Crypto for a Fairer Future: Redefining Wealth, Access, and Equity ft. Badi Sudhakaran, VALR Co-Founder & CPO
In the fourth episode of VALR Unfiltered: Money, Meaning & Society, Ben Caselin, CMO at VALR, and Badi Sudhakaran, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, explore the intersections of crypto, societal values, and financial inclusion. The discussion centres on three key themes: poverty and wealth, exclusion and access, and inequity and fairness, while reflecting on VALR’s mission as a values-driven crypto exchange.
Poverty and Wealth: Sudhakaran emphasises the relativity of wealth, drawing from Buddhist philosophy and personal experiences in India and South Africa. He views Bitcoin as a transformative asset class that preserves value in regions with unstable currencies, fostering financial education and empowerment. However, he cautions that crypto’s potential to widen inequality, as early adopters hold significant portions, requires careful consideration.
Exclusion and Access: The conversation highlights crypto’s role in democratizing finance, offering global access to financial instruments traditionally reserved for a few. VALR’s evolution—from a basic exchange to offering staking, lending, and trading—aims to simplify and expand economic opportunities. Sudhakaran underscores education as a critical equalizer, enabling individuals to contribute meaningfully to society and achieve dignity through financial inclusion.
Inequity and Fairness: Addressing global monetary disparities, Sudhakaran sees crypto as a tool to build a fairer system, countering the weaknesses of fiat currencies in emerging markets. He envisions VALR as an institution that bridges traditional and crypto finance, fostering collaboration rather than conflict with banks. By prioritizing truthfulness, integrity, and excellence, VALR aims to create a unified community that reflects the oneness of humanity.
VALR’s Vision and Challenges: Sudhakaran stresses the importance of product excellence, robust security, and regulatory compliance to achieve global reach. Regulatory headwinds pose challenges, with varying approaches worldwide complicating expansion. VALR seeks to serve local markets effectively, leverage word-of-mouth, and engage regulators to promote adoption while upholding ethical standards.
The podcast underscores VALR’s commitment to ethical service, financial inclusion, and societal betterment, positioning crypto as a catalyst for equitable economic systems. Sudhakaran’s insights, rooted in personal and professional experiences, highlight the transformative potential of crypto when guided by purpose and integrity.
Risk Disclosure
Trading or investing in crypto assets is risky and may result in the loss of capital as the value may fluctuate.
VALR (Pty) Ltd is a licensed financial services provider (FSP #53308).
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author and should not form the basis for making investment decisions, nor be construed as a recommendation or advice to engage in investment transactions.
