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Leading Investment Fund Manager Selects #KoreConX Digital Securities Protocol for Offering

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:30 AM on Thursday, April 4th, 2019

3iQ is Canada’s first regulated multi crypto asset portfolio manager and will be utilizing the KoreConX platform

[New York, NY – April 04, 2019] – KoreConX is proud to announce that 3iQ Corp. (3iQ), Canada’s first regulated multi cryptoasset portfolio manager, has chosen the KoreProtocol for their Digital Securities Offering.

Founded in 2012, the company is the first Canadian investment fund manager to fully comply with the terms and conditions with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities to manage a multi-crypto asset investment fund, offering exposure to accredited investors for the first time.

3iQ focuses on educating individuals in disruptive technologies and the crypto asset space and providing innovative investments of institutional quality. Behind the company are the investment industry veterans Howard Atkinson and Fred Pye, both with more than 30 years of experience in the field.

“Moving to Digital Securities is a very important decision in the history of our company, and we need a protocol that is secure and robust, while never compromising compliance,” said Howard Atkinson, Chairman of 3iQ. “We believe KoreConX is not only the right choice when it comes to the Digital Securities Protocol, but also when it comes to management after issuance.”  According to Fred Pye, President & CEO of 3iQ, “through our Exempt Market Dealer we will be able to offer these securities to Accredited Investors.”

In the KoreConX all-in-one platform, companies can not only initiate their Digital Security Offering process, but they can also find a series of solutions tailored to their business needs, including the pre, during and post phases of capital raise. From the Due Diligence and the documentation gathering to Investor Relations with the shareholders, users can find the tools they need to grow their business.

Companies with a growing number of shareholders can also utilize CapTable Management solutions without compromising the safety of their most sensitive information.

“We created the platform with the business’ owners in mind. We created it for the dynamic entrepreneur who needs efficiency and agility when managing their companies so they can focus on perfecting their business,” said Oscar Jofre, Co-Founder and CEO of KoreConX. “We are very honored that an Investment Fund Manager of the magnitude of 3iQ chose our solutions to be the technology behind their Digital Securities Offering and their company.”

About 3iQ Corp.

3iQ is a Canadian investment fund manager focused on providing innovative investment products of institutional quality. 3iQ currently manages the 3iQ Global Cryptoasset Fund, a private investment fund which holds bitcoin, either and litecoin and is eligible for investment by accredited investors in Canada or in reliance on other exemptions from the prospectus requirement. Founded in 2012, 3iQ is currently focused on disruptive technologies and the cryptoasset space

About KoreConX

KoreConX is the world’s first highly-secure permissioned blockchain ecosystem for fully-compliant digital securities worldwide.

To ensure compliance with securities regulation and corporate law, the KoreConX all-in-one, AI-based blockchain platform manages the full lifecycle of digital securities including the issuance, trading, clearing, settlement, management, reporting, corporate actions, and custodianship. KoreConX connects companies to the capital markets and secondary markets facilitating access to capital and liquidity for private investors.

KoreConX is the first secure, all-in-one platform for private companies to manage their capital market activity and stakeholder communications. Removing the burden of fragmented systems and inefficient tools across multiple vendors, KoreConX offers a single environment to connect companies, investors and broker/dealers. Leveraged for investor relations and fundraising, private companies can share and manage corporate records and investments including portfolio management, capitalization table management, virtual minute book, security registers, transfer agent services and virtual deal rooms for raising capital.  www.KoreConX.com

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Media Contacts:

KoreConX

Oscar A Jofre

[email protected]

US Congress Releases Extraordinary Report Praising #Cryptocurrency and #Blockchain Technology $SX.ca $SX $SXOOF $AAO #ZeU

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:12 PM on Monday, March 19th, 2018

  • US Congress just released its massive joint report on the state of the economy
  • Entire chapter dedicated to cryptocurrency
  • Even more extraordinary are the number of bullish sentiments on the future of the emerging technology

Here’s a look at some of the most interesting aspects of the new report:

Blockchain Looks Like the New Internet

“The buzz surrounding digital currencies resembles the internet excitement in the late 1990s when people recognized technology companies could change the world. Many internet companies launched and their valuations took off in short order. Many failed, but a few succeeded spectacularly and challenged the conventional ways of doing business.”

Cryptocurrencies Could Outshine Government Fiat

“Some critics of currencies controlled by government fiat welcome cryptocurrencies because their supply is preprogrammed and perceived as unchangeable. For example, only 21 million bitcoins will ever be issued and the last fraction of a bitcoin will be issued in approximately 2140. Additionally, the creator of Ethereum designed its mining reward to decline exponentially as more miners create blocks, and according to his calculations the supply will be just over 100 million ether.”

Blockchain Is Secure and Efficient

“Cryptocurrencies and ICOs create headlines, and the pace of financial innovation in the blockchain space amazes skeptics. Yet, with all the headlines focusing on the financial applications, people may miss the digital revolution now happening with other blockchain applications. Even worse, people could be frightened about new developments with the technology as they associate blockchains with the negative headlines. Blockchain technology offers a decentralized, secure, and efficient way to store almost any form of data across multiple platforms.”

Blockchain May Transform Many Industries

“Developers, companies, and governments recognize the potential and have already starting to implement blockchains for many different uses. For instance, health care providers, patients, and policymakers continue searching for portable and secure ways to store medical records digitally.

From applications ranging from management of the electrical grid and utilities to how companies manage global supply chains, the potential for blockchain is truly revolutionary. For example, power plants could record the electricity they generate on a blockchain as available for purchase. Utilities could then purchase the power, and the blockchain would record the purchase and the transfer. Finally, the meters of end users would communicate with the utility to purchase portions of the power. These steps occur now but using a distributed ledger would streamline and speed up delivery, lowering costs and saving power.

Blockchains could also enable microgrids from local power sources. The company LO3 Energy currently runs a pilot program for trading power from solar panels on Brooklyn roofs. Smart meters throughout the neighborhood would buy and sell power generated from these alternative sources as it enters the grid. With these developments and countless possibilities, it is no surprise that governments around the world started working with energy providers to explore blockchain’s use. Even the Department of Energy partnered with BlockCypher to demonstrate how blockchains could facilitate a smarter energy grid.

Shipping a product from a supplier to retail creates mountains of paperwork or computer records that are rarely compatible across differing systems, especially a when distributor acts as a middleman between the two. The paperwork and data tracking multiplies when sending said product overseas or importing. Not only will multiple parties need to ship the product, but the supplier and customer will have to deal with customs agency paper work. Recognizing blockchain’s potential, IBM teamed up with the 214 world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, to develop a consensus distributed ledger that would allow all companies and government agencies along the chain to record, track, and verify products throughout their journey.

Walmart and other grocers started testing blockchains for their supply chains. In testimony before the House Science and Technology Committee, Frank Yiannas, Walmart’s Vice President of Food Safety, described how tracking E. coli and other contaminated food took companies and regulators weeks, which left Americans at risk and incurring large costs in food waste. Walmart tested a blockchain platform to track sliced mangos from farm to shelves and reduced the tracking time from 7 days to 2.2 seconds. Walmart and ten of the largest grocers in America formed a coalition to implement this technology throughout their supply chains.”

The Conclusion

“Technology presents evolving challenges and generates new solutions. Blockchain technology essentially stores and transmits data securely, in large volume, and at high speeds. So far, the technology has proved largely resistant to hacking, and given this feature, developers first applied it to digital currencies. Yet blockchain has many more potential applications, such as portable medical records and securing the critical financial and energy infrastructure that the Report identified.”

Overall Recommendations from the Report:

  • Policymakers and the public should become more familiar with digital currencies and other uses of blockchain technology, which have a wide range of applications in the future.
  • Regulators should continue to coordinate among each other to guarantee coherent policy frameworks, definitions, and jurisdiction.
  • Policymakers, regulators, and entrepreneurs should continue to work together to ensure developers can deploy these new blockchain technologies quickly and in a manner that protects Americans from fraud, theft, and abuse, while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
  • Government agencies at all levels should consider and examine new uses for this technology that could make the government more efficient in performing its functions.

The Negatives

Of course, the report issues a number of cautions as well, including the risks involved in investing in Initial Coin Offerings and the volatile world of crypto.

“At this point, many prominent economists do not believe cryptocurrencies fit the standard definition of money. Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen considered Bitcoin a “highly speculative asset” that is not considered legal tender. Bitcoin itself has technical and economic limitations that hinder its use as a medium of exchange. Transaction processing time and fees on the Bitcoin network keep increasing and render Bitcoin uneconomical for common purchases.

Extreme volatility in the dollar price of cryptocurrencies also impairs their use as money because people price goods and services in dollars and thus their purchasing power fluctuates wildly.”

You can check out the full report here.

The Future Of #Cryptocurrencies And #Blockchain Take Center Stage At #southsouthwest 2018 $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:40 AM on Monday, March 19th, 2018
  • Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology took center stage at South By Southwest this year
  • Conference organizers publically announced at the end of last year that a “new addition” for the 2018 SXSW lineup would include a series of sessions on blockchain, the technology that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin
  • Venues with names like “Initial Taco Offering” and “The Blokhaus” lined the streets of downtown Austin, hosting events daily with well-known individuals in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space

Rachel Wolfson , Contributor

I write about crypto, women in crypto and blockchain technology.

Not surprisingly, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology took center stage at South By Southwest (SXSW) this year. The conference organizers publically announced at the end of last year that a “new addition” for the 2018 SXSW lineup would include a series of sessions on blockchain, the technology that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Venues with names like “Initial Taco Offering” and “The Blokhaus” lined the streets of downtown Austin, hosting events daily with well-known individuals in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space.

Kicking Off SXSW With Ethereum Co-Founder, Joseph Lubin

On Friday of last week, the SXSW festival kicked off with a panel entitled, “Why Ethereum is Going to Change The World,” featuring Ethereum co-founder, Joseph Lubin. During the session, Lubin explained how he became interested in blockchain technology and his involvement in the Ethereum Project. He also revealed his plans for his blockchain software technology company, ConsenSys.

AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 09: Laura Shin and Joseph Lubin speak onstage at Why Etherium is Going to Change the World during SXSW at Austin Convention Center on March 9, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mike Jordan/Getty Images for SXSW)

 

Lubin explained that when Bitcoin was first invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, two other creations followed. First and foremost, Bitcoin led to the creation of blockchain technology, described by Lubin as, “a trustworthy database system, which is a shared infrastructure consisting of trusted actors.” And Blockchain technology, eventually led to what Lubin refers to as, “crypto economics,” which has made it possible to create more things based on blockchain technology.

Crypto economics is a way of doing incentivized mechanism design to enable many actors to contribute their resources to validating transactions and securing that network,” Lubin said. “This is the first time in history where we’ve seen a money system built in a fully decentralized way that is essentially of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Following the creation of Bitcoin and the rise of blockchain technology, Lubin explained that Ethereum was created by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 as a vision for a system that is scalable in terms of human action and as a general platform for decentralized applications. Lubin got involved with Ethereum due to its many use cases, which he mentioned can be applied to various industries including the health sector, supply chain management and even content creation.

The many ways in which Ethereum can be used has led Lubin to create a content platform on the Ethereum network, called Ujo Music. In a nutshell, the Ujo platform allows artists to register themselves as individuals and upload their content to the network with usage policies attached to that content – without having to go through any third party.

“The beauty of this in contrast to the existing music industry is that it shrinks the role of the intermediary. Intermediaries in the music industry, for example, usually extract 70-80% of value flow in the industry and delay payments for artists. Our platform allows consumers to support artists instantly and ensures that artists get paid immediately for their work,” Lubin said during the panel.”

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwolfson/2018/03/18/the-future-of-cryptocurrencies-and-blockchain-take-center-stage-at-south-by-southwest-2018/#717901f135e3

12 Startups Utilizing #Blockchain Technology in New Ways $SX $SX.ca $IDK.ca $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:55 PM on Thursday, March 15th, 2018

Image credit: monsitj | Getty Images
Jonathan Long
  • Cryptocurrency created quite the buzz this past year
  • Although the technology has been around for a few years, 2017 was the year it really took off
  • However, the technology behind these tokens, blockchain, has far more applications than just cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, the first application of cryptocurrency technology, hit $20,000 a coin, while coins like Ethereum also saw their prices increase. However, the technology behind these tokens, blockchain, has far more applications than just cryptocurrencies.

Through a network of smart contracts that operate utilizing decentralized information on a ledger, blockchain is able to provide unmatched security and speed for data transfers. This means that blockchain technology has an application in nearly every industry where value is exchanged.

For this reason, many startups have started to explore how this technology can change the way the world works. Here are twelve of those startups, each of which are utilizing blockchain technology in new ways.

1. Fr8

Fr8‘s blockchain network facilitates the digitization of record-keeping related to the trade of assets, even in scenarios where intermediaries and brokers are incentivized to resist change. Last year, trucks drove 29 billion empty miles in the U.S. alone. By applying blockchain, Fr8 helps to streamline and organize the industry in a trustworthy manner.

2. IOST

The internet of Services (IOST) is a new cryptocurrency that is attempting to solve scalability problems. A technological descendant of Ethereum, IOST is a blockchain with the purpose of serving as infrastructure for developers to create decentralized applications. Building on top of a blockchain allows businesses to cut out intermediaries, and also gives them peace of mind in terms of data safety, as blockchain networks are notoriously secure.

3. ImpactPPA

ImpactPPA is creating the SmartPPA (PPA stands for power purchase agreement), a platform that connects the blockchain community with environmentally concerned and socially impactful projects that fuel the development of sustainable solutions. The platform is designed to manage renewable energy resources from generation to distribution to payment. Its aim is solving the globe’s most pressing environmental and humanitarian issues.

Related: Steal These 4 Proven Customer-Retention Strategies

4. ShipChain

ShipChain is a freight and logistics platform built on blockchain. The platform focuses on an end-to-end track and trace, which allows for unification across the entire supply chain, among all carriers. ShipChain is member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) alongside Microsoft, and the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), alongside UPS and DHL. The company recently announced a pilot program with Perdue Farms.

5. Nano Vision

Nano Vision is empowering global citizens to step up and lend their efforts to furthering disease-prevention research and development. Through blockchain’s inherently decentralized solution, anyone, whether they are scientists, doctors or simply engaged civilians, will have access to the data that has been collected and the research that has been recorded on Nano Vision’s platform. The initiative anticipates that this will fuel new steps in the research process, thus sparking faster innovation.

Related: 25 Tips for Earning Customer Loyalty

6. Inveniam

Inveniam is the first organization to successfully structure and tokenize a debt instrument that is capable of being listed on a public market. Equipped with a working product, Inveniam uses Decentralized Ledger Technology (DLT) and “regulated” contracts and tokens to transform structuring, clearing, custody and settlement of fixed-income instruments. This “regulated” token acts as the passkey for all of the underlying documentation associated with the debt, which trades with the token for the life of the instrument.

7. BuzzShow

BuzzShow is a platform that incorporates proof of contribution to reward online video users. It focuses on creating a decentralized social video ecosystem with a full economic cycle and rewards for creating, curating, viewing and sharing videos. Users retain full privacy and control over their video within the social media space. The platform currently has over 15,000 users.

Related: 5 Ways to Build Killer Relationships With Customers

8. Patron

Patron is a global influencer marketing platform built with blockchain technology. Started by Atsushi Hisatsumi, a Japanese influencer and entrepreneur, the company seeks to connect global influencers with brands in a secure and transparent ecosystem. Benefits of the platform include the elimination of most common intermediary fees, incentivization and voting using tokens to match parties. The company has raised over $10 million to date.

9. Photochain

Photochain is a decentralized stock photography platform built on the blockchain. Using the Photochain marketplace, photographers can retain up to 95 percent of their potential earnings, while ensuring all copyrights and protections are in place using the company’s Digital Copyright Chain (DCC) solution. The marketplace will also connect buyers for a fair and seamless experience, eliminating most of the fees and copyright problems currently found in the stock photography market.

10. ODEM

ODEM is the world’s first decentralized on-demand education marketplace. Using the power of blockchain technology and its smart contract-based payment platform, ODEM will enable students and professors to interact directly and participate in the exchange of education and learning, without the involvement of intermediaries. This means greater access to quality education at a lower cost, helping bridge the educational gap for millions of students globally.

11. MEvU

MEvU is a decentralized P2P (peer-to-peer) betting application that allows people to bet on anything, at any time and against anyone. MEvU uses smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain to store players’ funds and information, providing players with confidence that their wagers will be executed securely and quickly. The goal is to reduce black market gaming, while promoting fun and transparent gaming between parties.

12. Boon Tech

Boon Tech is an artificial intelligence-powered micro-job platform on blockchain. With a technology developed to eliminate cryptocurrency volatility in their platform, Boon Tech has the potential to revolutionize the freelance economy. As an IBM business partner, Boon Tech uses IBM’s Watson AI algorithms in its ranking and review systems available on the platform.

Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310373

Don’t Confuse #Bitcoin With #Blockchain Technology $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:15 PM on Wednesday, March 14th, 2018

Mat Litalien | March 14, 2018 | More on: HBLK HIVE

  • Bitcoin and blockchain technology are often incorrectly used interchangeably.
  • Although the Bitcoin and blockchain are closely related, it is important to note that they are not one and the same

As an example, take this headline from Cointelegraph: “Goldman Sachs Will Start Bank Money ‘Stampede’ Into Bitcoin: Ritholtz CEO”. At first glance, an investor could be tricked into thing that Goldman Sachs is about to get into Bitcoin, when in effect, the quote from Wealth Management CEO Josh Brown does not even mention Bitcoin.

Likewise, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, has been criticized for calling Bitcoin a “fraud.” However, did you know that JP Morgan is actively engaged in developing blockchain technology?

Although the Bitcoin and blockchain are closely related, it is important to note that they are not one and the same.

Let’s start with Bitcoin. Bitcoin was the first and the best-known unregulated cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is the cryptocurrency for which blockchain was invented. Therein lies why the confusion between the two exists. Bitcoin is a medium of exchange, like the Canadian dollar, intended to simplify transactions and eliminate the need for third-party payment processing such as banks and PayPal.

Bitcoin, like other cryptocurrencies, is digital and is considered to have no intrinsic value. It is unregulated in the sense that its supply is not determined by a central bank. Bitcoin is not a file saved on a computer. It is represented by transactions recorded on a peer-to-peer network. Bitcoin can be used to purchase goods and services where accepted.

Blockchain is the technology on which Bitcoin was built and goes far and beyond cryptocurrencies. It is anonymous, distributed, public, and encrypted. Blockchain maintains the Bitcoin transaction ledger. There are thousands of blockchains that exist, all influenced by the original Bitcoin blockchain.

The attractiveness of blockchain technology is easy to understand. Because it is distributed, there is no central database, and it runs on computers worldwide, which makes it very difficult to hack. It is public, which means that anyone can view it any time, offering an unprecedented level of transparency. It also makes use of two-key encryption, which enables unmatched virtual security.

Businesses have come to learn that blockchain technology can be adapted for use in many other areas. Specifically, many companies are investigating the use of blockchain to improve and speed up business processes. It can lead to cheaper and faster financial settlements that could save companies billions in transaction costs. It can transform the way governments are elected by producing immediately verifiable voting results. Canada has long struggled with a true electronic patient medical record due to the significant privacy regulations. Could an electronic medical record built on blockchain technology be the answer? What about solving the corruption surrounding foreign aid? Blockchain can hold organizations more accountable through increased transparency.

Investors wanting to invest in blockchain technology can do so by taking a position in Harvest Portfolio’s Blockchain Technologies ETF (TSX:HBLK). The ETF was only recently launched in February and will invest in companies that are leading the blockchain revolution. Its holdings include development companies such as HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (TSXV:HIVE), Overstock.com Inc., BTL Group Ltd., and BIG Blockchain Intelligence Group Inc. Likewise, it has stakes in some of the larger players in the tech industry who have shown a keen interest in blockchain technology, such as Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, and Visa Inc.

The applications for blockchain technology are endless. Bitcoin has been revolutionary and continues to be the most widely accepted form of cryptocurrency. However, investors need to understand that if a company is invested in blockchain technology, it does not equate to Bitcoin. They can be investigating the use of blockchain for several possible reasons. There exists a significant knowledge gap between the public and blockchain technology. As an investor, you need to be extra vigilant and understand what you are investing in.

While conflict overseas is all media talking-heads seem to mention these days, the billionaire founder of Tesla is losing sleep over what he sees as a far bigger threat.

Elon Musk Warns: This has “vastly more risk than North Korea”

If you missed your opportunity to get in on Google, Microsoft, or Amazon in their early days, don’t let it happen again. This emerging technology trend could offer a second chance for anyone who wishes they took part in these millionaire-maker stocks.

Source: https://www.fool.ca/2018/03/14/dont-confuse-bitcoin-with-blockchain-technology/

2018: The Year We Democratize #Blockchain $IDK.ca $SX.ca $SXOOF#Blockstation

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:47 PM on Tuesday, January 9th, 2018
  • World has seen tremendous interest in blockchain across industries and countries, from thousands of new startups, to blockchain labs popping up in commercial and federal organizations
  • Democratization of a given technology can happen in many ways, from the number of people, products and solutions using that technology, to its business value or the level of disruption it activates.

Eric Piscini, a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, is the global leader of Deloitte’s financial services blockchain consulting efforts and co-lead at its the global blockchain and cryptocurrency team.

As the technology behind bitcoin nears its 10th year in the market, let’s celebrate the positive.

The world has seen tremendous interest in blockchain across industries and countries, from thousands of new startups, to blockchain labs popping up in commercial and federal organizations, to a number of consortia established looking to solve their industry’s biggest challenges.

One can go so far as to argue that 2017 saw the democratization for cryptocurrencies.

Democratization of a given technology can happen in many ways, from the number of people, products and solutions using that technology, to its business value or the level of disruption it activates. As opposed to previous technology waves – like open source – blockchain technology is, at its core, is designed to empower people versus organizations. It is thus natural that blockchain democratization is also core to its success.

With kids accepting bitcoin on lemonade stands, teenagers investing in ether to pay for college and traders standing up crypto-trading desks, there is no doubt that cryptocurrencies have helped democratize blockchain. Ask anyone who has been involved in blockchain without being involved in bitcoin for proof of that. In a way, blockchain has been democratized via cryptocurrencies — but the real democratization of blockchain is about to happen.

With democratization at its core, here are some of the things I expect to see happen in the year ahead.

For a host of reasons, it is a critical year for every aspect of the space.

1. Killer apps

2018 might very well be the year of the killer customer app on blockchain.

While the CryptoKitties were cute, they also demonstrated some limitations of the technology platforms; it will likely incentivize those in the industry to develop more stable and scalable blockchains. And, as the foundations mature, we will see major advancements in the usage of blockchain solutions for consumers. Whether it be personal electric grid management, digital identity, gaming, loyalty or credit scoring, we will probably use a blockchain app in 2018 without knowing that it is backed by blockchain technology.

2. Major tech developments

Advancements will come in the next few months that will make the use of blockchain platforms easier than ever before. And it will happen across the main stacks of Hyperledger, ethereum and Corda, among others.

This will address a key challenge that we all face today — the scarcity of talent, especially in developers and architects. When it’s easier to provision and develop on blockchain technologies, innovation will be unleashed, many more solutions will be created, which will help drive more experimentation and successful platform launches.

3. Governments and regulators will drive adoption

These groups are now engaging and leading in blockchain efforts after studying and getting up to speed on the technology.

They now understand the value of blockchain for themselves and their constituencies. We will see large-scale use of blockchain led by governments, probably first in developing economies and small countries where incumbents are less influential. Financial inclusion, digital identities, regulatory reporting and payments will be the main areas improved by blockchain in 2018.

4. Corporations and non-profits will become major players

I believe these organizations will be the main engine in translating the promises into real commercially viable solutions, a massive role in the democratization of blockchain. Most importantly, they will have to accept that their long-term role in our economies might be dramatically different than it is today. We have seen both sides of the coin so far, pun unintended.

Those taking the defensive position – like notaries – will go the dinosaur way. On the other hand, those going on offense, with aggressive moves from major corporations, like banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, will help build the next generation of business platforms on blockchain.

The biggest question: Will they be nimble enough to compete with the startups? Will they be protected by regulations? Will they generate return on their investments so far?

5. The jobs market will take notice

When it comes to talent, which is the first thing I think about when I wake up each morning, the job market too will be impacted and blockchain will offer new productive lives for many. The decentralization of work has already started and I’m a big believer that blockchain will fuel its growth. Imagine a world where each of us can monetize our time, skills and experiences on-demand and be rewarded with micropayments from a decentralized platform.

Work has been democratized many times over but it might very well be the last phase.

All that said, there might be a downside to the democratization of blockchain. If you consider blockchain as a non-human trustee, autonomous organizations running on blockchain are – as we have seen with the DAO – not so sci-fi anymore. Democratization of technology often requires strong ethical behaviors and, sometimes, a regulatory framework. We cannot overstate these aspects in our race to introduce blockchain to the world.

6. There will be surprises

No, I did not forget cryptocurrencies and other tokens.

They have reached democratization in financial markets already, with many exchanges and financial instruments. Will it open a new wave for anyone to invest into a new asset class, will it burst into flames, will it enhance existing businesses, or will it create new decentralized business models? All of the above, which is why 2018 is going to be the most exciting year in blockchain so far.

Democratizing blockchain will be central for us in 2018, as I believe it will generate an unprecedented level of change in the next decade.

Participation image via Shutterstock

The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk strives to offer an open platform for dialogue and discussion on all things blockchain by encouraging contributed articles. As such, the opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of CoinDesk.

Source: https://www.coindesk.com/2018-year-democratize-blockchain/

St-Georges’ $SX.ca Subsidiary Kings of the North Planning Financing Effort that will Include #Cryptocurrencies #Bitcoin

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:13 AM on Thursday, November 2nd, 2017

Sx large

  • Enrolled the services of a third party escrow service company, which will allow its subsidiary to secure a portion of its future financing in Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies.

Montreal, Quebec / November 2, 2017 – St-Georges Platinum & Base Metals Ltd. (CSE: SX) (OTC: SXOOF) (FSE: 85G1) is pleased to inform its shareholders and stakeholders that the Company has enrolled the services of a third party escrow service company, which will allow its subsidiary to secure a portion of its future financing in Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies.

That subsidiary, Kings of the North Corp. (KOTN), will be seeking to raise up to $5 million in financing, the timeline and the nature of which will be communicated at a later date. At this point, the company has received no firm offer and there is no guarantee such an offer would meet its expectations.

“As St-Georges intend to bring new technologies to the mining industry, the Company would also like to be a pioneer in the use of financial innovations, such as bitcoins and cryptocurrencies” commented Mark Billings, president of KOTN.

St-Georges also received interest from some of its main suppliers to be paid in Bitcoins. One such supplier, North Atlantic Mining Associates Ltd (NAMA), which is in charge of all the work of St-Georges’ Icelandic subsidiary, Iceland Resources EHF, has agreed to receive payments in Bitcoins for the coming drilling campaign. The Honorable Lord Timothy Razzall, NAMA Chairman commented: “NAMA is pleased to be part of this exciting development in Iceland. The project fits nicely with NAMA’s strategy of developing its construction and drilling business”.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“Mark Billings

MARK BILLINGS, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD & PRESIDENT OF KINGS OF THE NORTH.

About St-Georges

St-Georges is developing new technologies to solve the biggest environmental problems in the mining industry. If these new technologies are successful, they should improve the financial bottom line of current mining producers. The potential success of these technologies would also involve upgrading certain current known metal resources to economic status while addressing the environmental and social acceptability issues.

The Company controls directly or indirectly all of the active mineral tenures in Iceland. It also explores for nickel on the Julie Nickel Project & for industrial minerals on Quebec’s North Shore and for lithium and rare metals in Northern Quebec and in the Abitibi area. Headquartered in Montreal, St-Georges’ stock is listed on the CSE under the symbol SX, on the US OTC under the Symbol SXOOF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 85G1. For additional information, please visit our website at www.stgeorgesplatinum.com