January 12, 2018
Market Activity and Trends
Swiss Government Supports Launch Blockchain Task Force
Coin Desk | January 9, 2018 | https://goo.gl/Tq5fJi
The Swiss government is backing a new group to establish its regulatory framework surrounding blockchain startups and ICOs. This group is called Taskforce Blockchain, and includes both federal and local officials as well as blockchain startups and legal representatives.
The group will be looking at the legal guidelines surrounding ICOs and blockchain companies. It would also monitor the development of new business models inspired by financial technologies.
SEC Warns About Blockchain-Related Stock Boosts
Coin Desk | January 8, 2018 | https://goo.gl/Ur8BbU
A flux of publicly traded companies have seen price boosts by starting to use blockchain technology, or claiming to have a connection to it. For instance, Long Island ice tea distributor pivoted to blockchain, and saw a massive stock jump. These price gains have received much criticism from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Companies have announced efforts to use blockchain, or at the minimum, mine cryptocurrencies. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has cautioned about many of these recent filings. FINRA released a statement last month regarding these filings: “it’s easy for companies or their promoters to make glorified claims about new products, services and other cryptocurrency-related connections,” noting that the tactic could be deployed by would-be fraudsters.”
How Blockchain Could Radically Alter Global Finance
Kellogg Insight | January 3, 2018 | https://goo.gl/wcxGbe
Blockchain technology is poised to transform the finance industry, not only as the underlying technology of bitcoin, but also as an encrypted file-sharer. Like Google Doc, blockchain enables users to view all new edits made and can be copied and shared widely.
Without the need for a central authority, blockchain offers faster and more transparent ways to do business. This means that transactions in the industry can become faster and error-less. Blockchain will also eliminate inefficiencies and wasted time.
Blockchain Education
IBM Blockchain Foundation Developer Course
We are excited to accounted the IBM Blockchain Learning site is now live, featuring a new IBM Blockchain Foundation Developer Course. Stay tuned for more courses and sessions coming in the next couple weeks!
IBM Blockchain Foundation Consulting Course
Continue to follow the IBM framework, please take this course building upon your consulting knowledge. Stay tuned for more courses and sessions coming in the next couple weeks!
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.
