Why would we write about a boring report by a bank in The Optimist Daily? Because the report is on bitcoins and the bank is Goldman Sachs, an important pillar of modern finance. “Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are part of a technology ‘megatrend’ that could change the fundamental mechanics of transactions”, says the report. “Bitcoin, along with improved payment security, ‘big data’ analytics and faster payment networks are the components of a technology trend that will disrupt the payments ecosystem.”
Goldman Sachs may still use careful words. After the disruption caused by house-sharing- and car-sharing-initiatives to the hotel- and taxi-industries, the world of finance is the next candidate for a fundamental transformation driven by the internet. Look at the many bank buildings around you in the big city centers, they won’t be there much longer. And the money will flow more freely.