The quantity theory of crypto: what is Bitcoin worth as a medium of exchange?

John Lewis

The recent near halving of Bitcoin’s price has reignited debate about its true value. As a store of value, net present value asset pricing models suggest it should be worth zero because it pays no dividend. Yet its price remains far above zero, and its total value is still large despite recent turbulence. In this post I explore the question: what’s Bitcoin’s value as a means of exchange? I show that using a simple quantity theory of money framework helps explain its extreme volatility, the powerful influence of sentiment, how prices can surge even when transaction usage is low, and – crucially – why innovations by competitors and limited retail payment adoption pose significant downside price risks.

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Agentic commerce and the battleground for new payments infrastructure

Prem Munday

Agentic commerce, where artificial intelligence (AI) systems act on behalf of users to find products, negotiate purchases, and execute payments, is developing rapidly. This creates shared responsibility: developers must build legally sound systems, while regulators and infrastructure operators must consider how existing frameworks apply and where new approaches may be needed. The Bank of England operates, oversees and is co-ordinating the design of payment systems as part of its statutory responsibilities. Emerging agent‑based payments can have implications for how the private sector safely innovates and how regulators and payment infrastructure providers adapt. This post explores how agentic commerce could reshape future payment design.

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Integrating blockchain into the insurance industry: is it a revolution brewing?

Aly Soliman

The insurance industry, sometimes perceived as slow to innovate, might witness a major transformation. Blockchain technology, known for its secure and transparent digital ledger, has the potential to revolutionise traditional insurance operations. This shift could potentially streamline processes, introduce new insurance models and products, and help manage emerging risks better. But what does this mean for policyholders and insurers? In this article, with thanks to members of Blockchain & Fintech Working Party at the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries for providing a review, we’ll explore three potential areas where blockchain could impact the insurance sector and the challenges to the sector. But, first, we need to know what is a blockchain and how it works.

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