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#Crypto Betting Platform On #Ethereum #Blockchain Increases Player Winning Chances #Esports $GMBL $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $AAO.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:40 PM on Monday, January 29th, 2018

  • Blockchain technology, a trump card when betting on sports
  • Sizeable profit margins managed autonomously

There’s no secret that betting of sports is stimulating, exciting, and ultimately, fun. It redefines gambling because people who become players participate in a contest with realistic winning chances. However, the risks associated with sports betting are often not worth the investment. With Blockchain technology transactions are immutable, meaning lower risks and improved contractual performance.

ESports is a profitable industry because it provides entertainment, gambling and technology in a single package. However, traditional sports betting platforms have flaws and cannot provide seamless experiences. A new project built on the Ethereum Blockchain technology, XWIN CryptoBet, aims to provide a better, more convenient betting space where all transactions and activities are performed seamlessly and transparently. The mission and vision is to leverage smart contract accounts that guarantee secure betting and bookmaking.

Blockchain technology, a trump card when betting on sports

Decentralization is the Blockchain’s main trump card that can prove extremely useful when engaging in sports betting activities. The team behind XWIN CryptoBet are experienced CEOs, entrepreneurs, business founders and sports enthusiasts that work together to disrupt the sports betting industry with an improved business model targeted at skilled bookmakers and avid players. Key benefits include full confidentiality, cross-border betting, information security, transparent transactions due to the association with the Ethereum smart contract model.

XWIN CryptoBet makes betting on sports an exciting but secure activity. The platform’s decentralized nature makes activities on the platform accessible, safer and more transparent. Users are in full control of their investment, and since the project is developed on Ethereum, the smart contract accounts offer them availability 24/7 from any smart device on the market.

Sizeable profit margins managed autonomously

Bookmaking has always seemed an interesting domain to avid investors and entrepreneurs searching for entertainment. XWIN provides stable margins between six and 20 percent. To eliminate risk, the XWIN token will be used to perform all types of transactions on the platform. Winnings made by both players and bookmakers are deposited into the holders’ smart contract account, and 80 percent of the tokens made available are intended for players, aspiring bookmakers and investors.

Holders of XWIN tokens are free to sell off or gamble their XWINs whenever they see fit on the platform. As far as the free exchange pricing is concerned, it all depends on supply and demand, as well as commission payments and token nominal price.

Players and better access on the XWIN platform

Betters and players that choose to join XWIN CryptoBet are fully protected from common risks associated with traditional eSports platforms such as substitution of results, blocking, account thefts, non-payment winnings, and more. Upon registration and purchase of XWIN tokens, betters and players benefit from guaranteed payments from the general guarantee fund, ID protection, convenience and accessibility, low fees, cross-platform betting and multi-wallet platform ID.

All funds are protected by the Blockchain-based system on Ethereum and are stored in the XWIN’s smart contract DAO account. As far as the economic model is concerned, the margin varies between six and 20 percent of the betting rate. All funds are managed individually, and out of an overall margin of 100 percent, 25 percent is reserved for player payments.

Thus far, XWIN CryptoBet has managed to raise $2.3 mln in the first stage of its token open sale. With a thriving community of nearly 7,000 members, the ICO rewards investors and players 10 percent for their contribution to the project by Jan. 23.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of NewsBTC or any of its team members. NewsBTC is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied in Sponsored Stories/Press Releases such as this one.

Source: https://www.newsbtc.com/2018/01/24/xwin-blockchain-betting-platform/

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Three Ways #Blockchain Will Disrupt Traditional Business And Impact Marketing In 2018 $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $AAO.ca $HIVE.ca $CODE.ca $BLOC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:34 AM on Monday, January 29th, 2018

Matt Anthes , Forbes Councils

  • Capital Security
  • Real-Time Automation
  • Influx Of Startups

Recently, cryptocurrencies have dominated the news with Bitcoin, Litecoin and other altcoins generating mainstream buzz. Companies are utilizing a myriad of marketing efforts, particularly social media, to drive interest within the sector.

The interest in cryptocurrencies has mainly been speculative as investors look to ride the wave. On November 27, CNBC reported that there were 13.3 million users for Coinbase, the leading U.S. platform for buying and selling Bitcoin. In contrast, Charles Schwab maintained 10.6 million active brokerage accounts.

With that said, technology is evolving at a rapid pace and 2018 will be the year that blockchain, the backbone behind cryptocurrencies, establishes itself as the fastest-growing digital technology since the evolution of the internet. The blockchain is a distributed incorruptible digital technology infrastructure which maintains a fully encoded database that serves as a ledger where all transactions are recorded and stored. For those not familiar with blockchain, here’s a good primer for beginners.

Today, startups are jumping on the blockchain and looking for ways to promote their idea or company above the noise. These companies understand that we are in the midst of a “Gold Rush” and are laser-focused on promoting their solution to drive interest, raise capital and increase market share.

Many companies are being built to leverage blockchain to create greater efficiencies and maximize the current frenzy. (Full Disclosure: My company started an accelerator for blockchain businesses, helping them grow from concept to reality to widespread adoption.)

With Blockchain technology migrating from early adopter status to mainstream adoption, below are three ways blockchain will disrupt traditional business and impact marketing in 2018.

1. Capital Security

Access to capital is currently one of the major challenges startups face, as the ability to fund an idea and grow a business is burdensome. Lending options are not the same around the globe, and blockchain levels the playing field in the global economy.

Firms and agencies do not always have the ability to raise capital efficiently as costs of loans and transaction fees make the process a non-starter. Blockchain will ultimately serve as an engine for securing capital since cryptocurrencies are decentralized and there are no fees associated with them. Entrepreneurs can benefit from the blockchain by accepting funding from angel investors and venture firms the world over, in quick time.

The quicker companies are to (more easily) secure capital, the quicker they’ll be to invest in building their teams and promoting their business. In particular, a larger yield of startups will lead to a higher overall marketing spend, which will impact the addressable market for agencies and firms alike.

2. Real-Time Automation

Blockchain essentially automates processes, and formal client agreements will benefit from a fully automated approval process. Often, blockchain is referenced as a “smart” ledger/contract. Implementing blockchain as a replacement for the typical multiple executive approval processes would cut down project delays and create a universal agreement across business sectors impacting both clients and agencies.

Similarly, blockchain can automate the sourcing, supply chain and procurement processes by tracking responsibilities throughout their life cycle, which would ensure accurate data and accountable transactions. This would disrupt the way marketers engage with and service their clients.

Agencies will be impacted by automation as it reshapes the relationship amongst your business and customers. Automation in smart contracts and/or sourcing provides real-time updates and a live snapshot that provides for seamless reporting from all transactions, tracing the actions and deliverables effectively.

3. Influx Of Startups

Blockchain has begun to generate excitement, and entrepreneurs will attempt to devise the “next big thing” via the use of the blockchain network. Many will see blockchain as the next dot-com opportunity. As companies form to leverage blockchain, the investment community will follow as they did in the 1990s. The excitement and push to build blockchain businesses will spur the economy and ultimately create a robust market for agencies to service blockchain companies.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2018/01/29/three-ways-blockchain-will-disrupt-traditional-business-and-impact-marketing-in-2018/#7ef8b3095e26

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Posted in All Recent Posts, Blockchain stocks, Blockstation, Canadian Blockchain Stocks, Smallcap Blockchain stocks, St Georges Eco-Mining Technologies, Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. | Comments Off on Three Ways #Blockchain Will Disrupt Traditional Business And Impact Marketing In 2018 $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $AAO.ca $HIVE.ca $CODE.ca $BLOC.ca

#Arsenal secures #Blockchain partner #CashBet Coin, a gaming #cryptocurrency $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $AAO.ca $GMBL #Blockstation

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:48 PM on Friday, January 26th, 2018

  • Arsenal has become the first team in the Premier League to secure a Blockchain partner – the buzz-worthy technology that underpins cryptocurrency
  • CashBet Coin is a gambling cryptocurrency designed for the iGaming marketplace, a gambling exchange covering eSports, sports and casino gaming. The company and will gain prominent exposure through in-stadium ad sites in the Emirates.

Dr Mike Reaves, chief executive and founder of CashBet, said: “With our ICO for CashBet Coin, we are actively targeting a global, multi-billion dollar marketplace of iGaming content providers, operators and players.

“We are delighted to do so in partnership with one of world football’s true giants in Arsenal, enabling us to build our brand and engage this audience in a meaningful way.”

He promised “increased trust and transparency, faster payouts, reduced fees and dedicated player protection,” through CashBet Coin.

What benefits the club will derive from the implementation of Blockchain remains to be seen. The partnership comes as the firm seeks $40m in funding, the day after the coin was made available to the public for the first time on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/01/25/arsenal-secures-blockchain-partner-cashbet-coin-gaming-cryptocurrency

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Developments And Adoption Of #Blockchain In The U.S. Federal Government $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca #Blockstation $HIVE.ca $CODE.ca $BLOC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:30 AM on Thursday, January 25th, 2018

Steve Delahunty , Forbes Councils

  • Technology of blockchain has many applications to secure transactions and activities outside of the financial sector, including in healthcare and other industries.
  • U.S. federal government has interest in the application of blockchain for various purposes

With the rise of Bitcoin, one of the underlying supportive technologies that makes it possible has gained more awareness — blockchain. The technology of blockchain has many applications to secure transactions and activities outside of the financial sector, including in healthcare and other industries. The U.S. federal government has interest in the application of blockchain for various purposes.

What Is Blockchain?

Blockchain is a distributed “chain” of validated transactions secured through cryptographic hashing. Each block added is stored with timestamp and transaction data along with a cryptographic hash pointer to the previous block. Various open-source and commercial options for blockchain technology exist. The best-known example of the use of blockchain is for securing and recording of Bitcoin transactions. For another example, an organization can use blockchain to analyze whether a mobile device is valid for use inside its corporate systems using various internal identifiers for the device. Another way to think of blockchain is as a trusted ledger of transactions.

Adoption Of Blockchain By The U.S. Federal Government

While the U.S. government was late to embrace cloud computing due to challenges with deciphering the model, lack of suitable procurement options and slow adoption, it appears to be engaging actively with the potential use of blockchain technology. The appeal of blockchain may center on the decentralized nature of the technology along with interoperability and reduced cost outcomes.

 

In one of the first contract awards for blockchain technology implementation for the U.S. government, the Department of Homeland Security awarded a blockchain contract to “Prove Integrity of Captured Data From Border Devices.”

The Food & Drug Administration issued a “sources sought” notice late in 2017 for an application of blockchain. According to the notice, this was for real-time application for portable interactive devices (RAPID) “to enable [the] exchange of patient-level data within the United States Critical Illness and Injury Trails Group network.” The FDA requirements noted that “Implementation of the blockchain connection between FDA RAPID and USCIITG/Discovery network is being created in order to exchange influenza patient data at clinical sites administered by USCIITG.”

The U.S. Department of Defense Transportation Command also showed a recent interest in blockchain centered on an innovative use of distributed ledger capabilities. Its interest also included extensibility, monitoring and scalability of the technology across extended domains. An example potential application included security and surety of logistics and transportation transactions.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/01/25/developments-and-adoption-of-blockchain-in-the-u-s-federal-government/#753d93de3d99

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How #Blockchain Technology Can Help B2B Companies Become More Profitable $SX.ca $IDK.ca $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:10 PM on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
  • Blockchain is a sophisticated algorithm created for cryptocurrency
  • Drives a distributed data structure that manages electronic cash movements
  • Replaces the administrative role of a central bank or government backing
Larry Myler , Contributor I write about B2B sales strategies. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
coindesk

Blockchain builds trust, security and efficiency.

Second in a series about blockchain and B2B.

The Bitcoin frenzy has made it very difficult to understand blockchain technology and advanced ledger technologies. Until they are more easily understood, B2B interests cannot take advantage of the potential profits. But that won’t be the case for very long.

Blockchain is a sophisticated algorithm created for cryptocurrency. It drives a distributed data structure that manages electronic cash movements. It replaces the administrative role of a central bank or government backing.

The blockchain is the repository and distributor of virtual coins. Crypto-coins are not carried or handled, but they do trade, multiply and function thanks to the blockchain at the center. If you picture a business ledger that updates itself in real-time, multiplying that picture by billions of data spaces will give you some illustration of the way blockchain works.

 

For B2B companies, it can be a virtual bank—moving money, accepting deposits, completing transactions and more. This differs from online banking where your business is subject to regulation, monitoring, business hours and other restrictions.

How Does Blockchain Technology Help B2B companies?

  • Efficient supply chains. The blockchain is open to all members of the network. An IBM report notes, “This ‘shared version of events’ enables improved supply chain efficiencies, better multi-party collaboration, and streamlined resolution processes when exceptions or disputes occur.” It does not replace legacy chain supply software, but it engages new realities like the expanding data flows presented by the Internet of Things.
  • Improved sales processes. “The B2B sales process is based on relationships and responsibility,” said Jeremy Epstein, blockchain marketing expert and CEO of blockchain consulting firm, Never Stop Marketing. B2B sales relationships are ongoing, have a longer lifespan, and in general, require a longer sales cycle than B2C sales. “Trust is essential to B2B sales success and blockchain technology represents a way to expedite the creation of trusted relationships at lower costs” he continued. His eBook, The CMO Primer for the Blockchain World, points out that only 50% of businesses check buyer credit worthiness, request secure forms of payment, or both. And 81.5% of companies report employing credit management policies to mitigate trade risks.
  • Ease and speed. Joe McKendrick points out that, with this open access system, “blockchain’s value proposition is that it takes out the middlemen in transactions, enabling more autonomous types of engagements.” Easing and escalating the speed of financial transactions, blockchain replaces banks, credit card processing and checking. This reduces cost to B2B vendors and customers.
  • Beyond fintech. B2B Business Network believes, “Outside of fintech applications, blockchain has yet to make its impact felt.” However, contributor Derek Handova predicted B2B applications will catch on soon. In 2016, the writer saw it serving only the finance/tech world. But, he envisioned future value in real estate transactions, identity management, healthcare records and more. He called it a “Swiss Army Knife of technology.”
  • Safe and secure. Phoebe Luckhurst insists, “The future is in the chain.” But she also admits that the blockchain is only as good as its code, and codes have been cracked. Goldman Sachs agrees on its credibility, calling it “a faster, safer way to verify key information and establish trust.” And Professor Kevin Werbach at Wharton refers to “a new architecture of trust,” a system where you do not deal with an intermediary person, institution or authority.
  • Real savings. B2B merchants in retail or online need the cost savings promised by blockchain dealing. First and fundamentally, it speeds the transaction, immediately moving the customer payment to the vendor. Second, this speed ripples back through the supply chain and forward to the customer’s satisfaction. Third, it facilitates distribution and logistics, increasing efficiencies down the line. And, fourth, by bypassing credit card processors and other merchant services, blockchain reduces the overhead reflecting the price of service.

Blockchain is Picking Up Velocity

This technology may have the public confused. Most people had never heard of it until Bitcoin started to catch everyone’s attention. Virtual coinage and cryptocurrency are a long way from being ubiquitous terms, but that is changing fast. Epstein notes, “We are living in the ‘age of accelerations,’ as Tom Friedman calls it. In fact, there are studies out now that say millennials would prefer to hold cryptocurrencies over stocks. Granted, some of that is due to the crypto-mania currently taking place, but it is noteworthy.”

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/larrymyler/2018/01/22/how-blockchain-technology-can-help-b2b-companies-become-more-profitable/#499fdde07ec2

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ThreeD Capital $IDK.ca Announces Initial Purchases In #Cryptocurrencies and Investments In #ICOs, #Cryptocurrency Miners, #Blockchain Initiatives $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca $SX.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:07 AM on Tuesday, January 16th, 2018

Threed capital

  • Commenced purchases in a portfolio of cryptocurrencies
  • Made investments in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), cryptocurrency miners and revolutionary blockchain initiatives that include Artificial Intelligence

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2018 — ThreeD Capital Inc. (the “Company”) (CSE:IDK), a Canadian-based venture capital firm focused on investments in promising, early stage companies and ICOs with disruptive capabilities, is pleased to announce it has commenced purchases in a portfolio of cryptocurrencies, as well as, made investments in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), cryptocurrency miners and revolutionary blockchain initiatives that include Artificial Intelligence.

SPECIAL PURPOSE DIVISION CREATED WITHIN BLOCKAMOTO SUBSIDIARY

On January 4, 2018, the Company announced the creation of a special purpose division within its wholly owned subsidiary, Blockamoto.io Corp., to specifically invest in a number of strategic tokens and Initial Coin Offerings (“ICO”), especially those which are protocol based.

The Blockamoto.io cryptocurrency investment portfolio will initially primarily invest in the leading cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.  It will also invest in ICOs, as well as, various emerging altcoins that display strong fundamentals.

Sheldon Inwentash, Chairman and CEO of ThreeD Capital stated “The emergence and global acceptance of cryptocurrencies as alternative currencies and digital assets is undeniable and unstoppable.  Likewise, Blockchain technology is going to revolutionize industries across the board, especially in banking and finance.  It behooves ThreeD Capital to begin assessing and accumulating investments in these specific spaces, as well as, ancillary supporting technologies for the benefit of our shareholders.”

About ThreeD Capital Inc.

ThreeD is a publicly-traded Canadian-based venture capital firm focused on opportunistic investments in companies in the Junior Resources, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain sectors.  ThreeD seeks to invest in early stage, promising companies and ICOs where it may be the lead investor and can additionally provide investees with advisory services, mentoring and access to the Company’s ecosystem.

For further information: Gerry Feldman, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary [email protected]
telephone: 416 606 7655

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2018: The Year #Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence #AI Converge $IDK.ca $SX.ca $SXOOF #Blockstation $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:14 AM on Friday, January 12th, 2018
  • Blockchain technology, which powers most cryptocurrencies, is in nascent stages
  • This past year, we started seeing some early proof points of how this new infrastructure can be used,
  • Including the announcement by the Australian Securities Exchange that it would replace its current post-trade settlement process with a blockchain system, after running both concurrently.
Jan 12, 2018 at 09:14 UTC

Jalak Jobanputra is founder and managing partner of Future\Perfect Ventures, an early-stage venture fund investing in decentralization and digital assets.

The following article is an exclusive contribution to CoinDesk’s 2017 in Review.

2017 was the year that cryptocurrency became mainstream.

But what’s even more exciting to many of us who have been investing in the sector for the past several years is the development of the underlying technology.

Blockchain technology, which powers most cryptocurrencies, is in nascent stages. This past year, we started seeing some early proof points of how this new infrastructure can be used, including the announcement by the Australian Securities Exchange that it would replace its current post-trade settlement process with a blockchain system, after running both concurrently.

This reminds me of the process large enterprises went through in the late 1990s and early 2000s as they moved from client-server software to web-based software, transitioning their supply chain and procurement processes online. They conducted extensive return on investment (ROI) studies to justify the upfront cost of replacing current systems. Twenty years later, the ROI is obvious, but many companies viewed the risk as significant at the time.

I believe we’ll continue to see more companies across more industries in 2018 take a look at how blockchain technology can create efficiencies (and potentially new business models in the future).

When I launched Future\Perfect Ventures in 2014 around the thesis of decentralization, I was most excited about the combination of blockchain with other emerging technologies, including machine learning/AI, security and internet of things. In this way, I expect 2018 will be the year that we start to see the convergence of these technologies to truly create the decentralized computing and communications platforms of the future.

Decentralization, by its very nature, requires that more intelligence shifts to nodes instead of residing in one central server.

We will continue to see the development of semiconductors that are capable of advanced computing in smaller and smaller devices. As devices at the edge become smarter, the smart contracts enabled by blockchain platforms will work better with more advanced data analytics capabilities.

I see a mini-brain in each of our devices, ranging from simplistic ones to ones capable of processing larger datasets and making decisions based on that data.

The open availability of more data and smarter processing at the nodes will enable broader datasets available to more companies and people, instead of proprietary data ownership that currently exists within companies such as Facebook and Google. More importantly, that data will be diverse and representative of the world we live in, instead of being filtered by a few companies that reside in one geography.

While this may not all happen within the next year, we have started an inevitable march towards that future, one that will be even more transformative than the internet was.

Weaving machine 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.

For more details on how you can submit an opinion or analysis article, view our Editorial Collaboration Guide or email [email protected].

Source: https://www.coindesk.com/2018-year-blockchain-ai-iot-converge/

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#Blockchain Is Changing Our World: Here Are The Best Practical Examples Of How It Is Used In 2018 #Bitcoin #Enthereum $IDK.ca $SX.ca $SXOOF #Blockstation

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:14 AM on Wednesday, January 10th, 2018
  • Blockchains, whether public or private, are a real-time ledger of records stored in a distributed, peer-to-peer fashion independent from any central authority
  • Since every record is encrypted and time-stamped and users can only access and edit the block they “own” through a private key, it’s very secure.

Bernard Marr , Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

The potential of blockchain technology to disrupt nearly every industry in some way cannot be dismissed even though there are still several hurdles to overcome before we see its full transformative impact.

Leaders of major financial institutions where security is paramount and change is often resisted see enough upside in blockchain technology that they have been willing to invest millions in resources to learn how to best implement it. And, they are not alone. Any business with valuable digital assets from contacts to contracts they need to protect can find a legitimate use case for blockchain technology.

What makes blockchain powerful?

Blockchains, whether public or private, are a real-time ledger of records stored in a distributed, peer-to-peer fashion independent from any central authority. Since every record is encrypted and time-stamped and users can only access and edit the block they “own” through a private key, it’s very secure. Every block is linked to the one before and the one after it and whenever a change is made, the entire chain gets updated. Blockchain helps secure and streamline transactions efficiently without requiring intermediaries to manage the process. Blockchain technology is revolutionary in terms of record keeping and can track and document every change in a record or transaction.

What are the practical uses of blockchain?

If you haven’t already realized it, blockchain technology is going to change many systems that you encounter in your day-to-day life. Here are a few of the practical examples:

Contract management and smart contracts

Any industry heavily reliant on contracts such as insurance, financial institutions, real estate, construction, entertainment and law would benefit from blockchain’s indisputable way to update, manage, track and secure contracts. Smart contracts, those that are embedded with if/then statements and be executed without involvement of an intermediary, also use blockchain technology.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/01/10/blockchain-is-changing-our-world-here-are-the-best-practical-examples-of-how-it-is-used-in-2018/#194b46214579

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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/

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Posted in All Recent Posts, Bitcoin, Blockchain stocks, Blockstation, Canadian Blockchain Stocks, Featured, Smallcap Blockchain stocks, Star Navigation Systems (SNA:TSXV), ThreeD Capital | Comments Off on 2018: The Year We Democratize #Blockchain $IDK.ca $SX.ca $SXOOF#Blockstation

RBC $RY.ca Report: #Crypto and #Blockchain Could Unlock $10 Trillion Market $IDK.ca #Blockstation #Bitcoin #Ethereum $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:27 AM on Thursday, January 4th, 2018
Jan 3, 2018 at 19:15 UTC
  • Research analyst at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) sees cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and decentralization as a potential $10 trillion ecosystem
  • Mitch Steves, an equities analyst with RBC’s Capital Markets subsidiary, laid out his bull case for why the future of transactional services will ultimately be decentralized
  • “While the cryptocurrency space has many risks, the opportunity appears vast with constant technology updates,” he wrote

In a new report released Wednesday, Mitch Steves, an equities analyst with RBC’s Capital Markets subsidiary, laid out his bull case for why the future of transactional services will ultimately be decentralized. “While the cryptocurrency space has many risks, the opportunity appears vast with constant technology updates,” he wrote.

Though startups that enable cryptocurrency protocols to serve as decentralized alternatives to proprietary services or as a means of transmitting remittances have garnered the most interest throughout the ecosystem’s formative years, Steves argues that the protocol layer (on which these services will be built) is where most of the value will be realized.

“We see that the protocol layer will capture more value than the applications,” he wrote, adding:

“As the application becomes successful, the protocol layer captures more value, which then creates more interest in additional decentralized application development.”

As such, the comments echo the fat protocol theory put forward by Union Square Ventures, which states value creation on decentralized cryptocurrencies will occur at the lower infrastructure layers.

The report also asserts that the market for cryptocurrency mining is here to stay, arguing that there currently exists an at least $4.2 billion market for bitcoin mining equipment with an additional $350-$450 million for other ASIC-mined cryptocurrencies like bitcoin cash and another $1.9 billion market for GPU-mined coins like ethereum and monero.

Notably, the report argues that decentralized technology in its current state is misunderstood and underrated, claiming that cryptocurrencies are becoming better able to handle an increasing number of transactions. In particular, Steves sees the Lightning Network as a tool to enable more than a million transactions per second on bitcoin.

Still, scalability, along with government intervention and the creation of more sophisticated wallet hacking techniques, was identified as one of the key risks facing the ecosystem.

Continued progress on these fronts, however, will be a boon for the development and mainstream adoption of a global supercomputer, whether it be ethereum-based or on an alternative, provided that blockchain’s impeccable security record remains spotless, Steves said.

“As scaling and protocols mature, the value of a decentralized world computer could potentially become a multi-trillion dollar industry,” Steves wrote, concluding: “If there’s one positive technology item we can agree on, it’s that the blockchain has never been hacked. What happens if we build on top of this secure layer?”

Source: https://www.coindesk.com/crypto-blockchain-create-10-trillion-market-rbc-analyst-says/

Posted in All Recent Posts, Bitcoin, Blockchain stocks, Blockstation, Canadian Blockchain Stocks, Featured, Fintech, Smallcap Blockchain stocks | Comments Off on RBC $RY.ca Report: #Crypto and #Blockchain Could Unlock $10 Trillion Market $IDK.ca #Blockstation #Bitcoin #Ethereum $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

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