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Showing posts from December, 2018

Eye-Catching | 12.28.18

I only have one link to share but that one link is more like a treasure chest filled with blockchain jewels. An internet friend shared a link to 101 Blockchains recently. That particular link takes you to a page with information on DOZENS of real world blockchain uses (with links to those projects). It's a great resource to see how blockchain technology is faring in the real world. It also comes in handy when it comes to arguing with naysayers. Happy Holidays! #blockchain #usecases

Crypto Startups Go Belly-Up

I'm still learning the lingo of markets and finance so I don't know if there is a better word to characterize the current state of the cryptocurrency market ("bear" just doesn't feel strong enough). However, the current bear market has been absolutely brutal. Brutal. So it's not surprising that many of these startups that were able to raise significant funds during last year's bull run are now downsizing or closing up shop altogether. According to Bloomberg , it's not only the smaller cap companies that are being significantly impacted by the drying well. ETCDEV, the group behind Ethereum Classic (with a market capitalization of over $400 million), is shuttering its operations this week. The software development company ConsenSys and the content publishing company Steemit, both high-profile names in the crypto/blockchain space, are making significant cuts to their workforces. And they're not alone. SpankChain (use your imagination), Sirin Labs (mo

It's a bird... It's a plane... It's a CFTC Primer on Smart Contracts!

I'm back (again)! If you are as annoyed with me as I am, know that I've officially committed to more consistent posting in 2019. Now on to the news... One of our favorite regulators decided to give us an early Christmas gift this year. On November 27, the Commodities Future Trading Commission issued A Primer on Smart Contracts . This 32-slide presentation highlights some of the risks, challenges and governance issues surrounding smart contracts. We touched on some of the misperceptions surrounding smart contracts a few months ago. Well, this guidance focuses on smart contracts in the context of regulated markets and, specifically, when those contracts become financial products themselves (i.e., commodity, forward contract, future contract, option on future contract, swap). Automation, centralization, digitization, efficiency...DLT makes perfect sense for the swaps market! The presentation is pretty easy to read so I encourage you to give it a once-over. It doesn't contai