Since the early days of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, Erkan Kemiksizgil has been locked in. More important, he’s been even more locked in over the past few years as the markets became more exciting to watch in 2017.
He has spent a lot of time learning about digital currency and how it could change the way transactions happen and how blockchain technology can redefine how businesses operate, much like the Internet has done over the past 20 years.
Since he has been following the trends for years, we were eager to interview him and get some insights on how he feels about the industry right now, and where he sees it going in the future. Although it has had some ups and downs, he is still optimistic about the future of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
What made you fall in love with digital currency?
I really like the early days of digital currencies like Bitcoin because it seemed so underground. I have always been intrigued by new ideas that challenge the norm.
Currency markets around the world have many flaws and cryptocurrency is trying to offer a great alternative.
How often do you use cryptocurrency, and do you see it as a method of payment or just an investment right now?
For the most part, I have held onto my cryptocurrency. At times, I will diversify my investments a bit, but I still feel like there is a lot of growth to come as an investment.
With that said, I have purchased a few things with Bitcoin simply to test the viability of the currency when used with merchants. My transactions have all gone smoothly, and I think it will become more of the norm in the next few years especially with digital currencies which are less volatile in terms of price and better suited for transactional purposes.
Are you still as optimistic as ever about cryptocurrency?
I still feel as though cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is the future of transacting online (and even face to face with merchants) quickly and efficiently.
It just has a lot of room for growth, but it takes time for any industry to mature and be utilized for great things. The industry is making strides, slowly but surely.
I do think that many of the current (smaller) cryptocurrencies will fade out, but the big ones like Bitcoin will stand the test of time as the finite supply of Bitcoin has the potential to truly make it an asset, currency, and utility for applications which may exist in decades to come.
There are some people who are skeptical about whether it will ever truly “take off”, but I think when companies like Facebook creating their own digital currency, it’s more than just a trend at this point.
As a digital marketer, you are always locked in on the latest trends. Are people starting to understand cryptocurrency a bit better?
Back when Bitcoin really served as just a speculative digital asset a couple of years ago, most people were hearing about it for the first time. They made their judgments about cryptocurrency right then and there, for better or worse.
I think as more and more legitimate companies start to rely on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, knowledge will start to grow in the industry and be applied to more traditional / conservative businesses without those businesses even know the technology their supporting is supported by elements of a blockchain.
Many people (including myself) are actively seeking websites that accept cryptocurrency as payment, which means that when merchants are fully ready to embrace digital currency we’ll see more transaction volume which will likely lead to more adoption.
What advice would you give to people who are still trying to learn about cryptocurrency?
The first thing I would say is to not be afraid of the future. It might seem intimidating at first, but in the end, the goal is to simplify transaction processes and move value from point A to point B with the least amount of friction as possible.
Also don’t be afraid to invest in cryptocurrency right now if you see long-term growth potential of a particular digital asset.
There is still a lot of growth coming, so it’s not too late to profit if you buy at the right time.
There is a ton of information out there to read up on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, enjoy the learning process and grow from there.
