Sharing her thoughts on the legal and moral implications of CBDCs on the sidelines of the Paris Blockchain Week Summit, Irina Heaver, General Partner of Ikigai Ventures, explains why she is optimistic about gold and Bitcoin.
“This is why CBDCs are dangerous”
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) continues to be heavily discussed in many countries around the world. Heaver, partner of Ikigai Ventures, a Europe-based global venture capital firm that invests in blockchain, gaming, mobilization, artificial intelligence and edge technology, says CBDCs are a disaster for individuals:
A terrible idea for citizens, but for governments to look at. It’s a great idea for people because they want control. This has been evident in all the unconstitutional quarantines and pandemic measures implemented in the past two years. For example, it is legal for the government to say that you can’t buy food today because you decided not to follow some totalitarian rules that we implemented yesterday.
Irina Heaver explains why she is so optimistic about gold and Bitcoin
Bitcoin and gold are investors’ safe havens to hedge inflation. Heaver highlights the importance of two assets:
During the global financial crisis in 2008, I read everything I could find about gold, the economy, and inflation hedges. I turned into a big golden beetle. I started saving my earnings in gold because I understood what governments do to our savings and bank accounts. And from there there was a rapid jump to Bitcoin. The principles are the same for both gold and Bitcoin, scarcity and the fact that both are hedges against inflation.
Regarding the element of trust, Heaver has this to say about Bitcoin:
I conclude that Bitcoin is digital gold because you store gold somewhere in your vault outside of the financial system. You can remove it. It’s the same with Bitcoin, you need to store it properly and have the technical know-how to be sure. You cannot be attacked. No third party risk. Bitcoin is yours and no one can take it.
Heaver adds that silver is another investment he loves in the long run:
Why not buy some of your savings in gold, silver and Bitcoin? Why not invest in each other? Why not have all these assets?