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contrats à terme non livrables, qui permettent aux clients de se   Selon Broc  Pierce, président de la Bitcoin  oundation, « Monaco
              prononcer sur le prix futur du Bitcoin..  ue pense  vous de cette   devrait adopter le bitcoin à l’image d’El Savaldor »   déclaration au
              évolution?                                             Ritossa famil  office .  u’en pense  vous
              Ce type de services requiert des systèmes informatiques très pointus    e ne compare pas Monaco et le Salvador (sourire). En cette période
              et des protocoles de contrôle des risques.             de crise, la valeur refuge a été le dollar, qui s’est extr mement renforcé.
                                                                     Ce n’est pas le cas des cryptomonnaies, certaines n’ont pas survécu…
              Comment contr le  vous l’origine des fonds en cr ptomonnaies   Le peu de clients qui investissent dans les cryptos sont très sélectifs et
              de vos clients?                                        investissent moins de 5%…  e ne pense pas que ce qui s’est passé ces
              C’est beaucoup de travail.  n travaille main dans la main avec le SICC I .  dernières semaines va augmenter la part d’investissement dans les cryptos.



              AMAF: “I don’t believe that customers are fond of

              cryptocurrency”                                                                         Interview by Milena Radoman



              According  to  Gérald  Mathieu,  in  charge  of  promoting  Monaco’s  financial  marketplace  at  the
              Monégasque Association of Financial Activities (AMAF), investments by Monaco clients in crypto
              are marginal. Banks and management companies are, nevertheless, being forced to adapt.


              What is your view of the evolution of the   possible to get through difficult periods.  Are market players reluctant towards crypto-
              Monégasque banking sector in recent years?                               currencies and crypto assets?
              The attractiveness of the banking sector has   There was a time when it was said that people   Market players are globally very dynamic on
              grown in recent years. It is reflected in the recent   deposited their money in Monaco but had it   several subjects. They watch cryptocurrencies
              arrival of very good international players such   managed in Switzerland or elsewhere. Does   carefully and are cautious in a good way. We
              as Pictet and Goldman Sachs. This is good for   that still apply?        must put the client and the regulations at the
              the market as a whole and for customers in   It is much less true today. There are no official   centre of our interests.
              particular. It also meets regulatory needs and   figures via the Banque de France but if, in an
              is good for the onshorisation movement: these   establishment like Barclays, some clients deposit   Some banks are investing in them. For example,
              big names needed to be in Monaco to manage   the vast majority of their assets and others much   since March 2021, Goldman Sachs has been
              their clients, rather than doing it from elsewhere.  less, it is also for the sake of risk diversification.   offering Bitcoin Futures and Non-Deliverable
              The marketplace’s appeal goes hand-in-hand with   Major international clients diversify their personal   Futures contracts, which allow clients to predict
              the policy of attracting new residents, with a profile   and professional assets and they do the same   the future price of Bitcoin. What do you think
              of young, working entrepreneurs and wealthy   with banks, which is commonplace.  of this development?
              people. If the big names come and stay in Monaco,                        This type of service requires very advanced IT
              it is because of the quality of the Principality’s   You mention diversifying risk. Are clients in   systems and risk control protocols.
              clients, who require a private banking and asset   Monaco fond of cryptocurrencies?
              management service. We have nothing to be    o, I don’t think they are. Do they invest part of   How do you control the origin of your clients’
              ashamed of compared to markets like Singapore   their assets in cryptocurrency out of curiosity    cryptocurrency funds?
              and Dubai. Monaco offers a quality regulatory    es, but it’s still very minimal.  owever,   It’s a lot of work. We work hand-in-hand with
              environment, banks with adapted systems and   some of our clients have made a fortune in   SICCFI .
              platforms and a level of sophistication that is   cryptocurrencies, by investing or because of
              sometimes even better than other places!  their activity. This forces banks and management   According to Brock Pierce, President of the
                                                   companies to adapt, to understand how they   Bitcoin Foundation, “Monaco should adopt
              Has the market been impacted by volatility   have built their fortunes, the origin of the funds   Bitcoin like El Salvador,” (statement to the
              this year?                           and to equip themselves with appropriate internal   Ritossa Family Office). What do you think of that?
              At the end of September, the marketplace’s   systems to manage risks properly.  I don’t compare Monaco and E  Salvador  he
              assets totalled €147 billion. We were inevitably                         smiles . In this period of crisis, the safe haven
              impacted by the markets, which lost 20% this   Are traditional finance and cryptocurrencies   has been the dollar, which has strengthened
              year, but the market’s assets are well diversified   sworn enemies?      enormously.  This  is  not  the  case  with
              between cash, equities, bonds and alternative   Cryptocurrencies are a risk to be managed just   cryptocurrencies, as some have not survived.
              management. There will be a minor impact.   like any other in finance! On the risk scale, the level   The few clients who invest in cryptos are very
              Our business is a cyclical business, so I’m not   is high, specially in terms of money laundering;   selective and invest less than 5%. I don’t think
              worried. Our market is buoyant, stable and well-  but be careful not to confuse everything, as there   what has happened in the last few weeks is going
              structured at the same time, which makes it   are hundreds of cryptocurrencies.  to increase the share of investment in cryptos.



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