A very lively exchange of opinions at the Bitcoin MENA 2025 conference was caused by a panel discussion where main industry experts claimed that all banks will eventually go for Bitcoin instead of stablecoins. The session was aptly named “The Future of Banking Is Bitcoin, Not Stablecoins” and featured the likes of Alan Lane (Unchained), Chris Lane (Invictus Advisors), Eric Yakes (Epoch), and Danny Knowles (What Bitcoin Did).
They skimped through the innovations in the traditional banking sector, which are made possible by decentralised systems, and the reasons why Bitcoin might eventually take over the financial market.
Chris Lane took it a step further and expressed that Bitcoin is nothing but a new type of decentralized central bank. According to him, the network is able to create a global monetary foundation that is completely independent of governments, central banks and political decisions.
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He went on to say that this independence is precisely what makes Bitcoin the ultimate settlement layer in the long run.
Stablecoins Are Still Tied to Fiat, But Bitcoin Is Not
Eric Yakes threw light on a very important point, which separates Bitcoin from the banking system in general.
He mentioned that the usual method of sending money between countries involves prior approval and compliance with the policies of all the central banks concerned. Bitcoin, on the other hand simply eliminates the whole process, as value can freely be transferred directly on the worldwide network without going through central banks.
Yakes went on to say that stablecoins still face the challenge of being subject to regulations, having audited reserves and depending on a forex of government-issued currencies. “At some point,” he insisted, “people will naturally gravitate towards Bitcoin since it is not constrained by the limitations that stablecoins cannot avoid.”
Alan Lane referred to an inherent conflict between stablecoins and fiat currencies. As stablecoins are tethered to the national currency, they are always subject to the economic health and policies of the issuing country.
However, Bitcoin, in Lane’s words, is “neutral” since it is not supported by any particular state.
