Blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and decentralised finance are described by some as massively disruptive technologies that will turn our existing financial system on its head. For the traditional financial services industry, these technologies have the potential to create huge efficiency gains and democratise more complex financial services for individual users. On the other hand, DeFi also reduces – and potentially removes – the need for trusted intermediaries, which makes the model unsettling to some operators in the current financial system. DeFi also opens the opportunity for global financial inclusion of enterprises and private individuals in developing markets – a very large group whose needs are typically unmet by traditional finance. With all this huge potential about to be released, we better learn why these technologies are so revolutionary and what will they do for us now and in the future. To answer these questions and many more relating to DeFi, I recently spoke to Daniel Liebau. Dan is the Chief Investment Officer, Blockchain Strategy at Modular Asset Management and the Founding Chairman of Lightbulb Capital, a DeFi investment and consulting firm. In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, Dan and I discuss: Why is DeFi so revolutionary and the opportunities and risks that lie within this space for individual users, corporations and nation statesThe difference between Payment, Utility and Security tokens and how these are likely to be used in our future financial systemThe utility of NFTs and their future as an asset categoryHow blockchains, cryptocurrencies and DeFi will be part of our lives in 5, 10 and 20 years respectivelyWhat Dan is teaching his FinTech, crypto and DeFi students, and much more.  Daniel Liebau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liebauda/ Lightbulb Capital: https://www.lightbulbcap.com/

Data, networks and AI are eating the world and industries such as banking, insurance, utilities and telecommunications are changing rapidly as a result. As an online product comparison portal and trusted third party to millions of consumers, Finder.com is well placed to be a huge winner from this trend. The company sits in the middle of many data-heavy industries that are about being disrupted by the data revolution. The guest on this episode of Leaders of Analytics is Finder.com’s co-founder and CEO Fred Schebesta.  Fred is one of Australia's coolest and most successful entrepreneurs, now worth over half a billion dollars – all without funding. He’s passionate about disruptive innovation and is a leader in the startup community where he shares his successes and knowledge as a mentor, international speaker, media commentator and author. In this episode we talk about: How Finder has grown from a two-man band to an international company.How Finder is planning to use their recently received accreditation under CDR/Open Banking and what it means for Australian consumers and the financial services industry.How Finder uses AI and machine learning to understand people’s finances and help them to better financial outcomes.Why the company is betting big on cryptocurrencies and decentralised finance, including paying employees in Bitcoin.How crypto will form part of the financial system of the future.Fred’s new book, “Go Live! 10 Principles to Launch a Global Empire”.