December 22, 2017
Market Activity and Trends
Japanese and Korean Consortiums Team Up
Coin Desk | December 21, 2017 | https://goo.gl/6JTpMq
The Korean Blockchain Open Forum (KBOF) and Japan’s Blockchain Collaborative Consortium (BCCC) have signed an agreement to advocate a wider use of blockchain technology. The two groups will cooperate in future events together and will share knowledge. BCCC announced last year that its membership included over 100 other companies such as Microsoft Japan, Mitsui Sumotomo Insurance, PwC, Bitbank, and ConsenSys. Since the two groups made the collaborative effort announcement, over 200 companies have joined.
The timing of the announcement comes as South Korea moves to further regulate cryptocurrencies. Previously, the government banned initial coin offerings (ICOs), but moving forward wants to avoid more regulations and burdens around firms working on non-financial blockchain applications.
Russia Announces First Blockchain Implementation
Coin Telegraph | December 19, 2017 | https://goo.gl/jYN1wB
Russia’s state-run bank, Sberbank, is partnering with Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) to use blockchain to implement document transfer and storage. This is Russia’s first blockchain implementation, which Andrey Tsarikovskiy, the state secretary and deputy of FAS, commented stating that “[the] country is opening up new possibilities for the economy through the use of advanced knowledge and technology. Making the system launch a reality means we are not only one of the first actual users of Blockchain for government in the world, but also [are pioneering its use] as a practical tool for further growth.”
Besides this newly announced blockchain implementation, Russia has made other blockchain strides. VEB, a state-owned bank, signed an agreement to develop blockchain education programs with the Ethereum Foundation. Although Russia is showing increased interest in blockchain technology, the government is still strictly against bitcoin, and considers it illegal.
Central banks could hold bitcoin and ether for the first time in 2018, cryptocurrency CEO says
CNBC | December 18, 2017 | https://goo.gl/tqBxRn
Peter Smith, CEOP of Blockchain, said in an interview Monday that global central banks will start holding digital currencies in the next year. Mr. Smith predicts that central banks will begin to buy bitcoin and Ethereum as a part of their reserves to act in case of any market shocks, much like the current practice of holding gold and foreign currency.
Mr. Smith also surmises that central banks will begin to issue their own digital assets in the next year. Last week, the UAE and Saudi Arabia announced they would partner to issue a cryptocurrency for cross-border trade. China is another country planning to issue its own form of digital currency in the near future.
UPS bets on blockchain as the future of the trillion-dollar shipping industry
Tech Crunch | December 15, 2017 | https://goo.gl/E48ogD
Blockchain promises a cheaper and more efficient system for managing logistics. UPS is taking advantage of this in order to increase transparency and efficiency among shippers, carriers, brokers and consumers.
The current infrastructure of the freight and logistics industry is poised for disruption with the introduction of blockchain technology in its supply chain. One of the main issues faced by the industry today is the countless intermediaries driving up the time and cost of shipping. Cargo theft is also a large issue, creating a loss of around $30 billion annually.
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.
