January 5, 2018
Market Activity and Trends
Ethereum To Develop Two Scaling Solutions
Coin Desk | January 2, 2018 | https://goo.gl/ScrWtH
Two subsidy programs that will support research have been revealed by the non-profit that oversees the development of ethereum. The ethereum network is about to reach 1 million transactions per day, and according to ethereum creator, Vitalik Buterin, scaling the network is the biggest technical challenge. Developers will be incentivized via the subsidy programs to implement scaling solutions: sharding and layer-two protocols.
These solutions take two very different approaches. Instead of requiring every node on the blockchain to verify a transaction, sharding requires only a few nodes on the blockchain to verify a transaction. Meanwhile, layer-two protocols involve taking transactions off the main ethereum blockchain. Transactions would be allowed by the network to move on and off the blockchain by the network, but the transactions would not actually be processed.
Bitcoin Boosts Japanese Economy
Coin Desk | January 3, 2018 | https://goo.gl/K3LY8k
Bitcoin could boost Japan’s economic growth says analysts from Japanese financial holdings company, Nomura. The analysts claim the country’s GDP could rise by 0.3 percent due to the “wealth effect” arising from the gains in the price of bitcoin. The researchers predict that consumer spending could increase between 23.2 billion to 96 billion Japanese yen.
The wealth effect is the rise of consumer spending resulting from an increase in asset values. The team commented further: “Although Japanese investors’ unrealized gains are unlikely to feed straight through to their patterns of consumption, it is common knowledge that personal consumption is bolstered as a result of increases in the value of asset holdings.”
Analyst predicts Overstock.com is the ‘clear leader’ of emerging blockchain stocks (OSTK)
Business Insider | January 3, 2018 | https://goo.gl/vGYFGS
As one of the first companies to accept bitcoin as payment, as well as issue blockchain-based stock, Overstock.com is ahead of its competition in its efforts to exploit blockchain technology. Overstock.com has a wholly-owned blockchain subsidiary, Medici Venture. Weekly purchases using bitcoin average about $50,000. Of the top 500 online retailers, only 3 accept bitcoin currently.
Blockchain Education
IBM Blockchain Foundation Developer Course (IBMers ONLY)
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 (IBMers ONLY)
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.
