Episode 22-Redefining Islamic Finance: The Tech Disruption

Emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and blockchain are rapidly growing in financial services, including Islamic finance. These technologies promise to democratize and improve services, but some argue that Islamic finance still mirrors conventional products.

In our 22nd episode we spoke to Khalid Howladar, Founder and Managing Partner of Acreditus, an advisory firm specialising in credit, Islamic, and digital assets. With 16 years at Moody’s, Khalid is a specialist in Islamic finance and digital assets. He also serves as Chairman of MRHB Network, a halal digital asset platform.

In this episode, we covered several topics including:

• The current landscape of Islamic finance
• The rise of cryptocurrency and other digital assets
• How these technologies could disrupt the industry

You can email your comments, feedback or suggestions to us: hassan@majlisandmarkets.com

Intro theme song-'Tales of the Arabian Nights' composed by StudioKolomna via Pixabay

Chapters

• 0:56 Monologue intro
• 1:56 Beginning of discussion
• 2:33 Khalid's background
• 9:21 Islamic finance & sukuk in early 2000s
• 13:50 Conflict with values?
• 16:52 Are sukuk really different?
• 20:32 The problem with modern economics
• 28:21 What is the blockchain?
• 31:16 Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies
• 33:46 Emerging tech in Islamic finance
• 36:22 Smart money and new tech
• 40:15 Islamic scholars' view on emerging tech
• 47:34 Tech ecosystems in OIC
• 53:19 Thoughts on CBDCs
• 56:08 Khalid's current and future projects
• 58:33 Social media accounts