blockchain technology

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain – Part 5 of 5 Weekly Series

Conclusion:

Blockchain Investing News states:

Banks, financial institutions and many others are adopting blockchain technology faster than anticipated.

Case in point, a Markets and Markets report that breaks down the blockchain market size projects the industry will grow from $241.9 million in 2016 to a staggering $7.68 billion in 2022, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an impressive 79.6 percent.

Fueling that growth, the report says, will range from the increasing demand for distributed ledger technology; reduced total cost of ownership; the rise of cryptocurrencies and their market caps, as well as initial coin offerings; increasing demand for “simplified” business processes; creating transparency and immutability; quicker transactions and the increasing adoption of blockchain-as-a-service.

‘Microsoft is focusing on financial services, and plans to roll out new tools in early 2018.  JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of America (BAC) are two of Microsoft’s blockchain partners.’

Investors Business Daily, in an article titled, “Bitcoin, Blockchain And Private Industry: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”

‘A growing number of blockchain startups, though, have nothing to do with Bitcoin or its peers.  They aim to harness the technology for a long and growing list of other purposes in private industry. These begin with financial services, e-commerce, food safety and supply-chain management, but also include digital media, pharmaceuticals, cybersecurity and transportation — so far.

The list of big companies funding blockchain startups is also long: Alphabet’s (GOOGL) Google, Citigroup (C), Goldman Sachs (GS) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) are just a few, says research firm CB Insights.

The momentum gathering behind blockchain isn’t simply a matter of venture capital. Giant tech companies — the likes of Microsoft (MSFT), IBM (IBM), Oracle (ORCL), Intel (INTC) and Accenture (ACN) — are also jumping on the bandwagon.

Eastman Kodak (KODK) announced on Tuesday it would launch a cryptocurrency of its own, specifically for photographers. It also plans to create an encrypted blockchain ledger of rights ownership enabling photographers to register both new and archived work.

According to Forbes:“Technology Not Currency”

“Bitcoin is a terrific technology … the concept of the blockchain definitely has a bright future.  Its encryption algorithm and hyper-powerful worldwide virtual network ensures verifiable transaction integrity that is, for all intents and purposes, completely unhackable.  But, sadly, that doesn’t make it a currency.

A paper currency is a local phenomenon issued by a sovereign nation to standardize its local system of exchange.  So, to buy a cup of coffee in Japan a consumer pays in Yen.  In New York the dollar is used.  In London, it’s Pound Sterling.  And, for continental Europe, it’s Euros.  The only way a traveling consumer can pay for a cup of coffee in any of those places is to convert their native currency into that of the nation where the coffee shop is located.

Proponents of Bitcoin claim that it circumvents that system of foreign exchange because it eliminates the middleman and allows consumers anywhere to buy anything from anyone without the hassle or expense of foreign exchange.  That might be the case someday, but it certainly isn’t so today.  And, while there are lots of places that accept Bitcoin as a form of payment, it isn’t as universally accepted as the Yen, Dollar, or Euro.  Bitcoin can’t be deposited in a bank and can’t be exchanged for any currency.  So, it’s more novelty than legal tender.  But, it’s still a very cool technology!”


Blockchain Technology Stocks
  1. 360 Blockchain (CSE:CODE)
  2. BTCS (OTCQB:BTCS)
  3. BTL Group (TSXV:BTL)
  4. Coinsilium Group (NEX:COIN)
  5. DigitalX (ASX:DCC)
  6. eXeBlock Technology (TSXV:XBLK)
  7. Global Blockchain Technologies (TSXV:BLOC)
  8. HashChain Technology (TSXV:KASH)
  9. HIVE Blockchain (TSXV:HIVE)
  10. Marathon Patent Group (NASDAQ:MARA)
  11. MGT Capital (OTCMKTS:MGTI)
  12. Neptune Dash (TSXV:DASH)

Additionally Richtopia Leaderboard lists 99 more!

Not all the stocks deal with creation of cryptocurrency, most deal with blockchain technology as it is rapidly growing in use in other industries!

Amid the wave of initial coin offerings (ICOs), outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen has called Bitcoin a “highly speculative asset” and “not a stable store of value.” 


 

Jobs?

Again, according to IBD “…most blockchain-related job openings are at companies like Fidelity Investments, Invesco (IVZ) and Bank of America, not to mention Dimon’s JPMorgan.

Cornell and other universities have formed the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies & Contracts, or IC3, which is focused on blockchain-based solutions in finance and banking.

Fidelity, Microsoft, Intel and IBM also belong to IC3.

Companies such as travel-booking site Expedia (EXPE) have experimented in accepting Bitcoin. 


Major Universities offering Blockchain Technology Courses:
  1. CORNELL UNIVERSITY
  2. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
  3. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
  4. STANFORD UNIVERSITY
  5. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
  6. DUKE UNIVERSITY
  7. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT)

Energy & Power
LO3 Energy advertises: “We’re are reimagining how energy can be generated, conserved, traded and shared.
Features: TAG-e, Blockchain, API, Grid”
From CNBC article: A blockchain power grid grows in Brooklyn.This street in Brooklyn is using blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrency, to decentralize and share electricity. See their video: blob:https://www.cnbc.com/5f57d072-3cd1-4e88-bf04-6ef18d14610e. A MICRO-GRID PROJECT, LIKE ENERGY IN UBER FORM!

From GreenTech: 15 Firms Leading the Way on Energy Blockchain, More companies will probably have launched by the time you read this.

  1. Drift
  2. Greeneum
  3. Grid+
  4. Grid Singularity
  5. Electron
  6. Energy Web Foundation
  7. ImpactPPA
  8. LO3 Energy
  9. MyBit
  10. Power Ledger
  11. SolarCoin
  12. Sun Exchange, Sun Exchange’s motto is “solar-powered money.”
  13. Veridium Labs
  14. WePower

The article ends with: “GTM will host an entire panel session on Blockchain at the first annual U.S. Power & Renewables Conference in November. You’ll get an in-depth look at how the renewable energy market will interact with the U.S. power market, and how those interactions can impact overall industry development and market growth. ”

Article researched and copy written by Laughing Fox Designs, providing results driven website development and social media actions to start-ups, small businesses and mid-size companies.  ©2018 All Rights Reserved

crypto-currency blockchain technology

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain – Part 2 of 5 Weekly Series

It is now virtually impossible for humans to decipher blockchain. Bitcoins blockchain has proved impossible to hack, even with the aid of computers.

The technology of blockchain CANNOT be understated. This is possibly the biggest leap in technology since the creation of the internet.

Blockchain is now being engineered by a multitude of industries, including hospitals, banking, messaging apps and voting technologies.

Blockchain was originally developed by humans (we think) using open software called blockchain.

How do new coins come into existence?

New coin production is controlled by a process called mining, an intensive process where computers (mining nodes) compete against each other to secure the network by solving mathematical equations, collecting bitcoins as a reward if they are the first to create a new valid block, which is then broadcasted to the rest of the network and added to the blockchain.

    1. To mine cryptocurrency you need to download the free open source software.
    2. You also need to create a “digital wallet” (also considered a node), so you can receive payment for crypto you have created.
    3. Originally you could use the hardware of your PC to mine, but as the process became more intensive, now you must have specialized mining software to handle the power, these cost about $1,500 and up.
    4. The power / electricity needed for one of these hardware devices is enormous… enough to power 285,833 US homes as of 2015.


How does crypto compare to our current money system?

Currently we use a Fiat System. Ever since the US left the gold standard, public confidence in the fiat system has dwindled.

Fiat is currency issued by a government, but which is not backed by a physical commodity. Fiat suffers from inflation, when a government decided to “print” more of a Fiat currency, the value of everyone’s money goes down as a result. This is the exact opposite of what Cryptocurrencies aimed to solve.

How Cryptocurrency exchanges work:

The fiat system. There is nothing (no gold, no silver) backing the generation of the code.

Once you have created an account, you will have to link it with either a debit/credit card, or a bank account.

Afterwards, deposit how much BTC you’d like to exchange from your address, choose the currency of choice, and click on exchange. The process takes anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days, depending on the exchange that you have picked and your bank/card provider.


Paying Your Taxes

It should be noted that in most countries, when you actually withdraw your cryptocurrency to Fiat, you will be creating a “taxable event” so you should be prepared to pay the tax owed under your local laws. Many countries differ on how they handle this, some are completely tax free, others use the Capital Gains model. The amount of time you have held the currency may also matter, making the difference between short-term and long-term Capital Gains.

As of 2013, law firms and tax return services began to include bitcoin tax preparation, and accounting software.


Trading exchanges are beginning to include platforms for trading cryptocurrencies just like they include trading for penny stocks; and meetup groups and investors services are beginning to open conversations about the trading of cryptocurrencies.

Tradestation Link: https://www.tradestation.com/university/video/the-real-breakdown-on-cryptocurrency-trading/


Can I pay for my lunch with crypto?

According to bitcoin.com, Overstock.com, Target, Subway, Amazon, Victoria’s Secret, and many others now accept the cryptocurrency and more companies are expecting to move in that direction.

So, though you may not be paying for your lunch today with cryptocurrency, it does seem as if there is a good chance that you will be tomorrow.

 

Article researched and copy written by Laughing Fox Designs, providing results driven website development and social media actions to start-ups, small businesses and mid-size companies.  ©2018 All Rights Reserved