How traditional investors can adapt to the crypto revolution

The rise of cryptocurrency has posed a significant challenge to traditional investors, many of whom struggle to grasp its abstract value and futuristic potential.

Roundtable anchor, Rob Nelson, joined futurist and Quant Index founder, Armando Pantoja, to explore how conventional thinkers can embrace this paradigm shift and find opportunities in the digital economy.

"There's going to be two types of people going forward with cryptocurrency," said Pantoja. "One type will never accept it because to do so would mean admitting a vast oversight in their life. The other type will step back and ask, 'Where did I miss this? How can I change my thinking to adapt?'" He stressed that those willing to embrace change will find success in the years to come as crypto continues to shape the financial landscape.

Nelson highlighted the skepticism many traditionalists face, referencing a conversation with the chief of staff at Bitcoin Magazine. "We were joking about how people say, 'It's just numbers and calculations, how does it have value?' And he said, 'When we go to Mars, you won't be putting gold on rocket ships, but you could take bitcoin.'" Nelson pointed out that this shift in thinking requires a departure from the tangible measures of value that have historically dominated finance.

Pantoja emphasized that traditional metrics like gold and physical assets no longer fully apply in the digital age. "Intrinsic value is evolving," he said. "We once measured value in tangible assets like gold or farmland, but now we live in an era where abstract concepts like blockchain hold real value. It's hard for traditionalists to see that, but it's essential to expand your thinking."

Drawing parallels to the Industrial Revolution, Pantoja underscored the importance of adaptation. "Back then, land and farming were the primary sources of value. People struggled to understand how factories could hold value on smaller plots of land. It’s the same now with blockchain—it's a new kind of value." He added, "No matter how old you are, you have to accept change. One day, I may face the same challenge, but I hope to keep expanding my thinking."