Blockchain took centre stage at ADFW during Tuesday’s mid-morning sessions, coinciding with ADGM’s confirmation of Binance’s regulatory approval on Monday.
Jennifer Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton Investments, outlined what she described as the four major barriers preventing blockchain from achieving full-scale adoption.
According to Johnson, these obstacles include:
- AML and KYC complexity – particularly the challenge of tracking tokens as they move across multiple wallets.
- Regulation – despite progress, global regulatory clarity remains uneven.
- Business models – legacy players that risk disruption are often incentivized to slow blockchain adoption.
- Legal frameworks – uncertainties around digital contracts and rights continue to hinder implementation.
Johnson praised ADGM for creating significantly more clarity in areas of regulation, giving “credit to the UAE” for its leadership.
Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst, also noted that concerns surrounding blockchain parallel those seen in AI, where the biggest barrier is trust—from the reliability of agents to the rise of deepfakes and the difficulty of determining what is real.
On business models, Johnson explained that some firms are resistant to innovations like atomic settlement because it disrupts existing revenue structures.
She concluded with a vivid metaphor for the inevitability of blockchain adoption:
“Water runs down the hill; this thing is coming, and this technology is coming to replace the rails of financial services.”
Stay Up to Date with the Latest Financial Insights from ADFW!
Bahrain–Pakistan Fintech Ties Strengthen as GCC FTA Reaches Final Phase
S&P GCC Banking Outlook 2026: Stable for Now Pending Oil Assumptions
Inside the 2025 Wealth Shift: New Billionaires, New Power Shifts
