosh, with COVID, I think when COVID,
you know, when it was actually really happening,
(John chuckles) and it still is happening.
But when it was, you know,
>> John: Like, when it was
>> impacting- shut down mode.
>> Right. When we were shut down, there were virtual events.
And then, I think it was late last year
or early this year when the events started happening again.
So most recently I was at NFT NYC.
Before that, I was at Consensus, which was huge.
>> Was that the one in Austin or Miami?
>> In Austin.
>> That's right, Austin. >> Right. Were you there?
>> No, I missed it. >> Okay.
It was a very high level, great event.
>> Huge numbers, I heard.
>> Yes. Massive turnout.
(John chuckles)
Tons of speakers.
It was really informative.
>> It feels like a festival. actually.
>> It was.
It was just like South by Southwest,
except for crypto and blockchain.
(John chuckles)
And then coming up, gosh, there are a lot of events.
I'll be at an event in Miami, it's an NFT event
that's in a few months.
I know that there's a summit happening,
I think in Turkey that I may be at as well.
>> You're on the road. You're traveling.
You're doing a lot of hopping around.
>> Yes I am.
And there's a lot of events happening in Europe.
I'm US-based, but I'm hoping to spend more time in Europe
just so I can go to those events.
But there's a lot happening.
>> Yeah. Cool.
What's the most important story
people should be paying attention to in your mind?
>> Wow. That's...
(Rachel chuckles)
That's a big question. It's a good question.
I think most, you know,
the transition that we're seeing now,
so in terms of prices, I think people need to focus less
on the price of Bitcoin and Ethereum
and more on innovation that's happening.
So for instance, Web3 innovation,
what we're seeing here today, you know,
innovation, isn't about prices,
but it's more about like actually now is the time to build.
>> Yeah. because the prices
are a bit down.
>> Yeah. I mean, as, you know,
Lewis Hamilton's F1 driver had a quote, you know,
"It takes a team.
No matter who's in the driver's seat, it's a team."
So community,
Wayne Gretzky skates where the puck is going to be
I think is much more what I'm hearing now,
seeing what you're saying is that
don't try to count the price trade of Bitcoin.
This is an evolution.
>> Right.
>> And the dots are connecting.
>> Exactly. And like I said,
now is the time to build.
What we're seeing with the project Britney mentioned,
putting the heritage, you know,
on the blockchain from Ukraine,
like, that's a great use case for what we're seeing now.
I want to see more of those real world use cases.
>> Right. Well, Rachel, thanks for coming on theCube.
I really appreciate it.
Great to see you.
>> Thanks, John.
>> And thanks for coming out of your schedule.
I know you're busy.
>> Thanks. Now you get some lunchtime
now and get some break.
>> Yeah. Get back on stage.
Thanks for coming on.
>> Rachel: Thank you.
>> All right.
We're here at the Monaco Crypto Summit.
Rachel's MCing the event
as part of the official media partner, Cointelegraph.
Rachel Wolfson here on theCube.
I'm John Furrier.
More coverage coming after this short break.
>> Thank you.
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