LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / February 12, 2026 / While public attention remains focused on cryptocurrency volatility and speculation, seasoned financial technology expert Kotaro Shimogori envisions a different future for blockchain technology. His perspective, shaped by years of implementing complex financial systems, looks beyond digital currencies to practical applications that could transform everyday commerce and industry operations.
“I think all the credit card transactions could be on blockchain, you know. Visa, Mastercard, those guys have their own proprietary system that’s within their system, but perhaps there will be other credit card companies that could come out utilizing blockchain technology,” Shimogori explains, outlining a vision where blockchain becomes infrastructure rather than speculation vehicle.
Beyond the Cryptocurrency Noise
Shimogori’s approach to blockchain technology deliberately avoids the speculation that dominates public discourse. “I don’t really necessarily like all the crypto stuff,” he notes. “I mean, we own some Bitcoin obviously because you have to, everyone else does, but I don’t really know where that’s going to go.”
This practical perspective focuses on blockchain’s core capabilities-secure, decentralized transaction processing-rather than its potential as an investment vehicle. His machine learning expertise and experience with complex classification systems inform his understanding of how blockchain can solve specific business challenges.
The distinction matters because speculation-driven approaches often miss blockchain’s genuine value propositions. While cryptocurrency markets fluctuate based on sentiment and regulation, practical blockchain applications can deliver measurable benefits regardless of token prices.
Credit Card System Transformation
One of Shimogori’s most significant predictions involves the transformation of credit card processing through blockchain implementation. Current payment systems rely on complex networks of intermediaries, each adding costs and processing time to transactions.
“You know Visa, Mastercard, those guys have their own proprietary system that’s within their system, but perhaps there will be other credit card companies that could come out with utilizing blockchain technology and then offering credit card services,” he observes.
This vision suggests blockchain-based payment networks that could process transactions more efficiently while reducing costs for both merchants and consumers. The technology’s ability to handle secure transactions without traditional intermediary networks could enable new competition in payment processing.
Such systems would leverage blockchain’s core strength-creating permanent, verifiable transaction records without requiring centralized control-while maintaining the speed and reliability that modern commerce demands.
Real Estate: Eliminating Archaic Processes
Perhaps even more transformative is Shimogori’s vision for blockchain in real estate transactions. “Real estate transactions could fully be on blockchain instead of going through the arcane process of what we have right now with escrows and all that kind of stuff,” he explains.
Current real estate transactions involve multiple intermediaries: agents, lenders, title companies, escrow services, and various government agencies. Each adds time, cost, and potential failure points to what should be straightforward property transfers.
Blockchain technology could automate many of these functions through smart contracts that execute automatically when conditions are met. Property titles could exist as blockchain tokens, making transfers as simple and immediate as other digital transactions.
This application demonstrates blockchain’s potential to eliminate inefficiencies in established industries rather than creating entirely new markets. The technology becomes valuable not because it’s novel, but because it solves existing problems more effectively than current approaches.
Government Services: The Slow but Inevitable Shift
Shimogori also envisions blockchain transforming government services, though he recognizes institutional inertia: “A lot of the state government stuff could be on blockchain, which I know they’re working on, but it’s government-it takes forever.”
Government services often involve complex verification processes, document management, and inter-agency coordination. Blockchain systems could streamline these processes while maintaining the security and auditability that government operations require.
Voting systems, business licensing, tax collection, and benefit distribution all involve processes that blockchain could handle more efficiently and transparently than current systems. However, as Shimogori notes, government adoption timelines tend to be longer than private sector implementation.
The Infrastructure Evolution
Underlying Shimogori’s predictions is a vision of blockchain as infrastructure rather than application. “It’s just a secure way to provide transactions without institutional hindrance,” he explains, emphasizing practical functionality over technological novelty.
This infrastructure perspective aligns with his infrastructure-first development philosophy, which emphasizes building robust foundations that enable multiple applications rather than pursuing specific features.
When blockchain becomes infrastructure, it enables innovations that weren’t previously possible while making existing processes more efficient, secure, and accessible. The technology’s value emerges through widespread adoption rather than speculative appreciation.
Smart Contracts and Automation
Central to these applications are smart contracts-blockchain programs that execute automatically when specified conditions are met. Shimogori’s vision relies heavily on these automated systems to replace manual processes and intermediary services.
In credit card processing, smart contracts could automatically verify transactions, check credit limits, and settle payments without human intervention. In real estate, they could handle escrow functions, title transfers, and even mortgage payments based on predetermined conditions.
This automation potential reflects principles similar to those Shimogori applied in his harmonized tariff code system, where machine learning automated complex classification tasks while preserving human oversight for exceptional cases.
Addressing Practical Barriers
While optimistic about blockchain’s potential, Shimogori recognizes practical barriers to widespread adoption. Legacy systems, regulatory frameworks, and institutional resistance all slow implementation of new technologies.
His experience with legacy system modernization challenges informs his understanding of how established institutions approach new technology adoption. Success requires not just technical capability but also strategies for managing transition from existing systems.
“Everything has to be backed up by certain amount of assets,” he notes, emphasizing that even innovative financial systems must maintain connection to traditional value stores and regulatory frameworks.
The Gradual Transformation Timeline
Unlike cryptocurrency evangelists predicting rapid disruption, Shimogori sees blockchain adoption unfolding gradually as it proves its value in specific, real-world use cases. He emphasizes focusing on applications where blockchain clearly improves existing processes, such as payments, real estate transactions, and government services, rather than adopting the technology for its own sake. By prioritizing efficiency, cost reduction, and security over speculation, Shimogori believes blockchain can avoid boom-and-bust cycles and evolve into invisible infrastructure, much like the internet did, quietly powering more secure and efficient everyday transactions.
CONTACT:
Andrew Mitchell
media@cambridgeglobal.com
SOURCE: Cambridge Global
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