Crypto Explained with Peter Griffin | Jess Learns to Invest

Join Jess from the FMA External Communications team for a deep dive into the world of cryptocurrencies! In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest, tech journalist Peter Griffin shares his insights on what crypto is, how it works, and how to invest safely. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned investor, you’ll learn about the evolution of crypto, market risks, scams, and practical tips for getting started. Discover why trust and research matter, and how crypto might shape the future of money.

Key topics:

What is cryptocurrency?

How does blockchain work?

Investing safely in crypto

Market volatility and risk

Avoiding scams

The future of digital money

Transcript

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00:00:04 – Jess:

Kia ora, my name is Jess. I'm from the External Communications team here at FMA. You're joining me for another episode of Jess Learns to Invest. Today, we're going to be talking all about cryptocurrencies—what it is, how it works, and most importantly, how to invest in it safely. Today, I'm joined by journalist Peter Griffin. Peter has been in the business and tech space for over 20 years. Thank you so much for joining me today, Peter.

00:00:26 – Peter:

Thanks for having me, Jess. Really appreciate it.

00:00:27 – Jess:

So could you kick us off by just telling our listeners a little bit about you, your background, and also how you got into this space?

00:00:34 – Peter:

Yeah, look, I've been a tech reporter since the dot-com bubble burst—first in London, covering the tail end of that and all the big companies of the time that were overinflated, a little bit like we're seeing with AI at the moment. A lot of them collapsed. I covered the tail end of that, then came back to the New Zealand Herald.

00:00:53 – Peter:

I worked my way up there as Technology Editor, and really for the last 25 years I've been looking at the big disruptive technologies and how they're changing business, the economy, and society—things like social media, successive waves of artificial intelligence, and crypto as well.

00:01:13 – Jess:

Awesome. Cool. And have you started investing in crypto?

00:01:15 – Peter:

I did, yeah. About 2018 was the first time I got into it, and I really got into it because of my interest in disruption and these old institutions in society and how tech is disrupting them in really good ways and bad ways as well.

00:01:35 – Peter:

I think crypto is the ultimate example of that. But I felt back in 2018—which was a long way into the evolution of crypto because Bitcoin debuted back in 2010, just after the global financial crisis—I didn't get into that until 2018.

00:01:55 – Peter:

That was relatively late in the game, but since then, even since the pandemic, we've seen millions of people become investors in cryptocurrencies for the first time.

00:02:03 – Jess:

So, could you start by just telling me what crypto is? Because for me, I just don't know anything about it. You hear about it a lot, there's lots of different terminology. I feel like I know little bits and bobs, but I don't actually know what it is.

00:02:19 – Peter:

Well, at the heart of it, it's really digital money. The big difference is it's not money that's issued by a central bank, like the Reserve Bank in New Zealand issues the New Zealand dollar, which you'll use to exchange value. Cryptocurrencies act as a sort of digital version of that.

00:02:34 – Peter:

The way I'd describe it is like the difference between the old mail system—where you put a stamp on a letter and sent it through the mail, and it took quite a while to get there and went through lots of different hands—versus instant messaging. And then it was delivered.

00:02:55 – Peter:
And then it was delivered to the recipient. The old world is like that. The new world is email—instant, digital, and usually encrypted, so it’s a little safer than relying on the postman to take it across town.

00:03:12 – Peter:
That’s the fundamental shift. We’ve gone from so-called fiat currency—dollars, notes, and coins—to a digital world. But the big difference is that it’s largely unregulated. It’s not issued by a central bank. There are some efforts around the world to experiment with central bank digital currencies. For example, China has one, where the government issues an official cryptocurrency. We’re a long way from that in most Western countries.

00:03:45 – Jess:
Wow, yeah.

00:03:47 – Peter:
At the moment, you can buy these digital tokens, which represent value. What underpins that value is the trust you have in that particular cryptocurrency. There’s a lot of trust in Bitcoin as the biggest cryptocurrency in the world.

00:04:07 – Peter:
Ethereum is the second biggest. Lots of people want to hold these coins and trade them, so there’s a lot of value there. But there are literally thousands of cryptocurrencies, and there’s far less trust and interest in many of them. It’s a race at the moment with a lot of players.

00:04:30 – Peter:
Since 2018, I’ve seen some skyrocket and others go to zero—they literally die because there’s no interest. It’s a fraught industry, and you have to go in with your eyes open. For me, the main impetus wasn’t speculation—it was betting on the future of disruption, knowing this will probably change the world in some respects. But I don’t know which coins will be worth millions in 2030.

00:05:05 – Jess:
You mentioned a couple of names—Bitcoin, and I know there are others. Are they different types of tokens you can buy or put your money into?

00:05:11 – Peter:
Yes, that’s right. Bitcoin debuted in 2010. We still don’t know who Satoshi—the individual or group behind it—is. They’ve never disclosed their identity. But they created an incredible mathematical system for minting coins.

00:05:34 – Peter:
There will only ever be 21 million Bitcoins. Over the coming decades, we’ll reach that limit. They designed a system with a finite supply of digital currency. The timing was interesting—it came after the global financial crisis. While the system was probably in development for years, I think distrust in the financial system inspired its creation.

00:06:12 – Peter:
People were looking at financial institutions and bad behavior, particularly in the US market, plus inflation eroding spending power. A group of tech-savvy people thought, “There has to be a better way.”

00:06:32 – Peter:
The other side—the real disruption—is how clunky physical currencies and banking systems are. Fees for sending money overseas are still high. People in the Pacific Islands have paid big remittance fees for years. So Bitcoin aimed to create something frictionless—instant transfers, not through a central institution but decentralized. You can send money from my digital wallet to yours and pay a very small fee. That’s what inspired Bitcoin’s creators.

00:07:22 – Jess:
And just to get into it a little more—how does it differ from actual money or shares, where you’re investing in a slice of a company? How is it different? Because it is money, but you can’t use it like money, right? From what I understand, you can’t go out and buy a coffee with it or pay your mechanic. Or can you?

00:07:36 – Peter:
Well, in some places you can. This is the weird grey area at the moment. Writing about cryptocurrencies, I’ve been frustrated that this hasn’t happened faster—where you can use Bitcoin or Ethereum, any of these cryptocurrencies as a means of exchange for all of those reasons to to just make it more convenient to have.

00:07:42 – Peter:

On your phone, you can just scan a QR code like in China and Singapore and pay for something. That’s been very slow to happen here. But ultimately, when you hold a share, you hold a legal right to a piece of a company.

00:08:18 – Peter:

You can buy and sell that. The difference with cryptocurrencies is that there’s implied value, but it’s all trust-based. Technically, you own a certain number of tokens, and as long as there’s demand in the market, you can sell them and people will want to buy them from you.

00:08:39 – Peter:

But you’re not buying shares in a particular entity. These are literally bits and bytes held on computers around the world—the encryption keys to those tokens explain exactly what you own. You can hold the keys, and you need to store them securely.

00:08:55 – Peter:

At the moment, that is very valuable, but fundamentally it’s nebulous—it’s just bits and bytes. Bitcoin is worth nearly $200,000 per coin as we speak because of pent-up interest globally. That’s the only thing that gives it actual value.

00:09:26 – Jess:

And I keep hearing the term blockchain. What is that? How does it work?

00:09:31 – Peter:

Blockchain is the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies. As I said, they’re decentralized. The blockchain is like a massive spreadsheet where all transactions related to Bitcoin are recorded.

00:09:45 – Peter:

It’s efficient and public—you can see all transactions on the blockchain, so it’s transparent. It’s also secure because it uses cryptography—complex mathematics—to keep systems safe. These ledgers based on blockchain technology are at the core of making the system work.

00:10:15 – Peter:

Each cryptocurrency has its own ledger, its own blockchain. Ethereum became popular for its innovative blockchain technology, but the original was Bitcoin, and people still see it as having the most value—hence its high price.

00:10:44 – Jess:

What are some of the benefits of investing in crypto? It’s become quite popular recently. Why do people invest in it?

00:10:53 – Peter:

I think people see it as a rapid way to get capital gains. That’s why we’ve seen massive surges—bull runs—in crypto, driven by sentiment. After the pandemic, there was a surge in investment in cryptocurrencies and shares.

00:11:26 – Peter:

There were fad trends like non-fungible tokens (NFTs)—buying digital art like Bored Ape Club represented by tokens. That became huge. Then came the crypto winter, where values collapsed. Now we’re back in record territory for Bitcoin and some others.

00:11:48 – Peter:

It’s a roller coaster. Many younger investors see it as an alternative because owning a house feels out of reach. Cash earns little interest, and inflation erodes savings. So they look at crypto and see markets rising.

00:12:27 – Peter:

But it’s risky. My holdings have skyrocketed and crashed. The best advice from financial advisors is: don’t hold more than 5% of your wealth in crypto. Diversify so if it crashes, you don’t take a massive loss.

00:12:59 – Peter:

If one coin goes up 1,000%—and that happened to me with Solana—you benefit without risking everything. Crypto is high risk but potentially high reward.

00:13:18 – Jess:

So is it a good strategy to have crypto as part of your overall portfolio? Because across all these episodes, I keep hearing: diversify, diversify, diversify.

00:13:30 – Peter:

Definitely. I have a high appetite for risk because I’m passionate about disruption. I invest in disruptive technologies, including biotech, which can go from $20 to zero if they don’t get FDA approval.

00:13:59 – Peter:

I’m willing to take losses because some investments deliver significant returns, as we’ve seen on the NASDAQ over the last 20 years. Writing about crypto is frustrating because it’s littered with scams and grifters, and adoption isn’t happening as fast as I’d like.

00:14:34 – Peter:

The efficiencies we could gain by embracing this technology safely would be massive. But it’s complicated, and there are vested interests that don’t want blockchain technologies and crypto to flourish.

00:14:40 – Jess:

And I think you mentioned earlier how you've had experience with some skyrocketing and some crashing. Is market volatility—does it work the same with crypto as it does with any other investments? Like you said, you ride the roller coaster and keep your money in there. Do you do the buy-and-hold strategy? Leave it there if you see the markets changing? Does it work the same with crypto, or is it a bit different?

00:15:00 – Peter:

Yeah, I think so. But there are differences. Because you're not buying into a company, a lot of things can happen when a company share price gets really depressed—people lose faith in management, but there are mechanisms to restore confidence. I've invested in listed companies that have been liquidated here in New Zealand, so you lose your shareholding.

00:15:24 – Peter:

With cryptocurrencies, there’s no company behind them—though some have organisations maintaining them. By and large, they carry on as long as there’s interest and sentiment is high. That’s hard to judge. I’ve never figured out why, for instance, Solana really took off while Cardano—whose founder is an incredible tech leader—has been depressed for years.

00:16:17 – Peter:

Each cryptocurrency has a vision and a different technological approach. In the real world, efficiency matters—fees, speed, and applications like loans or value exchange. Some are better than others. But sentiment is key, and I’ve never seen any other investment class where sentiment is so fickle.

00:16:59 – Peter:

Sometimes it’s based on nothing—an influencer posts a YouTube video, millions watch it, and suddenly that can make a cryptocurrency surge or collapse.

00:17:08 – Jess:

Wow, that’s interesting. Crazy. And if someone has been thinking about it but hasn’t invested in crypto yet, how would they start? What would you recommend for a new investor?

00:17:22 – Peter:

I’d start really small. Don’t start with thousands—start with a couple of hundred dollars. Stick to the big ones. Definitely don’t go all in on meme coins—those trendy tokens you see on social media that might be up 1,000% today but could disappear in a year.

00:17:50 – Peter:

Start with trusted players—the big exchanges that have been around for a long time. There’s at least one major exchange in New Zealand and several overseas. Do your research and buy from trusted companies.

00:18:12 – Peter:

Then you need to decide where to hold your Bitcoin—do you hold it yourself or trust an exchange to hold it for you? That’s still a scary proposition for many investors. When you buy shares, a registry records it. With crypto, it’s different—the keys I mentioned earlier unlock your coins, and you need them to sell.

00:18:46 – Peter:

So deciding who to trust—or whether to hold them yourself—is crucial. The good news is we now have exchange-traded funds (ETFs) specialising in crypto, and even KiwiSaver funds offering crypto exposure. You’re not buying tokens directly—you’re buying into a financial instrument that invests in crypto. That’s a lower-risk way to get exposure without the complexity of owning coins.

00:19:41 – Jess:

And when you said hold it yourself versus someone else—is that where the term “crypto wallet” comes in?

00:19:50 – Peter:

Exactly. Big exchanges, like stock exchanges, facilitate crypto trades 24/7 worldwide. Some will also hold your coins in a digital vault and say, “Trust us.” But history shows big failures—Mount Gox in Japan, and Cryptopia here in New Zealand, which collapsed after being hacked. Years later, they’re still trying to recover funds.

00:20:59 – Peter:

So if you use exchanges, stick to the big ones. The alternative is holding coins and keys yourself in a digital wallet. It can be online (cloud-based) or a cold wallet—completely offline, like an encrypted USB stick.

00:21:28 – Jess:

Wow, I had no idea you could do that.

00:21:31 – Peter:

People serious about crypto are paranoid about security. They use cold wallets disconnected from the internet. Some even print out their keys—long strings of symbols and numbers—and store them somewhere safe. If all else fails, they can type in those characters and recover their coins.

00:22:01 – Jess:

Hmm. What’s the big benefit if you put it in a crypto wallet and someone else is looking after it?

00:22:07 – Peter:

There are benefits, but it’s not foolproof. If you have a cold wallet, it could get lost—like the guy in the UK about 10 years ago who had a hard drive with all his Bitcoin on it. He put it aside, his girlfriend thought it was rubbish, and it ended up in a landfill. He spent over a decade trying to get permission to dig up that landfill because there were hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin on it.

00:22:44 – Peter:

So no system is foolproof. Many people trust exchanges because their reputation depends on safeguarding your Bitcoin or Ethereum. If they fail, their business is toast. So they invest heavily in security.

00:23:18 – Peter:

For most people, a hot wallet—online—is the reality. You want to make sure it’s secure and from a reputable company. Probably 90% of people do that. It’s the other 10% who take it completely into their own hands.

00:23:44 – Jess:

And how would you go about investing in crypto? I’m guessing it works the same as other types of investing—through apps or online?

00:23:57 – Peter:

Yes. All the big exchanges have apps now. For example, Easy Crypto in New Zealand has an app and a digital wallet. Any serious player has a website for trading and a wallet. There are also independent wallets—you don’t have to use one from an exchange.

00:24:26 – Peter:

That’s the great thing about this industry—it’s not dominated by a handful of institutions like banking. In crypto, there are hundreds of apps, with lots of innovation. But it all comes back to trust. When it comes to trustworthy wallets and exchanges, there are only a handful because they handle the bulk of global trades and have resources for security.

00:25:18 – Jess:

You mentioned fees earlier. What are some of the fees and charges?

00:25:23 – Peter:

It can be complicated. For example, Bitcoin uses blockchain, and you may have heard of Bitcoin mining. For the system to work, you need complicated mathematical transactions to create new blocks on the blockchain. People all over the world do this—called mining—and they get rewarded with Bitcoin.

00:26:01 – Peter:

As time goes on and supply tightens—because there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoins—mining gets harder. The calculations become more complex, requiring more time and powerful computers.

00:26:32 – Peter:

So there are fees associated with that. There are validation fees—every time you exchange Bitcoin, the blockchain needs updating to keep it secure. That uses computing power, so they charge for it.

00:27:00 – Peter:

Then there are trading fees. Every time I use Easy Crypto or Coinbase, they clip the ticket because it goes through their system, security checks, and customer service. Typically, you might pay 1–2% per transaction through an exchange.

00:27:34 – Peter:

One big criticism of Bitcoin is congestion. When everyone wants to trade at once—like during a market run or holiday season—the network gets overloaded, and fees spike. Sometimes people pay 5–10% in fees, which is ridiculous.

00:28:33 – Peter:

Companies are working on solutions—layer 2 systems that process transactions off the main blockchain, making them faster and cheaper.

00:29:00 – Jess:

And the fees—are they shown upfront, or do they surprise you later?

00:29:07 – Peter:

Usually, if you go through an exchange, you’ll know the fees upfront. But you don’t have to use an exchange—that’s the beauty of decentralization. If you have a wallet and I have one, I can send crypto directly to you. Most wallets will show the transaction fee before you confirm.

00:29:32 – Jess:

Nice. And what are some of the biggest risks? I think you’ve talked about a couple, but what are the biggest risks people should consider before starting to invest in crypto?

00:29:43 – Peter:

I think the biggest risk is scams—the human element. There are lots of people trying to make money because crypto is somewhat anonymous.

00:29:55 – Peter:

The beauty of blockchain is transparency—you can track transactions. If we exchange cryptocurrencies, you can see an exact copy of that transaction. But the accounts themselves are often anonymous. You don’t have to register as a Bitcoin user.

00:30:27 – Peter:

Unfortunately, that anonymity means crypto has been used for illegal activities—money laundering, drug trafficking, and more. In New Zealand, exchanges require ID like a driver’s licence and run anti-money-laundering checks, so there’s some protection.

00:30:56 – Peter:

But globally, crypto lacks the protections of traditional finance. That opens the door to scams—people promoting initial coin offerings (ICOs) for new ventures. Instead of giving you shares or assets, they give you coins and assign a value they’ve made up. Many people have lost money this way.

00:31:33 – Peter:

Then there are everyday scams—someone asks you to send money via Bitcoin “for convenience” or “to speed things up.” They do this to bypass banking systems with checks and balances.

00:32:17 – Jess:

In cryptocurrency, it’s currently unregulated in New Zealand. So how do people make sure they invest safely and avoid scams?

00:32:25 – Peter:

Institutions here and overseas that operate exchanges are regulated to some extent—they must run anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism financing checks. While there’s no dedicated crypto legislation in New Zealand, there’s a patchwork of financial laws that offer some protection.

00:33:05 – Peter:

Other countries are moving toward dedicated legislation. In the US this year, several acts were passed to legitimise crypto and make it safer for investors. These aim to give people more confidence, though details are still unfolding.

00:33:37 – Peter:

One example is stablecoins—cryptocurrencies backed by real assets like US dollars. The US government introduced an act to regulate these, providing more certainty for investors.

00:34:03 – Peter:

Called the Genius Act, whereby every crypto token that is a stablecoin has to be underpinned by a U.S. dollar or a treasury deposit. So there are real assets backing this digital token.

00:34:20 – Peter:

That’s a really good thing. It will be valuable when cryptocurrency becomes a convenient means of transferring value—when we use it instead of physical money. Having an asset backed by a bank vault full of money is powerful.

00:34:46 – Jess:

And earlier you said new investors should make sure they’re using the right platforms. How can people ensure the platforms they use are legit? Is it about going to the main exchanges you mentioned?

00:35:00 – Peter:

Yes, it’s reputation-based. There’s no official government endorsement of these platforms. It’s about track record. Even some big ones have had issues—Binance and Coinbase are the largest globally, but Binance’s CEO was jailed for a time.

00:35:34 – Peter:

This is common in disruptive industries—players exploit grey areas and loopholes. Uber did it, Google did it with Maps and Street View. Crypto companies did the same, playing loose with rules early on and getting penalised.

00:36:08 – Peter:

By 2025, big players and the major New Zealand exchange are seen as legitimate because they have hundreds of thousands or millions of customers. Start with those high-volume, established players.

00:36:28 – Peter:

We’ll also see more transparency—mandatory audits under legislation like the Genius Act. Companies must prove they have the bank vault of dollars backing their stablecoins. Governments want to ensure exchanges aren’t misusing assets—like selling coins and investing elsewhere, which caused collapses like FTX.

00:37:22 – Jess:

Oh my gosh.

00:37:28 – Peter:

Part of crypto’s appeal was moving away from traditional finance, but banks have high trust because of regulation—like New Zealand’s $100,000 deposit guarantee. At the moment, crypto has nothing like that.

00:37:56 – Jess:

What are some of the biggest misconceptions about crypto?

00:38:06 – Peter:

The main one is anonymity. People think crypto is a way to stay anonymous, but it’s not. Fraudulent activity is traceable. Authorities can track transactions because most tie back to a digital identity or ID you provide.

00:38:28 – Peter:

It’s not the Wild West anymore. If you use an exchange, you provide ID. Even wallets can be traced. So if you try laundering money or doing something illegal, watch out.

00:38:53 – Peter:

Also, it’s not tax-free. Trading crypto attracts tax. It’s not a way to dodge taxes or send money overseas without obligations.

00:39:20 – Peter:

There’s this idea that because it’s unregulated, you can do whatever you want. That’s not true.

00:39:28 – Jess:

We touched on scams earlier. What are some keywords or red flags people should watch for? Like guaranteed returns?

00:39:47 – Peter:

I think anything at this point in the evolution of crypto where someone asks you to pay in cryptocurrency is a red flag. There are legitimate use cases, but they’re very limited and mostly in the geeky realm.

00:40:07 – Peter:

Some companies legitimately raise money to launch their business by selling coins—that’s fine. But if someone approaches you on social media and says, “Send me a fraction of a Bitcoin” instead of paying through a secure website or Shopify basket, that’s a red flag straight away.

00:40:51 – Peter:

Banks have improved scam prevention with checks like matching names to account numbers, but crypto payments bypass those protections. Plus, paying in Bitcoin is a hassle if you don’t already hold it—you need to set up a wallet and buy some. Scammers still try, but returns are lower now.

00:41:25 – Jess:

That’s a good point. I wouldn’t have thought of that as a big red flag. And what do you reckon is the future of crypto?

00:41:35 – Peter:

Absolutely, I see a future for crypto. Many believe it’s the future of money and digital value transfer. It could empower people in developing countries where trust in financial institutions is low.

00:42:04 – Peter:

In Africa, poor telecom infrastructure led to mobile banking revolutions. Crypto could do the same—especially where traditional banking is weak. In New Zealand, mainstream adoption will come when we can easily use crypto for everyday purchases.

00:42:39 – Peter:

We’re seeing steps toward that—companies partnering with credit card providers. A New Zealand company, Immersive, partnered with MasterCard so you can pay at any terminal worldwide using Bitcoin from your wallet. This blends traditional finance with crypto and legitimises it.

00:43:15 – Peter:

The most exciting part is blockchain technology itself. It could revolutionise processes like buying and selling property—automating transactions, reducing costs, and eliminating fraud. Imagine transferring ownership on the blockchain with verified digital identities—no lawyers shuffling paperwork.

00:44:08 – Peter:

Blockchain could also streamline wedding licences, health records, insurance policies, and government services. But trust is key—institutions and governments aren’t ready to scale yet. Adoption depends on building trust and public understanding.

00:44:51 – Jess:

You’ve mentioned trust a lot. For new investors, is it important to trust the platform and the coin? Should they research before diving in?

00:45:08 – Peter:

Absolutely. But be careful where you get information. After the pandemic, influencers popped up on YouTube and X, sounding knowledgeable but often hiding vested interests. They push coins with flashy charts and hype—don’t fall for it.

00:45:46 – Peter:

Educate yourself through reputable sources—read books, follow trusted institutions. High-volume exchanges with strong track records are safest. Trust and research are everything.

00:46:17 – Jess:

Thank you so much for your time today. I’ve learned so much more about crypto than I knew coming in. What’s one takeaway for listeners?

00:46:37 – Peter:

Crypto isn’t ready for prime time yet, but it will be. To be financially literate—especially for young people—it’s important to understand it, even if you don’t invest. Don’t dismiss it as irrelevant. There are hundreds of billions, maybe trillions, invested in crypto—it’s part of the future financial landscape.

00:47:24 – Peter:

The more literate you are now, even as an observer, the better prepared you’ll be.

00:47:32 – Jess:

That’s a great point. I’ve probably ignored it because I didn’t understand it.

00:47:39 – Peter:

Lots of people think crypto is crazy or risky—and maybe they’re right. Bitcoin came out of nowhere in 2010. What’s to stop a new, better technology emerging in 2026? Bitcoin could crash from $200,000 to $2. That’s the risk.

00:48:27 – Peter:

But understanding crypto isn’t about speculation—it’s about seeing how it could change the digital economy and empower people. That knowledge makes you a more confident investor.

00:49:02 – Jess:

And as you said, you can invest a small amount so it doesn’t have to be massively risky.

00:49:08 – Peter:

Exactly. Fractional investing is common now—like owning part of an Apple share. You can own a tiny fraction of Bitcoin. I’ve never sold my crypto—I’m curious to see what happens by 2030 or 2035.

00:50:30 – Peter:

Don’t panic and sell at a loss. Avoid greed. My Solana holdings are up 1,000%, but I haven’t sold because I’m interested in the long-term story. It depends on your motivation—profit or curiosity.

00:51:29 – Jess:

And if people want to find out more about you?

00:51:36 – Peter:

Go to businessdesk.co.nz—part of NZME and the New Zealand Herald. I host a weekly podcast, The Business of Tech, covering disruptive tech like AI and crypto. Over the next few years, I want to break this down for people because change is accelerating—AI, crypto, quantum computing. Huge challenges, huge opportunities.

00:52:39 – Peter:

We need to be aware because these technologies will affect us as citizens and voters. Blockchain could even underpin e-voting systems one day.

00:53:26 – Jess:

Awesome. Thank you so much for your time today, Peter, and thank you for listening. If you want to learn more about cryptocurrencies, visit www.fma.govt.nz. We have a full list of warnings and alerts—check them before you invest.

00:53:43 – Jess (Disclaimer):

The content of this podcast is general and not financial advice. Guest opinions are not those of the FMA. We recommend seeking advice from a regulated financial advisor. The FMA accepts no responsibility for any loss incurred from following this content.