We often discuss how change is in the air. There is so much taking place it can be overwhelming. Cryptocurrency is right in the middle of it all and really disrupting a great deal. As they say, the fun is just beginning.
Before we get into the topic of this article, let us look at Netflix. What did that company really do? How did it alter the video industry and basically bankrupt Blockbuster in a few short years?
The answer lies in the fact that the distribution model was change. Netflix simply removed the middle man, at least to an extent. While it is still in place, it is radically different from the service Blockbuster provided. It also changed the expense ratio.
For example, a monthly Netflix subscription costs what a handful of video rentals went for. Yet, one can get hundreds of hours of video entertainment for the cost of 3 films. That is a radical alteration in the pricing model. Hence, we see two benefits.
This is how disruption works.
The demise of outfits like Visa is in the works. At present, they are still a strong, global leader. However, their basic business is facing a major threat from cryptocurrency.
What is the problem with Visa? The basic issue is that it is an expensive rent-seeker. The fees that merchants are charged by entities like this are significant. This can often cut into the margin that companies operate upon. Of course, we mostly see the costs turned over to the consumer, pushing the price of things up.
Cryptocurrency along with blockchain promises to eliminate many of these extractors. Payment services are enormous business that is primed for disruption.
The value that a Visa provides is to validate the purchaser on behalf of the merchant. Obviously, allowing a stranger to walk out with a product is a dangerous game. How does the shop know it will get paid? This is the role Visa fulfills.
In a cryptocurrency based system, there is no need for validation. The work is done by blockchain. That is the validation mechanism that charges nothing for the service. Of course, depending upon what chain one is on, transaction fees can end up being worse than what Visa or Mastercard charge.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of chains out there which are much less expensive in terms of transaction cost than what Visa charges. This is especially true on larger ticket items since those type of companies tend to operate on a percentage basis. When dealing with a car or something like that, we can easily be talking hundreds of dollars in fees.
The ultimate goal of cryptocurrency is to bring more efficiency to our global financial system. We have systems in place that date back decades, without much change. This means they are primed for disruption.
Unfortunately, the present system has little incentive to upgrade what is taking place. We basically see monopolistic systems in place whereby the money is flowing and little to disrupt it. So why spend a fortune to upgrade something when people are basically locked in?
That is the nature of all monopolistic enterprises. Cryptocurrency obviously seeks to interrupt that.
What is very interesting is that networked systems are forming all over the place. This mean, in my opinion, that we will not see a single replacement for the likes of Visa. Instead, there are going to be many different merchants, spread on a variety of networks, that accept payments in a lot of forms. Some merchants might end up taking a dozen or so cryptocurrencies. Once wallets improve to the point where it is instant swap capability, why not?
This does not bode well for the present payment systems. Sure they could add technological innovation but it is tough to alter your business model, especially as a public company. Wall Street looks at things quarter-to-quarter, meaning any drop in profitability is not well received. The idea of looking long-term is not in the make up of these types of entities anymore.
That is the window of opportunity for cryptocurrency. While institutions are trying to hold onto their business models, the disruption can start to take place. It gets to the point where even when they realize it is coming, there is little they can do to stop it.
Hence Visa and companies like it are on the clock. The countdown to their eventual demise has begun.
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