MasterCard Exec Talks Cautious Approach to Blockchain Tech

A MasterCard exec has said that while the firm is interested in blockchain tech, it intends to be cautious with its strategy in this area.

AccessTimeIconJan 21, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 11, 2021 at 12:06 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

A MasterCard executive has said that while the firm is "very, very interested" in blockchain technology, it will take a cautious approach to its experimentation with the tech while it believes it is still developing.

Speaking to Business Insider at the World Economic Forum in Davos, MasterCard CIO Garry Lyons outlined the steps the major global credit card network has so far taken to explore the industry.

Lyons said:

"Like the rest of the world, we’re interested in seeing where blockchain technology goes."

The comments come at a time when thought leaders in the traditional payments and finance industry are increasingly skeptical about the growing hype around "blockchain" and distributed ledger tech and its potential.

Lyons hinted at the growing chorus of blockchain enthusiasts, saying that every tech panel he attended at this week's Davos conference mentioned blockchain, with some even calling it "the second coming".

"While we think it’s very interesting, we don’t want to, and no one wants to, be blindsided by rushing into it,” he told the news provider.

Lyons went on to speak positively about MasterCard's partnership with industry investment conglomerate Digital Currency Group (DCG), which the company said would help provide it with a strong connection to the industry.

Disclosure: CoinDesk is a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group.

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.