I am combining the three articles I published on Hive in writing this piece. Moreover, I also acknowledged my indebtedness to Google articles, Ark Invest, and artificial intelligence.

Let me start with three Google articles

Typing the phrase “digital assets vision 2030,” on the search browser, Google showed the top 13 articles. Among them, I just want to mention three.

The Dell paper has 10 pages. I browsed them looking for relevant data. The focus of the paper is more on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). There was no mention of blockchain and cryptocurrency. The focus is more on the role of machines.

The KPMG paper is longer. It has 47 pages. It is about "The future of financial services." Fintech and blockchain are mentioned. On page 5, Jonathan Holt forecasted that the financial services of the future will be "more interconnected and collaborative and virtually frictionless." In his mind, four key themes will emerge:

• The first theme is about the role of data that will serve as "the heart of how financial services will make money in 2030."
• As for the second theme, "safe, fast, and automated" transactions have been emphasized.
• I don't like the third theme for it refers to regulation.
• The final theme is about scaling.

Summarizing all the four themes, Holt issued a warning:

Taken together, these themes suggest that by 2030 industry boundaries will disappear. New entrants will disrupt and steal market share. Existing players will become disintermediated by their customers.

Those who fail to adapt will soon become extinct. That's how Holt introduced the "30 Voices" that businesses must listen to for them to know what lies ahead seven years from now.

Among the top 13 articles I read, I find the Forbes article most useful. It was published on 24 August 2021.

Just like my purpose in this post, the Forbes article is just an introduction to digital assets including the related opportunities and challenges. Among the problems the writer mentioned in the existing system include the "limitations on asset class availability, the difficulty of cross-border transfers, and minimum capital requirements." Philipp Sandner is optimistic about the advantages that digital assets can provide due to their inherent "universal applicability." Source

Two Graphs from Ark Invest

 

Source: Ark Invest, Big Ideas 2023

Based on the above graph, the prospects of digital assets are very promising. The research recognizes the role of decentralized entities in the growth of digital assets. Among these digital assets, Ark Invest gave its special attention to NFTs. The investment site even gave a very exciting forecast that I believe will be received gladly by those who invested early in the space:

. . . global NFT transaction volume will grow more than five-fold from $22 billion today to $120 billion by 2027.

If the analysts in Ark Invest are correct and you are already invested in the space, there is nothing to worry about regarding the future of your investment though at present you are anxious if you made the right decision due to the depressed price of your holdings.

Source: Ark Invest, Big Ideas 2023

The second chart shows that in the NFT space, gaming occupied a big portion in 2019 and is almost unrecognizable in 2022. However, the good news is that speculation in gaming is now being replaced by an emphasis on art, collectibles, and utility. Now that we are in the last quarter of 2023, I think the trend remains intact onwards.

Seeing the above two charts reminds me of my recent engagement with @alokkumar121 three days ago. He shared a post about his experience purchasing an SPS node validator license in the Splinterlands game a year ago, and how the value of the license has significantly decreased since then. As I read his article, I got the impression that he was reflecting on whether he made a strategic decision and whether he should purchase another license. I commented that the coming years will tell if his Splinterlands assets are worth it. And that's the time I referenced my reading of the Ark Invest material that based on the research, owning digital assets is the future, and that includes NFT cards and the SPS node validator license.

What are digital assets?

Digital assets are varied and here's where I find AI very useful. Though the bot enumerated numerous examples, I just want to focus on four of them:

• digital currency,
• digital art,
• social media accounts, and
• data and databases

Here's how AI describes digital assets:

Digital assets refer to any form of content or media that exists in a digital format and has economic value. These assets are stored and accessed electronically, making them intangible and distinct from physical assets. Digital assets can be owned or controlled by individuals, organizations, or entities, and they are often used for various purposes, including entertainment, business, education, and communication.

In the above description, both layer 1 and layer 2 currencies are classified as digital assets and so not only owning $HIVE and $HBD but also accumulating tribe tokens like $CENT, $SME, $POB, $SPORTS, and others are concrete and strategic ways of growing your digital assets. Of course, in a depressed market like what we have right now, it is easy to be discouraged looking at the current prices of these tokens. However, if digital assets are the future, I firmly believe that growing your stakes now is the wisest decision that you can make. But a warning is proper at this point. This kind of projection still depends on the kind of project or token that you decide to accumulate. Again, the increasing development, use cases, and potential future market demand of these tokens serve as more reliable indicators that you are in a solid project.

Shifting to social media accounts, imagine that if accounts on Web2 platforms can be considered digital assets especially if they have a large following, how much more the value of accounts on Web3 platforms like Hive?

Data and databases, as Jonathan Holt of KPMG argued would play a significant role in the future of fintech and will determine "how financial services will make money in 2030." Reading Pi Network's white paper in December 2021 and watching the documentary video The Social Dilemma published in 2020, I realized the role of data and databases in the growth of the wealth of big tech companies. They collect our information, and they analyze and monetize it without our permission. Now, with the advent of Web3 platforms, real data ownership is decentralized and anyone in any part of the world has an opportunity to grow this type of digital asset.

Other examples of digital assets include:

• digital media
• E-books and online publications
• domain names
• software - this includes mobile apps and games
• digital photos, and
• intellectual property that exists in electronic forms

At present, the value of digital assets remains volatile. Except for security considerations, a serious threat is coming from governmental legal, and regulatory bodies. These are things that one has to consider in investing in this space.

NFTs as a subset of digital art

As for NFTs, they fall under the category of digital art. They have gained significant attention with the rise of blockchain technology.

Joining Splinterlands in August of 2021, I had no idea what NFTs were but I got curious about them when I saw that there are battle cards, which are more expensive than a house and lot combined. I wonder how could that be possible. I didn't understand how things work in the NFT space. Now, that I see its value, my current goal is to keep collecting them.

The prospects of digital assets by 2030

Based on the existing track record of digital assets, AI identified some potential trends and developments that could shape its future by 2030:

• Increased mainstream adoption and integration with traditional finance
• Regulation and standardization
• Environmental concerns
• A more scalable and energy-efficient blockchain technology
• Digital identity and security
• Role of education in public awareness
• Tokenizing physical assets, and
• Genuine empowerment and economic and financial inclusion for the unbanked

Among the above eight trends, I just want to focus on four of them: 

Mainstream Integration

This has been the aspiration of many in the crypto space. We want to see the integration between traditional finance and cryptocurrency. A few have a reservation about pushing through the realization of this dream for they see more of a danger and threat once this project has been realized at the expense of the relative freedom that we are enjoying at present.

Imagine a day when cryptocurrencies, once on the peripheries, are now at the heart of mainstream financial transactions. Imagine a world where you can pay for groceries, buy a cup of coffee, and pay your children's tuition fees, all using digital currencies seamlessly integrated into everyday transactions. Once that day arrives, we could say, that's what true digitalization of the economy means where everyone has equal access to whatever digital assets that will exist.

In such a future, I believe that Hive will play a significant role. The Hive blockchain, primarily utilized just for content creation, curation, and staking tokens would now be part of normal daily financial activity. With its robust and versatile architecture, I anticipate that it will excel in comparison to other "decentralized" entities out there.

Hive blockchain will alter how conventional financial systems function when it becomes more widely used in financial transactions. We firmly believe that its decentralized consensus protocol and smart contract capabilities will make cross-border transactions faster and more secure, removing the need for middlemen and drastically cutting down transaction costs.

Furthermore, Hive is an ideal alternative for both organizations and individuals due to its capacity to manage high volumes of transactions with low fees. We are not tired of repeating that Hive's assimilation into traditional finance will introduce a new era of financial inclusion and accessibility for individuals all over the world while at the same time, opening opportunities to cutting-edge financial products and services.

Educational Enlightenment

Education will play a significant role in mainstream adoption. Despite the distaste of many in the cryptocurrency space of traditional education, I still believe that if we aim for mainstream adoption of digital assets, we cannot downplay the role of schools, colleges, and universities. I am not sure if we can handle the task of educating the majority. Despite the growth of the space, many are still unfamiliar with the intricacies of cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and how they work. Comprehensive educational reform can demystify these concepts, empowering people to make informed decisions about using digital assets.

Educational programs like workshops and conferences, as well as available online resources, can help bridge the knowledge gap, explaining complex topics in simple terms and highlighting the practical applications of digital assets in everyday life.

Furthermore, education fosters trust and confidence among potential users. Cryptocurrencies often face skepticism and fear due to their decentralized and digital nature. By providing clear, accurate, and unbiased information about how digital assets work, their security features, and the potential impact they can have on the global economy, educational efforts can dispel misconceptions and build trust. When people understand what digital assets are and how to use them safely, they are more likely to embrace them. In essence, educational enlightenment serves as the foundation upon which a cryptocurrency-literate society can be built, paving the way for widespread acceptance and integration of digital assets into mainstream financial systems.

With all the foregoing considerations about the role of education, Hive Blockchain, with its educational initiatives and community-driven ethos, will serve as a beacon of enlightenment, nurturing the leaders of the digital future.

Tokenization Revolution

Tokenization is revolutionizing the way we think about assets and finance. As has been argued in my previous post, the tokenization of physical assets is the long-awaited answer to the question regarding the limitation of asset class availability. Such conversion of both physical and other illiquid assets to digital ones and the act of breaking them down into small units is indeed a great financial breakthrough that many would find difficult to understand.

And so with tokenization, traditional assets will experience a redefinition of the value of real estate, art, patents, etc. That to me is made possible because of the power of blockchain technology; digital assets are transforming into tokens, divisible and tradable with exceptional ease. This is the real meaning of financial democracy; previous outsiders can now have access to opportunities that were previously reserved for the privileged few.

In such a revolution, Hive will play a powerful role because of its robust infrastructure and decentralized character, as well as through its stablecoin, $HBD, and layer two front-ends.

As TM keeps saying, one of the major problems in today's financial system is the lack of liquidity or access to capital. Based on his argument, $HBD can enhance liquidity by functioning as a pristine collateral.

Moreover, DApps can also expand this tokenization revolution. These DApps can facilitate peer-to-peer transactions, and crowdfunding campaigns, and even establish entirely new financial ecosystems. By fostering an environment where developers can easily build and deploy token-based applications, Hive accelerates the growth of a global token economy. This democratization of finance allows individuals and businesses to tokenize their assets, raising capital efficiently and enabling investors of all sizes to participate in projects they believe in. As the Hive blockchain continues to evolve, its contribution to the tokenization revolution will be instrumental in reshaping the way we perceive and interact with value, assets, and investments in the coming decade.

Empowering the Unbanked

Having a bank account does not mean you are already out of the unbanked category. If you do not have access to credit just like me, you belong to the unbanked though you have a bank account.

Being unbanked, and struggling financially is part of your normal existence. With such a status, you can hardly contribute to the growth of the economy except for your contribution as a consumer. The good news is that with the advent of blockchain technology and diverse kinds of digital assets, this gap is now being bridged. Blockchain platforms like Hive opening numerous financial opportunities via tokenization is now a tool to empower the unbanked.

And so for people like me and in regions where traditional banking services remain elusive, Hive through its decentralized networks is now empowering the unbanked population and fostering economic growth in previously underserved communities.

Additionally, the Hive blockchain's capacity to tokenize assets gives unbanked people the chance to take part in investment and crowdfunding campaigns, enabling them to raise money for their own or other people's business projects. The unbanked can use Hive to escape the cycle of poverty, obtain access to chances for employment, and thereby enhance their quality of life. This is actually what I intend to achieve by asking my relatives for "tiny investments" to contribute to the capital I have in mind dreaming that after seven years, God willing, I can share with them a story of how I escaped such a cycle of poverty.

Conclusion

The vision of digital assets by 2030 and the projected value of Hive is not a mere dream; its reality is unfolding as I write this article. In the coming years, as we dive deeper into the digital economy, those who remain clueless about what's going on will be forced to catch up due to necessity. Value is undergoing a huge transformation with the aid of cutting-edge technology. If the futurologists are correct, we will see sooner or later the gradual erosion of the distinction between tangible and intangible assets. In moving forward to such a future, Hive stands as a testament to the power of community, technology, and the ongoing quest for constant change.