Innovation in Economic Data: Truflation's Oliver Rust on Real-Time Inflation Tracking

Oliver Rust, a veteran of data analytics with experience at Nielsen and the Engine Group, discusses how Truflation is transforming inflation measurement through advanced data collection and blockchain technology. In this interview, he shares insights on their innovative approach to tracking economic indicators and their recent expansion into the Indian market.

Ishan Pandey: Hello Oliver, it's a pleasure to welcome you to our 'Behind the Startup' series. Please tell us about yourself and your journey with Truflation.

Oliver Rust: I am a data guy who previously worked at Taylor Nelson Sofres, Nielsen and the Engine group and joined Truflation back in 2021. I was and still am excited by what Truflation can bring to the market: a more dynamic, transparent and faster delivery of financial and economic data sets designed for the decentralized marketplace. The applications of this data set are endless and provide many opportunities ahead. You have to be excited about that 🙂

Ishan Pandey: How do you see your approach as differing from traditional inflation-tracking methods like those used by government agencies?

Oliver Rust: Truflation is so far ahead in measuring changes to inflation compared to government agencies, given that:

• Truflation makes the indexes available 30 times faster than current measurement tools and we report the indexes daily.

  
  

• Truflation leverages over 80 data providers and aggregates worldwide, resulting in multiple data sources with different methodologies covering each category, creating a more representative and balanced measurement tool.

  
  

• Truflation leverages census-level data, enabling us to access more than 40 million prices of goods and services compared to traditional indexes, which track roughly 100,000 items (varies by market)

  
  

• Truflation uses open-source algorithms to make the data more transparent and deliver the unfiltered truth via our Truf Network, a decentralized platform, and

  
  

• We measure the price changes from a consumer cost of living perspective.

  
  

Ishan Pandey: Truflation recently launched a Hedge Index tracking Real World Assets (RWAs) to protect investments from inflation. Could you explain how it works and what its benefits are for investors?

Oliver Rust: The Truflation Hedge Index is an insurance policy offsetting any losses from other investments and inflation. This index tracks the price movements of the five core asset classes: Gold, Silver, WTI Crude Oil, Bitcoin and S&P 500. The index fluctuates based on the underlying constituents' movements, calculated using the price movements based on the weighting contribution of each component. We brought this index live for the crypto community to be able to trade against and offset inflation and diversify individual portfolios.

Ishan Pandey: Truflation is known for using real-time data to track inflation. How do you ensure the accuracy and relevance of this data in an ever-changing economic landscape? What tools or technologies do you rely on to support this?

Oliver Rust: At Truflation we are used to handling census-level data and we have a 7 points quality control process that we have automated and deployed on the truf network that allows us to provide accurate data reflecting the price changes consumers are experiencing from a cost of living perspective. On top of this, leveraging a minimum of 3 data sources per index allows us to remove any dependency on one data set and provide more comprehensiveness to our indexes.

Ishan Pandey: With your presence at India Blockchain Week (IBW), how does Truflation view the growing blockchain ecosystem in India? How do blockchain technology impact inflation tracking and financial services in this market?

Oliver Rust: Being at India Blockchain week is buzzing here and exciting. There is so much energy and positivity to make change for the good that the community and their actions can not energize you. I am just happy that we are going to be part of it. Everybody needs accurate, reliable and transparent data, and we look forward to bringing this to the market in India.

Ishan Pandey: Blockchain regulation in India is still evolving. How does Truflation navigate regulatory challenges in a market like India?

Oliver Rust: Our focus is to provide information to the crypto community that they can leverage to create financial products from the economic and financial data that we provide through Truf Network. That is our focus at present.

Ishan Pandey: At IBW, we see innovative blockchain projects' convergence. Are there any specific blockchain startups or institutions you are particularly excited to collaborate with in India? How can these partnerships enhance Truflation's product offerings?

Oliver Rust: Having been at IBW it is exciting just to see the amount of innovative ideas and entrepreneurs that are launching so many new products in the market. This ranges from the gaming industry all the way through to data applications. This myriad of new solutions being brought to the marketplace is so exciting. We are lucky to partner with Levitate, which has backed so many start-ups that we are excited and eager to get going!

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