Bitcoin tech will disrupt derivatives, says banker

摘要

The technology underlying crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin is likely to be a disruptive force in the derivatives market in the coming years, with settlement, trading and securities issuance most likely to be affected, according to bankers and technologists. The so-called blockchain technology at the centre of crypto-currencies is beginning to be applied to exchanges, securities and protocols that support trading in derivative markets. "Blockchain technologies can make banks more efficient - for example through instantaneous settlement rather than the days it takes at present, lower costs and lower operational risk," said Alex Batlin, chief technology officer for innovation at UBS, at the IDX Derivatives Expo in London. "The simple lesson for banks is that if we don't do it someone else will."