I have been thinking for a while of the old saying "The time for NO has come and gone," when it comes to banks, governments and authorities vs. blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. With last year's boom making this a 1/2 trillion dollar industry, something tells me that we have seen a subtle shift towards banks now being curious about "how they can get onboard" in ways that allow them to participate while still remaining banks in some semblance of the way we know them.
Blockchain or not, cryptos or not, there will probably be a place for "retail banking" for some decades to come, and those banks that get in on combining the two NOW will be the long term survivors.
Just a thought, really...
The UK was thinking about it last year, but then BTC fell $14000 and they have gone back to 'researching' the topic.
https://www.coindesk.com/bank-of-england-has-no-plans-to-launch-cryptocurrency/
Now BTC has gained $4000 again recently, it's being shunned because they missed the bottom, again:
https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/921169/bitcoin-bank-of-england-cryptocurrency-mark-carney-brexit-EU
So in the next year or 2 when the markets are flying again, expect the research to conclude that it does make sense - and hopefully at this point, most of us will not have to care what the Banks' opinion is!
I agree with you. Old school banking is here for a while longer. We are in between two worlds at the moment (and probably more at the beginning side of things). Ignoring the tech is foolish, combining will be the way to go indeed.