Blockchain Expands Through Mid-Atlantic
The Blockchain Education Network’s Fall Initiative has introduced nearly hundreds of students to blockchain technology. Whether it be from giving out free Bitcoin or paying students to develop educational content. This global nonprofit is once again disrupting the blockchain space by bringing resources from top blockchain companies to global regions for the month of November. Find an event near you.
In honor of the Blockchain Education Network’s November Gauntlet, I’ve partnered with a number of local businesses in 4 major cities within 4 different states to bring prospective hackers an array of Blockchain Hacknights.
The Blockchain Education Network has partnered with several top blockchain-focused companies, which would include IOTA, Chain, SIA Tech, Ethereum, and many more, giving hackers located around the globe an opportunity to learn and build their own projects utilizing APIs and other tools provided by these companies. Anyone who signups can now build upon established blockchain-based platforms and get indirect help from developers of these prestigious companies via BEN’s slack channel.
As a Mid-Atlantic native, I saw this event as the perfect opportunity to introduce blockchain technology to regions it’s never been before and to people completely unfamiliar with it.
It’s no secret there’s an obvious excitement over distributed ledger technology. Cryptocurrencies have also grown increasingly popular post recent political events. Everyone is going crazy over blockchain technology but many remain either unaware or unknowledgeable on its purpose and potential.
The Buzzword
The term “blockchain” is a buzzword here on Capitol Hill. I try hard not to mention it when sitting through meetings or attending events. However, it’s currently my life and the topic is bound surface in a conversation or two.
Once mentioned, mayhem breaks out and I’m typically faced with a multitude of people debating their own textbook definitions of the technology (which is fun and slightly humoring). The benefits of dropping the buzzword is the fact that it got people talking and thinking of ways blockchain can either improve or disrupt our future.
What is Blockchain Technology?
In short: It is a distributed ledger. It utilizes cryptography to enable users to add to the ledger in a secure way. Eliminating the need for a middleman, or a central authority, to monitor and validate transactions, but instead relies on the consensus of its participants.
If you’ve ever heard of Bitcoin and wanted to either understand the technology behind it or the obsession people have with it, its blockchain is one the answers.
To blow your mind even more, there are different types of blockchains and blockchain platforms that offer a variety of ‘features’ with unique functionalities. You can learn more here.
For a newbie, I know this can all seem very overwhelming. One doesn’t become an expert overnight or after participating in one of our many hacknights. However, we can give the resources to get started and for continuing your learning efforts.
Back To The Hacknights
We have several events scheduled for the Mid-Atlantic region:
Monday, November 14th 3:00pm-6:00pm Blockchain Hackernoon at the Chamber of Digital Commerce — 1133 15th St NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20005
Thursday, November 17th 5:30pm-9:00pm Blockchain Hacknight at Byte Academy — 295 Madison Avenue, Floor 35, New York, NY 10017
Sunday, November 20th 3:00pm-7:00pm Blockchain Hacknight at Unallocated Space — 512 Shaw Ct #105, Severn, MD 21144
Tuesday, November 29th TBD — Blockchain Hacknight at WeWork Northern Liberties — 1010 N Hancock St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Working to organize speakers for all of these events. Victoria Adams, Blockchain Thought Leader and Data Scientist for Booz Allen Hamilton will do a Q&A session at our DC event on Monday. Tone Vays who is a Researcher and Financial Analyst at LibertyLifeTrail will speak at Thursday’s event in New York City.
What Is This Event Again?
It’s a global educational gauntlet, co-hosted by the Blockchain Education Network (BEN), which is a nonprofit 501c3, challenging regions around the globe to learn, build, and disrupt technical solutions focused on blockchain technology.
Attendees will learn more than just a textbook definition of blockchain technology, they will also build on it. Learning the functionality of blockchain technology and collaborating to create ideas to build upon existing APIs from multiple blockchain companies. These projects can then be submitted at the end of November where they will be judged by leading industry professionals, including venture capitalists.
Those who sign up can also participate remotely throughout the month and can virtually attend and/or compete in select events. You never know, with the momentum we’re picking up, an event may be scheduled near you soon!
Learning Doesn’t Stop Here
You’re learning doesn’t hasn’t stop at these events and neither does your project. The Blockchain Education Network and partnering companies have full libraries and blogs of educational content. Check out BEN’s Youtube channel and master your knowledge on Blockchain technology today!
Join BEN’s slack channel to connect with fellow students or other professionals around the globe to learn more about blockchain technology. Start your own events or request for hacknight/hackathon to take place in your city.
Take the initiative to expand your knowledge and encourage others around you to learn as well. Together we can diversify the blockchain industry and disrupt the space by bringing together diversified minds.
