Korea IT Times celebrates its 20th anniversary with Insightful columns from local and international thought leaders. Following contributions from experts across various fields in July, August, September, October, and November, we now introduce this December's column.
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Jin Hyung Kim, Emeritus Professor at KAIST: "AI Jesus Speaking 100 Languages, Miracle or Threat?"
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Jong-Shik Kim, Chair Professor of aSSIST University: "An Aging Society and Startups"
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Emanuel Pastreich, President of The Asia Institute: "Yoon Fights Dirty, Are Koreans Ready?"
- Justin Banon, Founder of Boson and Fermion Protocols: "Significant Crypto Milestones in 2024 and What to Expect in 2025"
- Sven Lindström, Executive VP, Midsummer: "Solar Energy Trends in 2025"
- Wonki Jeong, Prof., Department of Radiology, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University - Towards New Value in Radiology"
By Justin Banon
Significant Milestones in 2024
The approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the US was a significant milestone, legitimizing crypto investments and opening the doors for institutional adoption. However, the most impactful development was the election of a pro-crypto administration under Trump. This event marked a dramatic shift in the US, transitioning from an anti-crypto regulatory stance under the previous administration to actively positioning itself as a global crypto hub. This policy shift signals the end of the "war on crypto" and the beginning of a supportive regulatory environment to foster innovation and growth. Markets have responded with overwhelming optimism, evidenced by Bitcoin's meteoric rise to $100k, setting the stage for unprecedented momentum and signaling the dawn of a new era for the industry.
Why 2025 Will Be Exciting
2025 is set to be the mother of all bull markets for crypto, driven by several interconnected factors. The anticipated decrease in interest rates will lower the cost of capital, boost liquidity, and create a favorable macroeconomic climate for risk-on assets like crypto. The US's shift to pro-crypto policies, including clear and workable regulations, will provide much-needed regulatory certainty, attracting institutional investors and fostering innovation. Additionally, speculation about a US strategic Bitcoin reserve could further legitimize Bitcoin as a store of value, potentially positioning it as the digital equivalent of gold. This convergence of economic, regulatory, and strategic developments is expected to drive significant capital inflows into the crypto market, reinforcing its role as a transformative financial asset class.
MiCA and China
With the EU’s MiCA regulations coming into full force in 2025, Europe is set to lead in establishing a clear, comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto, providing stability and attracting institutional players. Meanwhile, speculation about China’s new approach suggests a shift from strict bans to exploring strategic engagement with blockchain technology and potentially integrating crypto into its broader digital economy goals. Together, these developments position crypto as a new dimension of national and regional competition alongside AI, quantum computing, and space exploration, marking 2025 as a transformative year for the industry
Blockchain Use Cases in 2025
Luxury brands are increasingly set to adopt blockchain and crypto as they face flatlining revenues and shifting consumer priorities. Economic uncertainty and a younger, digitally native demographic—Generation Z and Alpha—demand seamless digital experiences and innovative engagement. With significant untapped wealth in crypto wallets, luxury brands see an opportunity to rejuvenate sales and connect with these emerging consumer groups.
Blockchain enables this shift through several strategies. Tokenizing physical products as redeemable NFTs allows for secure, peer-to-peer commerce with blockchain-backed guarantees. Digital Product Passports (DPPs), now required in the EU, provide a foundation for transparency and traceability, which can support tokenized resale markets. These secondary markets not only create new revenue streams but also offer brands valuable data and foster circular economics.
Crypto represents the future of consumer behavior and the luxury market. By embracing blockchain, luxury brands can align with the evolving expectations of younger generations, redefine exclusivity, and position themselves as leaders in the next era of commerce and innovation.
Big Developments in 2025
An area that has flown under the radar this year but could become significant in 2025 is the convergence of two transformative technologies: AI agents and decentralized protocols. Together, these technologies are set to redefine commerce. AI agents are poised to disrupt traditional Web2 platforms by introducing efficiency and intelligence to economic activities. However, for reliable operation in commerce, they depend on the trust-minimized, verifiable execution capabilities of decentralized blockchain protocols.
While decentralized systems have the potential to displace intermediaries, their complexity has made them largely inaccessible. The combination of AI’s intuitive interfaces with blockchain’s transparent and reliable execution removes these barriers. This synergy enables a commerce ecosystem that is intelligent, efficient, and user-driven, with the potential to disrupt incumbents like Amazon, unlock trillions of dollars in value, and pave the way for a new, computable economic order.
Potential Growth Sectors
The tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) emerges as a sector ripe for growth in 2025, promising to transform industries by making both digital and physical assets blockchain-enabled. Digitally native RWAs, such as cash and stocks, will likely continue to gain traction as traditional financial systems integrate blockchain for increased efficiency and transparency. Physical RWAs present more complex challenges but offer immense potential. As technological solutions bridge the gap between the physical and digital realms, innovations in custody, oracle technology, and decentralized protocols will drive significant advancements, creating new opportunities in sectors such as real estate and supply chain management.
Global Crypto Adoption
Geopolitical shifts are poised to accelerate global crypto adoption significantly. In the U.S., the pro-crypto policy stance following Trump's election, alongside the appointment of Paul Atkins as SEC Chair, indicates a regulatory environment supportive of crypto expansion. This environment is expected to boost adoption and reaffirm U.S. leadership in the sector. In China, a Supreme Court ruling signaling a softer stance on cryptocurrency points towards a controlled adoption that aligns with its broader blockchain strategy. Meanwhile, the Middle East is quickly becoming a crypto powerhouse, with Dubai at the forefront due to its forward-thinking regulations and incentives. These dynamic developments highlight a rapidly intensifying global race to become the leading crypto innovation hub, fostering accelerated adoption and growth across the industry.
