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The founder of Onchain Capital, and host of CNBCÂ Africaâs âCrypto Traderâ show, Ran Neu-Ner, recently discussed his outlook for cryptocurrency regulation, initial coin offering (ICOs), and shared his outlook for several top cryptocurrencies markets. Mr. Neu-Ner described Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum as markets that he intends to âHODLâ, adding that right now, he is passing on BTC in favor of more âexcitingâ virtual currency markets.
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Onchain Capital Founder Warns That Lack of Regulations May Stifle Entire Cryptocurrency Industry
In an interview with CNBCâs Fast Money, Mr. Neu-Ner described the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as having taken an appropriate position in cautiously monitoring the cryptocurrency markets up until now, however, warned that a failure to introduce clear regulatory apparatus pertaining to virtual currencies may be to the severe detriment of the United Statesâ burgeoning cryptocurrency industry.
âI think the initiative by the SEC was a great one, but I think the joke is on the SEC now because they need to come up with regulation now, if they donât come up with regulation, they may stifle an entire industry,â he said.
Mr. Neu-Ner added: âNow I know they are balancing investor protection with the need to grow an industry, but if you look to places like Japan and Singapore, theyâve got thriving ICOs, and theyâve got a thriving new industry, and my fear, having travelled extensively to that region, and spoken to all the founders and the legislators there, is that the US actually may be falling behind, and that we may not get a silicon valley here in the USA, because it may all fall into the legislations that are favourable towards these ICOs, and have got some kind of regulation in place.â
Mr. Neu-Ner Warns of Potential âBrains Drainâ if Regulators Fail to Act
When questioned as to whether he believed that continual innovation in the cryptocurrency sector was contingent on the legitimation of the ICO industry, the Onchain Capital Founder stated âWell you can get the innovation without the ICOs, and thatâs what the U.S. people are doing, they are establishing companies in places like Malta and Gibraltar, and Singapore, and place where there are favourable tax incentives, and places where the regulation speaks well towards ICOs.â
Mr. Neu-Ner also warned that âthe U.S may get a brains drain towards those areas â if you go to Singapore [or] Japan, youâre speaking to Americans, and theyâre there because they want to launch their ICOs.â
âI think the SEC did adopt a responsible approach by taking their time to see what is happening with the industry, but now we know that crypto is real, we know [that] crypto, and the blockchain, is not going anywhere anytime soon. And now theyâve got to come to the party, and give us some kind of regulation, so we know where we stand,â he concluded.
Onchain Capital Founder Passes on BTC
Mr. Neu-Ner also participated in Fast Moneyâs âHODL or FODL?â segment, in which he gave his assessment of the outlook for several major cryptocurrencies.
Regarding BTC, he stated âI like bitcoin a lot, but Iâm going to FODL. Mr. Neu-Ner stated that although he believes that the price of bitcoin is currently âlow,â and that the price âis going to continue to go up [âŠ] slowly and in a stable way,â Mr. Neu-Ner emphasized that âthere are more exciting cryptocurrencies out there, and if youâre going to ask me whether Iâm going to put my money in bitcoin, or something more exciting, Iâm going to go with something more exciting.â
When asked of if his âFODLâ response to bitcoin was due to greater institutional investment dampening down the volatility of the BTC markets, Mr. Neu-Ner stated âa little bit of that, but, a lot of the money is going from bitcoin, and even Ethereum and the more established coins, into this ICO frenzy.â
Mr. Neu-Ner continued: âThereâs this frenzy happening which is not on the markets, [âŠ] where hundreds of millions of dollars are going into ICOs â whereâs that money coming from? Itâs not coming from fiat, itâs people cashing in their bitcoin and their Ethereum, and when they cash in the markets are going to go down.â Despite such, Mr. Neu-Ner does hold a bullish outlook for BTC and ETH, adding âThat said, I do think the institutions are going to come in towards the end of this year â theyâre going to go to bitcoin and Ethereum first, and then the market is going to go up.â
Mr. Neu-Ner Bullish on BCH and ETH
When asked of his outlook for Bitcoin Cash, Mr. Neu-Ner resolutely stated that heâs âHODLing,â adding âI think thereâs a lot of potential for Bitcoin Cash, I like the team [âŠ] that are driving it â itâs all the old bitcoin people.â
Mr. Neu-Ner jokingly predicted that his stance would lead him to be âmurdered on Twitterâ by âthe trolls and the bitcoin maximalists,â adding that âI love both Bitcoin Cash and [bitcoin] equally, but if you ask me where I put my money right now, Bitcoin Cash has more potential.â
Regarding Ethereum, Mr. Neu-Ner states âHODL for sure,â adding âtheyâve got the biggest community in the industry â thousands of people, the smartest people in the room. Theyâve got use cases, [and] theyâre solving their scaling issues [âŠ] so Iâm holding Ethereum.â
Mr. Neu-Ner Throws XRP in the Garbage
When of XRP, the Onchain Capital founder stated: âRipple Iâm throwing in the garbage.â Mr. Neu-Ner elaborated, seeking to distinguish between âRipple, the company â one of the best companies [he] know[s],â and âXRP, the token â [of which he] canât work out what itâs used for.â
Mr. Neu-Ner stated that âRipple, the company, does the banking systems, it âreplacesâ bank to bank transfers, primarily international money transfersâ â adding that âyou donât need the XRP token to do that.â
Mr. Neu-Ner concluded that âSo as far as I know, I canât find a use for the token, so Iâm out.â Adding âitâs centralized, and that defeats the whole purpose of blockchain.â
Do you agree with Mr. Neu-Nerâs predictions for markets? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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