Stellar Development Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon spoke on the Master Stage at Paris Blockchain Week. Her keynote was “Are You Listening? Building Trust in Innovation.”
Her speech focused on innovation and the lack of trust people have in it. Citing the Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual global survey on trust that’s been running for over 20 years in 28 countries, Dixon said, “We have a trust problem to overcome. Our industry is not alone. Institutions around the world, across industries are struggling with trust.”
According to the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer, 86% of respondents agreed with the statement, “Technology is changing too quickly, in ways that are not good for people like me.”
“Trust is the ultimate currency,” Dixon continued. “It is the important thing to have, and also the easiest thing to lose. Society’s acceptance of innovation is at stake, and it hinges on trust.”
Dixon urged conference attendees to give builders what they need and to broaden their perspective on what innovation looks like and who is innovating.
“The places where basic financial needs aren’t being met is where the innovation truly flourishes,” Dixon said. “This is not always the most attention grabbing intersection to do the work. But it is typically where people have been let down the most. And if we can meet people in that place with tools to solve their own problems, that’s where we can start to build some serious trust. I believe blockchain technology is that tool. It does so much more than create opportunities for those who have money, have access, and just want more of both. We can build trust by ensuring this tech is used how it was originally intended – removing borders, and creating space for those whose needs are unmet.”
Dixon also urged industry leaders to focus on using blockchain technology to deliver utility to users in order to transform everyday financial services in bear and bull markets and to not be distracted by the current “memecoin frenzy.”
“That’s the opportunity we have now – to build trust in blockchain solutions by making sure they’re delivering utility,” Dixon urged. “Let’s make sure utility isn’t just something we talk about in a bear market. We may be coming out of a bear market into a memecoin frenzy that is driving trading activity, but is that really where we want to focus?”
In conclusion, Dixon called on the industry to “build trust by solving real problems, and make sure that people feel the difference in their pockets and their lives.”
About Stellar
Stellar is a decentralized, fast, scalable, and uniquely sustainable network for financial products and services. It is both a cross-currency transaction system and a platform for digital asset issuance, designed to connect the world’s financial infrastructure. Financial institutions worldwide issue assets and settle payments on the Stellar network, which has grown to over 7 million accounts and processed more than 10 billion operations. For more information, visit stellar.org.
About the Stellar Development Foundation
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of Stellar, an open-source network that connects the world’s financial infrastructure. Founded in 2014, the Foundation helps maintain Stellar’s codebase, supports the technical and business communities building on the network, and serves as a voice to regulators and institutions. The Foundation seeks to create equitable access to the global financial system, using the Stellar network to unlock the world’s economic potential through blockchain technology. For more information, visit stellar.org/foundation.