Blockchain in 2025: A transformative year for the crypto industry
AS the new year dawns, the cryptocurrency landscape is primed for monumental shifts. Sean Kiernan, CEO of Greengage, sat down with James Bowater, founder of The Digital Commonwealth, to discuss the pivotal trends shaping the industry in 2025.
Their conversation touches on the convergence of political support, technological advancements, and regulatory clarity that are redefining the crypto narrative...
James: Sean, thanks for joining me. As we step into 2025, the cryptocurrency industry seems poised for significant shifts. What’s your perspective on the overall landscape?
Sean: Thanks, James. The crypto industry, as we see it today, is maturing rapidly. The adoption curve is steepening, driven by a combination of supportive policies, innovative technological solutions, and increasingly clear regulatory frameworks. These developments are collectively propelling blockchain and digital assets toward mainstream integration across various sectors. Political factors are certainly having an impact. The re-election of Donald Trump has sparked a lot of discussion.
James: Trump’s re-election has reignited the debate around digital assets. His administration has already shown an openness to cryptocurrencies, and there’s speculation about a potential federal Bitcoin reserve. This could fundamentally reshape how cryptocurrencies are viewed by traditional financial systems and could also encourage other nations to rethink their own reserve policies. If the US were to implement such a reserve, it could make Bitcoin a more widely accepted store of value, giving it even greater legitimacy and possibly impacting global monetary policies. There’s also the question of central bank treasuries. Do you think we could see a ripple effect from a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve?
Sean: Absolutely. A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve would be a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency market. If the US were to establish such a reserve, other central banks could follow suit, potentially integrating Bitcoin into their own reserves as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. This would enhance Bitcoin’s credibility as a store of value, and the ripple effects across global monetary systems could be profound, shifting how central banks manage their reserves and influencing their policies on digital currencies.
James: Let’s shift focus to real world asset (RWA) tokenisation. It’s clearly gaining traction. What do you think the broader implications are for the industry in 2025?
Sean: RWA tokenisation is transformative. By creating digital tokens representing ownership of physical or financial assets, we’re unlocking liquidity and enabling fractional ownership. This democratises access to assets that were previously out of reach for many investors. Blockchain ensures transparency and efficiency, and at Greengage, we’re particularly focused on tokenizing private credit - a space we believe will see tremendous growth and innovation in 2025.
James: Greengage has already made significant strides in this space? Could you share more about your work with digital debt?
Sean: In 2024, Greengage became the first company globally to digitise debt on Coinbase Diamond’s platform, in partnership with Hub71 and ADGM. This was a major milestone for us, and we’re eager to build on this success, further integrating digital debt tokenisation into the wider RWA ecosystem.
James: What about the broader predictions for blockchain and digital assets in 2025? How do you see the year unfolding?
Sean: There’s no doubt that blockchain will continue to break new ground, especially in decentralised finance (DeFi), tokenisation, and cross-chain interoperability. DeFi platforms will likely expand to offer a wider range of financial services, such as lending, insurance, and investment - all without traditional intermediaries. The ability for blockchains to communicate and execute transactions seamlessly will make a major difference in the way industries operate. In particular, tokenised assets, including real estate, art, and commodities, will see more widespread adoption, unlocking new opportunities for diverse groups of investors.
James: I agree. We’re also likely to see more regulation in the space, which will bring more institutional confidence. However, we mustn’t forget the role of digital identity in the coming years. Blockchain technology will be key in reshaping the way we think about identity and data privacy.
Sean: The ability for blockchain to offer enhanced security, transparency, and privacy will be essential as digital identity management becomes more prevalent. This could radically change how we approach personal data, not only within finance but across various sectors such as healthcare and education.
As we close this discussion, we wish our readers a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year ahead. May 2025 bring continued innovation, prosperity, and collaboration to the blockchain and crypto communities. Here’s to a promising year ahead for blockchain and crypto.
