The XR is back, but was never really gone either. This is what Håvard Røste writes in a guest blog where he reviews technology developments, but also gives a status on the cluster in Norway and on Norwegian companies that are at the forefront.

Norway should invest in crypto data centers, according to Torbjørn Bull Jensen, who describes the signals from Norwegian ministers and politicians as “incompetent crypto policy”. In a comment article in Kaupr, he also claims that the Government is about to shoot itself in the foot.

“Code is Law” is a principle that is being hotly debated in the international crypto community. The question is who is responsible in the case of improper use or exploitation of software that lies openly and can be used by anyone, but which leads to financial loss?

It was with some excitement, almost anticipation, that last weekend I opened A-Magasinet from Aftenposten, to see how they had handled their recent journalistic encounter with the crypto industry in Norway. I myself had contributed background information about the crypto industry and web3 in Norway.

Critics still claim that bitcoin is a bubble, but the bubble has burst many times and come back each time. Is bitcoin the first bubble to inflate itself again, time and again, or is there something fundamental driving bitcoin that its critics haven't picked up on?

Traditional banking and finance in the Nordic region is facing a new wave of digital disruption, driven and challenged by crypto and blockchain players, Fintech companies and banks redefining themselves. The huge interest in Bitcoin ETFs is just a foretaste of what may come.

Isn't it time for Danish banks, investment funds and pension plans in 2024 to start taking Bitcoin seriously as an asset for possible allocation and exchange to customers? For there is no doubt that bitcoin has now come to be part of the global investment portfolio.

Despite many dark clouds in the sky, whether we are talking politics or economics, 2024 offers many possibilities. Opportunities to learn something new and exciting, to build new products and services, and simply to make the world a little better place. This is what Håvard Røste writes in a guest blog.

One of the major issues of contention with the introduction of MiCA is whether or not the new EU/EEA regulatory framework for crypto assets includes decentralized finance (DeFi). Companies that see themselves as software companies but that offer services around DeFi must therefore tread carefully.

Daniel Sønstevold has thought about safety, transparency, solidarity, quality and sustainability in connection with AI, and asks in this blog post: Can we really support the use of AI? Sønstevold is M365 Strategist and Generativ AI Evangelist and consultant in EVIDI.

Kaupr's columns are open to debate posts, both for and against crypto, web3, metaverse or digital central bank currencies. This time we have made room for a debate post from Nordea's Chief Investment Officer Robert Næss, where Næss gives ten reasons why crypto, according to Næss himself, has failed.

DeFi is a dangerous and opportunistic new innovation with the potential to revolutionize the financial industry and provide global accessibility for individuals. However, it brings with it a number of challenges and risks that cannot be overlooked. Striking a balance between embracing DeFi's potential and dealing with its dangers is crucial.

What is metaverse and what is web3? Yngvar Ugland, who is a consumer technologist and divisional director at DNB, has engaged with these issues in posts and discussion threads on Linkedin. We render the content of kaupr.io as a guest blog, where Ugland writes, among other things, “The Metaverse is for me the Meta-Universe.”

The so-called metaverse is often associated with interactive social virtual game worlds. Many believe that the metaverse will eventually gain more application areas and increase in social and economic importance. In this guest blog, Peder Østbye at Norges Bank discusses possible money and payment systems that can be used in the metaverse.

If you think that NFTs are only cryptic art in a playpen for crypto millionaires, then that's a fully understandable notion. But if you are keen on web technology and web strategies, then you should dig for a deeper insight. We believe that NFTs are going to be one of the most important building blocks of the future internet.

It's been a while since Facebook changed its name to Meta. Many see this as an attempt to remove the focus from Facebook's methods, compounded by internal leaks and scrutiny from US authorities. It may very well be. But surely the name change is as much a confirmation that Web3, the internet of the future, is under full development.