As with most digital currencies, Dash has relatively strong adoption and use in first world regions of the world, particularly in Western Europe and parts of the United States. In less developed areas however, for example Eastern Europe, market saturation is nowhere near as advanced at present. Dash Ambassador Nebojsa Jovic recently submitted a proposal to introduce Dash to the Serbian IT sector. The proposal passed, guaranteeing an on-the-ground initiative to address challenges in this area. Dash Force News spoke with Jovic about prospects and barriers for Dash adoption in Eastern Europe.
Dash Force News: What is the present Dash community like in Serbia, or for cryptocurrency in general?
Nebojsa Jovic: One of many reasons why am I actually trying to promote Dash here is that people are starting to get interest in cryptocurrency. Often I attend to an event which is blockchain oriented and find out that they are more interested in cryptocurrency than in actual technology. There is interest for sure, but due to lack of cryptocurrency (even for bitcoin) oriented meetups it is hard to say how big community really is. That said, this is the best time for Dash to step in.
What is the main drive for cryptocurrency in Serbia? What specifically appeals to the community, is it store of value, interesting tech, a payments platform?
NJ: It’s certainly combination of new/interesting tech, payment platform and also something to consider as a starting point as payment process for their businesses and startups. One of organizations with whom I am speaking with regarding promotion of Dash through their activities said to me last meeting that they will accept Dash! Hooray! Hopefully, this new meetup will get interest from many groups of people, and after couple of events they will see what is the benefit of Dash
How developed is the tech community in Eastern Europe in general? Is it a good opportunity for Dash adoption?
NJ: Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria are the countries to target for Dash adoption. Each country has its perks for adoption of Dash. Of course, these countries cannot compare with Venezuela and Zimbabwe, but there is an opportunity for Dash to be business oriented in this Region. I am telling you this from experience from various conferences and hackathons I’ve been to in Slovenia and Croatia and due to that I can help connecting Dash with Startups and startup organizations from these countries.
Also, in terms of number of people interested probably cannot be compared to western countries, but even so, this region is worth scouting since from here came some of major companies/startups in the world.
What is the largest barrier to adoption in the region?
NJ: Glad you asked, since I tried to put some of those issues in previous answers, but didn’t have a space for that. First is regulations (in Slovenia and Croatia might be a better in those terms since they are in EU), in Serbia it is really hard to convince people in government to lower taxes, implement some IT solutions into their institutions and government held companies. I was on many round tables with city council which purpose was to gather IT people and help with providing crucial needs for further developing but after 1 year still not a single step was created. Implementing blockchain in our government would be best thing happened in last 2 centuries, but it is not possible to implement it as long old school people are running it. Once we start to see young generation stepping up then it will be a time to start implementing crypocurrency and blockchain at higher, government level.
Do you think the younger generations are ready to accept a radically different currency system like Dash?
NJ: That’s something I am most certain about. I am using my mobile wallet to better explain how Dash works and after they put some reading into it they just get it. They get this great ideas how they can use it, even when I tell that to people who are into Bitcoin and after just one transfer their first reaction is:”wow, that was fast!”. Reason why younger people are more open to changes and new technologies is that we are following new trends and new technology and we are adopted to capitalism while our parents still live in socialism which we came out of in ’90s and they are reason why most of young people have problem with living in their time because parents “know it all, and they know what’s best for them” when in reality they are struggling with day-to-day tech consuming.
And have hard time to comprehend new tech. For example when my friends and I are talking about miners they understand it as “money making machine” and not the real use of it.
