As cryptocurrency technologies reshape global finance, an unsettling question follows: Are some of crypto’s problems, like insider trading and information asymmetry, seeping into the very heart of traditional finance? Shane Molidor, CEO of Forgd, warns that Digital Asset Tokens (DATs) are now bringing some of crypto’s most troubling trading behaviors—once confined to volatile token markets—into the mainstream financial world.
What’s Happening With DATs and Market Fairness?
DATs are meant to bridge the gap between the revolutionary world of and regulated financial markets—sometimes called . But this innovation isn’t coming without risks. According to Molidor, institutional investors are now seeing the arrival of front-running and information asymmetry, two problems that have long plagued the cryptocurrency sector.
Information asymmetry refers to a situation where one party has access to crucial, non-public information that gives them an edge—a phenomenon made infamous by Wall Street’s insider trading scandals of the past. While regulators like the have worked for decades to keep traditional markets honest, the Wild West spirit of crypto is blurring those lines. As Molidor puts it, “We’re seeing old problems with a new technological twist, and the regulatory frameworks haven’t caught up.”
Why Young Voters Should Care
Millions of young adults have flocked to crypto and fintech, drawn by dreams of democratized finance and wealth without gatekeepers. However, DATs highlight an uncomfortable truth: without proper safeguards, these new markets might end up echoing (or even worsening) the ethical and systemic failures of the old.
As the next generation of voters and leaders, young people have immense power in shaping the rules that will govern this digital future. Whether it’s through pushing for better or demanding transparency from both startups and established banks alike, engagement matters. After all, fair markets and honest access are the backbone of economic opportunity—a principle that transcends generations.
The rise of DATs is more than a tech trend: it’s a wake-up call for the political leaders and voters of tomorrow. If you care about your right to a fair financial system, now’s the time to pay attention—because the lines between crypto and Wall Street may already be disappearing.
