At the Accelerate 2025 conference, Akshay BD from the Solana Foundation highlighted that the traditional financial system no longer serves most people, introducing challenges and proposing new solutions.
Problems of the Traditional Financial System
Akshay pointed out that traditional capital markets are leaving too many people behind. "The 60-40 portfolio hasn’t paid off for a long time," he said, addressing low bond yields and inflated asset prices. He also noted that most retail investors cannot access private markets, which are typically reserved for wealthy investors.
Concept of Universal Ownership
Akshay presented a future where anyone with a smartphone could own a stake in real-world assets, whether it's a café or a clean energy startup. He argues that through tokenization and tools like QR codes, ownership could become genuinely accessible. He termed this idea "universal basic ownership," contrasting it with the concept of universal basic income.
Role of Solana in the Future of Finance
Akshay, who holds the unusual title of "Non-Chief Marketing Officer" at Solana, emphasized that his role is to support community-driven initiatives, allowing builders and users to shape the future. Despite short-term fluctuations in the SOL token, which fell 6% at the time of the panel, his message about the need for a new financial system remains relevant.
Akshay BD drew a clear line between the traditional financial system and new approaches, emphasizing the need to create conditions for universal ownership, which may help close the growing wealth gap.
