Pakinomist — With the political climate in the United States shifting, the cryptocurrency landscape is poised for transformative changes under incoming President Trump’s administration.
Once labeled as the wild west of finance, the crypto market is now on the brink of mainstream acceptance, driven by a radical change in regulatory and institutional attitudes.
In a recent conversation with Pakinomist, Alex Konanykhin, founder of Unicoin, a US-registered, asset-backed cryptocurrency, shared his insights on how this new approach could shape the industry in the coming years.
The United States has historically had a contentious relationship with cryptocurrency, with the SEC often leading a “war on crypto.”
“Many crypto companies were forced to leave the US and become expats in crypto-friendly jurisdictions, like Crypto Valley in Switzerland or work from the United Arab Emirates,” Konanykhin said.
However, this narrative is about to change dramatically. Within the next week, anti-crypto leadership at the SEC will step down, paving the way for a pro-crypto majority on the commission.
This regulatory pivot is expected to invite a wave of institutional investment and stimulate mass adoption.
Konanykhin said the fear of SEC scrutiny has kept institutional players on the sidelines. Now that the barriers have been lifted, he foresees an influx of institutional and government funds into the crypto market.
This transformation can make cryptocurrency an important part of both individual and corporate financial systems, further driving its integration into everyday life.
Accessibility is one of the most promising aspects of the new crypto era. Currently, digital money is evolving to be as simple and intuitive as paying with a smartwatch, Konanykhin said.
Payment systems will undergo a transformation as a result of this shift from niche to necessity. The market valuation has already reached $3.4 trillion due to early adopters, but the focus is now on enabling everyone to participate.
“Now they’re talking about mass adoption, where it’s not about excitement, but about efficiency and convenience,” Konaykhin explained.
“Digital money is shifting to blockchain technology, to crypto, because it is a more efficient and more secure type of digital money than the original single ledger technology used by banks,” he added.
Nevertheless, Konanykhin also discussed the limitations of , the cryptocurrency that launched the whole trend. Its lack of scalability – processing only seven transactions per second – and inefficiency in energy consumption make Bitcoin unsuitable for everyday use.
“It’s very inefficient because it uses more energy than Finland or Ukraine,” he pointed out, adding that its transaction costs, averaging $8, make it impractical for routine payments. Recognizing these challenges, Konanykhin launched Unicoin as a superior alternative.
Launched as a response to Bitcoin’s inefficiency, Unicoin aims to provide a scalable, energy efficient and regulated cryptocurrency.
Konanykhin said Unicoin is uniquely positioned as a US-registered, US-audited and US-regulated cryptocurrency that aligns with President-elect Trump’s vision of making America the “Crypto Capital of the Planet.”
“We launched Unicoin to provide a new superior version of Bitcoin,” Konanykhin explained. It is designed to meet the demands of modern users while complying with US regulations.
This asset-backed model ensures stability in a volatile market, making it a compelling choice for experienced investors and newcomers alike.
“We are now waiting for the new SEC commission to take over so we can become the first publicly traded cryptocurrency company in the US to also list Unicoin on crypto exchanges around the world,” Konanykhin added.
For those intimidated by the complexities of cryptocurrency, Konanykhin offered practical advice. He recommended starting with well-established, regulated platforms like Coinbase (NASDAQ: ) or cryptocurrencies like Unicoin.
“I would recommend avoiding permitted but unproven companies because the crypto industry still has its share of companies that are not going to survive in the long term,” he said.
As the market moves toward mass adoption, Konanykhin believes now is an excellent time to explore the space cautiously but safely.
Cryptocurrency is not just a trend, but a leap forward in financial development. Konanykhin illustrated how transactions that once required physical assets and extensive logistical coordination can now be completed with a few keystrokes.
This shift promises to revolutionize global finance by enabling faster, cheaper and more secure transactions.
He recounted a visit to Credit Suisse’s gold warehouse in Zurich and reflected on the enormous cost and effort required to secure and transport physical wealth.
In contrast, Bitcoin and other digital currencies eliminate such inefficiencies, allowing for seamless, large-scale transactions with minimal overhead.
This benefits not only individuals, but also companies and entire industries by streamlining operations and promoting innovation.
As the new administration’s pro-crypto stance takes hold, the future of digital currencies looks brighter than ever.
Konanykhin expressed optimism about the introduction of a national crypto repository and legislative support for the US-based, audited cryptocurrencies such as Unicoin.
He believes these moves will increase confidence and credibility in the industry and help it move from early, asset-less experiments to robust, regulated financial instruments.
“15 years is a long time in Internet technologies,” noted Konanykhin, highlighting the need for innovation to keep pace with increasing demand.
