February 16, 2018
Market Activity and Trends
Forbes Fintech 50 2018: The Future of Blockchain And Cryptocurrency
Forbes | February 13, 2018 | https://goo.gl/h5SmiQ
Blockchain startups are building infrastructure to support both public cryptocurrency markets and initiatives. These infrastructures are designed to transform how current financial transactions are executed and recorded. Clients and partners of these fintech companies include: the IRS, FBI, and Europol.
9 blockchain startups are now included on the Forbes Fintech 50 list for 2018. Each represents unique disruption possibilities for the financial industry, whether on the regulation, or transaction side.
What to Expect When Congress Talks Blockchain
Coin Desk | February 13, 2018 | https://goo.gl/PdJQ77
On Feb 14th two subcommittees in the U.S. House of Representatives will discuss whether blockchain has a place in government. The panel will give a broad overview of the technology and important first steps before any possible actions.
So far in their statements, Congressmen have seemed positive about the potential to use blockchain. They mention cybersecurity uses as a key reason to adopt the technology.
Crypto Is Now Fastest Growing Donation for Fidelity Charitable
Coin Desk | February 14, 2018 | https://goo.gl/Z7nqnF
The public charity arm of Fidelity Investments, Fidelity Charitable, has announced today that they have received $69 million in cryptocurrency donations in 2017, making it the fastest growing asset class accepted by the firm. The organization started accepting Bitcoin in late 2015 through Coinbase services; since the start of the initiative, crypto donations have grown 140% faster than any other donation option. Fidelity Charitable provided funds to around 127,000 non-profits this past year, showing a wide impact of these donations.
According to a statement from the company, crypto donations fall under non-publically traded assets, allowing donors to give away assets without paying capital gains taxes. Fidelity Charitable vice president Amy Pirozzolo calls this a “great win-win for both [donors] as well as charities.”
So Is There a Correlation Between Bitcoin and Stock Market? Yes, But No
Coin Desk | February 13, 2018 | https://goo.gl/yMMYNY
Looking at the graphs for the price of Bitcoin and the Dow Jones and S&P 500 from the past few months have shown some striking similarities in overall trends, including a peak mid-December followed by a sharp plunge in the beginning of this month. However, the reasons for both dips are very different; the stock market most likely fell due to overpricing and speculation of higher inflation, and Bitcoin most likely fell due to a series of damaging stream of media reports.
In a 90-day regression analysis of Bitcoin price against the S&P 500 shows a slight positive correlation (z-score of 0.14), but more interestingly, a regression of Bitcoin against the CBOE Volatility index (VIX) shows a moderate negative relationship (z-score of -0.31). The VIX is a widely used measure of market risk, also known as a “fear gauge.” According to this analysis, the correlation actually lies between the VIX and Bitcoin, not the stock market and Bitcoin.
Although the general sentiment that the relationship right now between Bitcoin and the stock market is fairly limited, some speculate that the correlation could increase as Bitcoin crosses the threshold into the mainstream market (cryptocurrency correlations matrix).
Blockchain Education
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Inside the Most Disruptive Technology Since the Internet
Blockchain is coming. Like the internet before it, this new shared digital infrastructure is set to transform the economy and revolutionize how you consume media, how you communicate online and even how you vote. So strap in with OZY, and let us catch you up on what it all means and then vault you ahead to the next big cryptotrends.
Blockchain @ IBM Storytelling Team
Blockchain Part I: Evaluate, Engineer, Execute
Pramod Achanta | August 24, 2017
Blockchain Part II: Engineering Transformation; Building out the Blueprint
Pramod Achanta | September 8, 2017
Blockchain Part III: Execution; Breathing Life into Blueprints
Pramod Achanta | September 15, 2017
Blockchain @ IBM Institute for Business Value
Blockchain for Digital Reinvention: Three lessons from Blockchain Explorers
Veena Pureswaran | IBV Global Research
Recently, the IBM Institute for Business Value conducted a global survey of nearly 3,000 CxOs from over 20 industries to understand their strategy for leveraging blockchain as an enabler of Digital Reinvention. Through observing and interacting with these blockchain explorers we’ve identified three lessons learned that further their pursuit of blockchain.
Driving changes
Automation, digital commerce and the Internet of Things are redefining vehicle operation, usage and ownership models.
Advancing blockchain
In this IBM Institute for Business Value Expert Insights report, we share some lessons from a successful, ongoing blockchain initiative between CLS and IBM.
An expanding market
Central banks and financial system regulators around the world are asking themselves how blockchain is going to change their technology underpinnings and those of the commercial banks and financial institutions they regulate. These executives are especially concerned about the non-functional requirements for blockchain.
Tuned to trust
The current model for managing identity is quickly becoming unsustainable — costly, disjointed and all too fallible. Blockchain, the technology underlying distributed ledgers shared across a scalable group of individuals and institutions, takes a new approach. How should organizations approach this new opportunity?
Transparency that engenders trust
There is no doubt that blockchain is about bringing trust to transactions. For almost any supply chain — be it food, medical records, precious gems and minerals, real estate or credit default swaps, to name a few — success depends on the promise of transparency and auditability for all participants.
Fast forward
For centuries, global trade has been the single greatest creator of wealth in human history and market friction the greatest obstacle to wealth. Blockchain technology –which creates a permanent and transparent record of transactions –has the potential to obviate intractable frictions across industries.
Our Contributors
Disclaimer: The postings are of our contributors and don’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.
