BLOCKCHAIN STARTUPS TO WATCH IN 2019

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In 2018, the blockchain landscape was a mix of negative and positive events that were in equal parts hectic, eye-opening and indicative of future developments within the digital currency industry.

From the beginning of the year, corporations, venture capitalists, investors, and regulators were locked in a mash of uncertainty. While some would take the year in all its gore and glory as a learning experience, others may have had a much bumpier ride. Some of the events that marked the year are discussed below.

• January saw Bitcoin, the largest asset underpinned by blockchain technology, see a rapid decline from its December peak prices, which a good number of investors bought into. Other cryptocurrencies followed soon after. Despite several predictions from industry experts, the end of the year has shown just how unpredictable the terrain can be.
• Ethereum, which began the year as the second-largest digital asset by market capitalization, has also had a bumpy year. First, it began its decline early in the year and worsened in the second quarter, eventually relinquishing its rank to Ripple (XRP). Despite the issues faced by the currency, analysts remain bullish and predict a possible trend reversal in 2019.
• Regarding regulation, several countries including Korea, Singapore, and Switzerland have made various moves that may materialize in 2019. The US and China cryptocurrency scene have also focused heavily on cryptocurrency regulation by cracking down on illegal exchanges, ICOs, and other money laundering schemes. The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has called for stricter laws which trickle down into other areas including the denial of a Bitcoin ETF proposed by the Winklevoss twins.
• Global blockchain innovation has not slowed down in the face of these issues. Several top corporations, including Mastercard, Walmart, Amazon, IBM and financial institutions like J.P.Morgan, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs have pioneered one or more blockchain projects this year.
• Countries such as Switzerland and India have established blockchain districts or hubs. And, education within the field has been established in several major universities such as Stanford, Duke, Johns Hopkins, London School of Economics and University of Malta among others.

Several blockchain startups have also emerged in various industries with solutions to some of the biggest problems — from Bitpesa dealing with payment issues to VeChain assisting China in drug tracking. Shippingand supply chain management, data and content distribution, real estate, entertainment, art, and voting are other areas that blockchain startups have emerged in.

While a lot of these companies are great, some show the potential to achieve great things and hit new milestones in 2019. Here are the blockchain startups to watch in 2019:

QTUM

Qtum is a decentralized open-source platform which focuses on the creation and management of smart contracts for different types of transactions. The platform also carries out value transfer protocol on its DGP-governed blockchain which gives its community participants the right to vote on certain network issues.

Bitcoin and Ethereum — being two of the oldest cryptocurrencies in existence — are often in the spotlight for the consensus protocols that form their blockchain operations. Unfortunately, the news is mostly negative since both networks have faced centralization issues for their Proof-of-Work protocols. Qtum uses a Proof-of-Stake consensus, which has fewer drawbacks.

With Qtum, users can easily create their secure smart contracts. This is highly significant since it focuses on something that may form the base operation for future decentralized applications and agreements.

TRON

Easily one of the most popular blockchain startups, TRON focuses on fixing content distribution issues faced by creators. Larger platforms like Facebook and Netflix make it more difficult for creators to earn money for their work without facing third-party involvement.

The TRON platform rewards users for content uploads and connects them with their target audience using blockchain technology. Creators who are well compensated for their work are incentivized to create more. This sustains the ecosystem indefinitely.

AELF

Aelf is a “customizable operating system” made to cater to blockchains since most decentralized applications are incompatible with major operating systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux. The blockchains that currently house these applications also have scalability issues, inefficient smart contract creation processes, and drawbacks with their consensus protocols.

Aelf solves every one of these problems by creating a scalable blockchain and decentralized cloud-based computing network. According to the company website, it aims to make blockchains more accessible and workable to users.

VERIDIUM

One industry that is being disrupted positively by blockchain is that of environmental sustainability. Since the arguments on climate change began, reducing the earth’s carbon footprint has become a priority for individuals and companies.  

Veridium is an environmental blockchain company that offers sustainable solutions for Fortune 500 companies. By reducing carbon emission, the company aims to “create a regenerative economy that sustains the planet’s natural resources.”

Veridium is highly important because it finds a way to turn carbon emissions into a tradable asset. With partners like IBM, this blockchain startup is set to create a marketplace for the automation of the entire process across global supply chains.

CASPIAN

Asset management involves the use of several tools to gain insights into investor and market behavior, as well as place products in ways that they can be seen by their target market. As the industry has grown, using more complex tools to achieve this has become a necessity.

Caspian is an asset management platform that charts the entire lifecycle of asset trade. It has an OEMS, PMS, and RMS and a single interface into all major cryptocurrency exchanges. It also provides a complete suite of complex trading algorithms, real-time and historical P&L, as well as tools for tracking exposure

DEVERY

Devery is an open-source blockchain protocol for verifying goods and services. It stores their unique identifiers on an immutable blockchain, giving users complete transparency. The firm provides the following:

• A digital immutable record of product data which can be used to identify different products globally
• Individual product authenticity tracking which allows users to view the history of each product
• An increase in sales and engagement due to product transparency which builds trust in the system

MEDIBLOC

The inadequacies and information gaps within the health industry make it ripe for blockchain intervention. Leading the charge is Medibloc, a project that seeks to solve the issues associated with centralized electronic health record data storage by giving users more power over their data.

Medibloc breaks down health information into batches which are redistributed to individuals. The project aims to:

• Save patients’ time and resources
• Provide quality healthcare
• Reduce medical error made by healthcare providers due to insufficient information
• Promote further innovation within the industry

CARDSTACK

Recognized by Forbes as one of the blockchain startups to watch, Cardstack is a framework that promotes blockchain usability and scalability for the mass market. Blockchain applications are as unique as they come, and their interoperability is a constant challenge for developers.

Some applications of these networks may require collaboration between blockchains — which is unfortunately difficult. This is where Cardstack comes in, acting as a bridge between such systems. Development in 2019 may take a different turn and show even more usability for blockchain. This is why this project is so significant.

CEEK

Virtual reality (VR) is another emerging technology that has been integrated into several industries like gaming and health. However, some projects make things a little more interesting by powering VR systems with blockchain-based currencies.

One such project is CEEK, a company that uses blockchain and cryptocurrency tokens to enhance user interaction in VR. Not only is this project exciting, but it is also fresh and joins two cohesive elements to make an even better application.

FINAL THOUGHTS

2018 has been a great year in blockchain, one in which developers have been forced to re-evaluate their applications outside the slowly dying hype train of cryptocurrency. While several projects have flopped, a lot of them are still standing, growing and strategizing for the coming year. In the end, the success of these companies translates to success for users and global industries as a whole.

Original Post: https://www.mintdice.com/blog/blockchain-startups-to-watch-in-2019

Blockchain Internet: Unchaining the Web

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Why Blockchain Internet?

The internet is approaching its thirtieth birthday, or thereabouts. We’ve come a long way since those early days of floppy discs and dial-up modems. Some would question that while the technology has improved significantly, the democracy of it has not. We humans have this little problem called hierarchies of control. That’s probably why governments, banks, and institutions play such a big role in our lives.

The internet is no different, as that issue seems to have also crossed over into the digital realm. Popular services like Google, Facebook, and Twitter to name a few are directing much of our information consumption and data storage these days. In the ’90s there was a lot more peer-to-peer information sharing going on. The dynamics have changed. What was initially built as a decentralized scientific sharing network has more or less morphed into a giant marketing tool for a few big players.

Gatekeepers

Blockchain internet advocates argue that much of the information we access or store on the modern internet is controlled by gatekeepers. In some cases, their presence is subtle and in others rather dramatic. Either way, it’s somewhat questionable whether these keepers hold our best interests at heart. They are, after all, accountable first to their stakeholders/governors. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

The Domain Name System

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a nonprofit organization based in California. It was initially formed to help the US government manage the early infrastructure of the internet. ICANN oversees the Domain Name System (DNS), which, in simple terms, translates the numbers identifying servers around the world into a more readable format like https://coincentral.com instead of something like http://104.31.67.109.

While ICANN provides a much-needed service, it also suffers from the same problems as large tech giants like Microsoft and IBM: centralization. US policy heavily influences ICANN and, even though it doesn’t regulate web content, it can censor domain names. The nonprofit has controversially maintained a six-year ban on .islam and .halal domain names. This is despite advice otherwise from its own oversight committee. For the most part, ICANN has promoted the free speech ideals of the internet since its inception in 1998. These recent events, however, call into question the real democratic future of DNS on a global stage.  

Government Censorship

If that was troubling then we only need to look across the Pacific to the heavy internet censorship found in much of Asia. In China, the government maintains strict controls over what content can be seen and who can be criticized. Internet communities aptly call it the “Great Firewall of China.” As observed below, internet censorship mostly affects countries in the East, but even countries such as the UK and US, long held as pillars of freedom, are seeing increased issues with censorship.

Search

Worldwide sharing of information is a tricky business. Search engines have become a ubiquitous way for people everywhere to find their favorite content. Latest estimates show that Google has captured 90 percent of the market share in this space. While it clearly provides a valuable service, it also wields a lot of power. Though many of us don’t question this, a one search engine to rule them all approach is probably not the best way to serve impartial content.

Social

The same can be said of social media. It’s doubtful that Mark Zuckerberg knew the full impact of his platform when he began building it in 2005. Connecting with others at a central meeting point online is not really the problem, storing our data there is. Hidden among hours of privacy statements that nobody ever reads lies the right of companies to use our data in any way they wish. Even Mr. Zuckerberg would probably admit that his pet project has deviated from its initial intentions.

In Facebook’s case, there’s the added element of identity management, since many websites use Facebook profiling to identify their users. What’s more, users face the very real possibility of losing valuable data. Though not recommended, many users post photos and create content on Facebook that isn’t backed up anywhere else. By now, it should be clear that distributed systems have some real advantages.

Some Blockchain Internet Solutions

ZeroNet

Tamas Kocsis is the creator of ZeroNet, a peer-to-peer website hosting solution. Zeronet removes traditional centralized hosting servers by allowing users to host their websites on other users’ machines worldwide. Sounds great but what prevents others from vandalizing your site? Bitcoin cryptography of course!

As long as you hold on to your private keys, your website remains secure. Only you can add, edit, and update content in the usual way. In addition, it’s also more robust. If one server/node goes down there are others to keep it running. Kocsis goes on to explain some of the challenges we face today as censorship encroaches on our personal freedoms:

Graphite Docs

Graphite docs is a decentralized document authoring solution similar to Google Docs. The difference? Google ultimately uses every piece of data you input for marketing purposes, whether it’s through search, docs, or maps. Data breaches are common these days, and large storage companies are quickly losing credibility as a safe way to independently manage user data.

With Graphite docs, the application distributes and secures your data with the same cryptography mentioned earlier. Only you, however, can access it. You still retain full control over your data at all times, from anywhere you happen to be on the planet.

Final Thoughts: Blockchain Internet

These are just some of the cases where decentralized cryptocurrency architecture is changing the nature of the internet. If you’ve used something like Graphite Docs or ZeroNet you will know that the process is still a bit technical and clumsy. This speaks to the development of the industry as a whole right now.

Just like the early days of the internet, the base layers of blockchain are currently being built out. Once developers iron out the kinks, we should see user interfaces appear that provide users with a more seamless interaction. Though, that doesn’t mean by any stretch of the imagination that the current technology is going away.

What are your thoughts? Are there any interesting applications you’re using to interact within the decentralized web? Be sure to tweet us how you’re playing your part in the blockchain internet future.

This article by RYAN SMITH was originally published at "CoinCentral.com": https://coincentral.com/blockchain-internet-unchaining-the-web/

J.P. MORGAN’S TOP 3 BLOCKCHAIN STOCKS

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While banks and large corporations have generally been skeptical towards blockchain, some of them have shown enthusiasm for a few applications of the emerging technology. One example is banking giant, J.P.Morgan Chase. 

 In what could be seen as a show of support, the bank has recently recommended three blockchain stocks that investors can add to their portfolios.  

J.P.Morgan is the largest of the top four U.S. banks, with an active plan towards blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption. The bank has handled first-class business for more than 200 years and has been focused on taking innovative approaches towards client solutions.

With a growing list of emerging technologies to choose from, the corporation has shifted its focus to accommodate blockchain tech.

WHAT DOES J.P MORGAN REALLY THINK ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN?       

Earlier in 2018, J.P.Morgan revealed the details of its blockchain patent that described a new system known as the Interbank Information Network. Created as a way to seamlessly facilitate otherwise tedious cross-border payments, the network showed for the first time, just how willing Chase bank was to accept blockchain market. 

In the J.P.Morgan way, the bank sought to fix the lapse in communication, a huge problem that has plagued remittance systems for a long time. Today, the process of making cross-border payments is tedious, inconvenient and time-consuming because money sent from one country to another goes through a couple of third-party financial institutions en route to its destination. 

This means that for remittance to occur, each point of contact needs to establish quick, secure communication with the next. Currently, the infrastructure that guides this process is inefficient and leads a lot of time wasted. Applications like the one J.P.Morgan is working on will allow users to track all of their payments easily no matter what third-party company it passes through.

On board with the project, the Royal Bank of Canada and Australia and the New Zealand Banking Group are some of the few partners that the bank is working with so far. 

In addition to this patent, filed in May 2018, J.P.Morgan has undergone other blockchain-related projects such as Quorum, an open-source enterprise network created in 2015. The project, which was created and operated on the Ethereum network, sought to tackle data privacy head-on. 

The bank also announced a partnership with the developers behind Zcash, one of the top 20 digital currencies by market capitalization and a utility cryptocurrency which focuses on privacy.

J.P.Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been vocal about his support for blockchain and its potential to solve numerous problems. In addition to all of this, the bank is one of the earliest members of Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), a community that works towards creating global solutions through the adoption of blockchain technology via the Ethereum Network.

WHAT ARE THE THREE RECOMMENDED BLOCKCHAIN STOCKS?

With its long fintech repertoire, it is easy to see where J.P. Morgan stands with adoption and investment in distributed ledger technology. Not only is the bank creating its own adoption systems, but it has also encouraged the public to get involved as well, by investing in emerging projects. Three projects, in particular, were recommended: Akamai Technologies Inc, DocuSign, and Ellie Mae.

AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES INC.

This is a US-based delivery network and cloud service provider taking advantage of the growing number of blockchain adopters. Through its Edge platform, Akamai Technologies Inc. assists brands all over the world with understanding and customizing cloud-based solutions for their operations. This allows such brands to have a competitive advantage over others within the space, in areas such as speed, efficiency, and security. 

According to the company website, “Akamai keeps decisions, apps, and experiences closer to users than anyone — and attacks and threats far away. Akamai’s portfolio of edge security, web, and mobile performance, and OTT solutions are supported by unmatched customer service and 24/7/365 monitoring.

DOCUSIGN

Recommended by J.P.Morgan, this firm specializes in digital transaction management services. Lately, this involves utilizing blockchain technology as a way to digitize the process of signing contracts on the DocuSign platform. Created in 2003, the firm hopes to accelerate business operations since a lot of transactions between various parties in different industries require document signatures. 

Unfortunately, most times, the process of the agreement through document signing can be tedious, slow, error-prone, and expensive. DocuSign, which was around long before the emergence of blockchain, played an active role in pioneering e-signature technology. 

It uses a broad cloud-based platform to quickly automate document signing, enactment, and management processes, from any location, on almost any device. This saves time and renders the process seamless, fast and less expensive. 

According to the DocuSign official website, the platform is configured with over 350 built-in integrations with several popular business apps. The DocuSign API allows more than 400,000 customers (including millions of users) to embed the platform on their websites, apps, and custom workflows.

ELLIE MAE

Another reputable provider of cloud-based solutions, Ellie Mae focuses on solving problems within the mortgage finance industry. Since its creation in 1997, the firm has provided solutions to several real estate problems and handles 35% of all U.S. mortgage applications. Now, more than 20 years later, Ellie Mae is set to prove that blockchain technology can be used to manage the process of mortgages in a way that breeds trust through transparency. 

With the use of blockchain, the real estate industry can make several processes such as employment, verification, and inspection easier. According to the Ellie Mae website, “Our mission to automate the mortgage process is the guiding force behind our Encompass mortgage management solution and services, an all-in-one platform that gives lenders the power to cut costs and succeed in this hyper-competitive, zero-tolerance industry.” 

Staying true to their mission, Ellie Mae plans to automate mortgages so that lenders can have more high quality and efficient systems to work with. Their latest blockchain application known as Encompass is a record system which secures data and ensures that all relevant documentation is up-to-date. 

Within the system, lenders can originate, underwrite, and close loans without using multiple applications. Armed with innovative tools and a customer base spanning various financial institutions including credit unions, banks and mortgage companies, the firm is definitely one to watch.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Like several other large corporations, J.P.Morgan has made moves geared towards blockchain application. However, taking things a step further by recommending companies to investors is a positive push for adoption within the space. Every one of the three companies recommended by J.P.Morgan has one thing in common: they predate blockchain technology. 

This shows that the bank is more willing to recommend brands that are firmly rooted in their sectors and have prior experience handling other technologies. It also shows that these companies have a strong customer base and are not merely riding the blockchain hype train. Given the current tensions in the blockchain and cryptocurrency world, companies like this portray an image of credibility which, in turn, re-assures investors

Original Post: https://www.mintdice.com/blog/jp-morgans-top-3-blockchain-stocks

Top Supply Chain Blockchain Projects for 2019: Corporate to Scrappy Startups

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The general public may still associate the term “blockchain” with Bitcoin, but members of the crypto space know that the technology has far more applications. One field blockchain is on the verge of revolutionizing is supply chain management. Blockchain provides unprecedented levels of transparency in an industry once connected by paperwork and human error. 

How can Blockchain Influence Supply Chain Management?

Traditional supply chain operations rely on centralized methods that often result in oversight and mismanagement. Without proper communication, a significant number of things can go wrong. A centralized system means that everything from your package delivery to B2B purchases is subject to delays.

Blockchain’s decentralized and distributed nature, however, streamlines the way we exchange products. The technology generates permanent histories, enabling simplified tracking of goods from origin to ultimate destination. Documenting products’ journeys decreases the likelihood of fraud and double spending, and can assist with identifying the origin of any issues.

Without the need for intermediaries, blockchain dramatically reduces costs. It also provides relevant parties—such as manufacturers and carriers—with valuable insight into locations, assignments, transactions, and alterations.

The technology is not commonplace in supply chain management quite yet, but there are several companies diligently working to bring the technology to the forefront—and some have even made their projects available for others to use. Here are a few of the leaders:

IBM Enters Blockchain and Takes Over

IBM is arguably one of blockchain’s most prominent and influential corporate advocates. The company now boasts Watson Supply Chain, an application that enables customers to increase visibility and optimize supply chain data gathering. The platform is intended to help improve B2B collaboration and optimize order fulfillment and management.

IBM has also partnered with an organization known as RoadLaunch. This partnership is taking advantage of the corporation’s existing IoT and artificial intelligence platforms to circumnavigate pitfalls in the freight logistics industry. RoadLaunch’s blockchain network automates processes, process ubiquity, reduce freight risk, and minimize transactional collisions.

Walmart Embraces Blockchain

Walmart is also leveraging IBM’s blockchain network (co-developed with the Hyperledger Project), but this time to optimize foodstuff traceability for products such as chicken and bananas.

There are several components in the food industry supply chain, such as farmers, distributors, brokers, processors, and of course, retailers. Unfortunately, the process’s complexity leaves room for mistakes and deceit. Maintaining digital records available to all parties streamlines product deliveries (which is essential for perishable goods) and reduces waste.

Blockchain doesn’t just make transporting food easier—it helps avoid outbreaks. Walmart conducted a successful experiment with IBM to trace Chinese pork to prevent a scenario like the E. Coli outbreak in spinach that killed three people in 2016 from reoccurring.

UPS Enters the Blockchain Alliance

At the end of November 2017, United Parcel Service (UPS) became part of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). John Larkin, an analyst from the investment group involved in the project known as Stifel, says:

“In our view, blockchain will combine with the truckload pricing futures market, with data analytics-assisted [and] artificial intelligence-assisted real-time matching of loads and empties.”

UPS sees blockchain’s potential to deliver packages quickly and cheaply to customers. The company also recognizes that the day-to-day work of data providers, software providers, and trailer-leasing companies could benefit from the technology.

Blockchain Projects Doing Supply Chain

The supply chain industry is intertwined with numerous others. Blockchain is not limited to the big players on the field, either. Here are three companies that specialize in blockchain who are aiming to optimize supply chain management across a variety of professional spaces.

Waltonchain

Waltonchain is one of only a few blockchain/supply chain projects to incorporate both digital and physical elements into one system. To do this, the company leverages the Internet of Things, but the combination creates what they call the “Value Internet of Things.” VIoT is intended to decentralize the IoT development process.

The Waltonchain is technically a “parent” chain. As new business adopt the system, it generates “child chains” to connect industries. The overall network is anchored with a token known as WaltonCoin, which also employs RFID chips to create a new kind of business ecosystem that ensures traceability, security, and authenticity.

RFID technology (radio frequency identification) is all about communication. It relies on radio signals to identify specific targets—such as access control systems that libraries use. RFID tags attached to food products is the interface enables their connection to the blockchain, and therefore includes them in the Value Internet of Things.

Provenance

Provenance is another project disrupting supply chain management, but it’s doing so with an environmental and ethical emphasis.

Current supply chain centralization and disconnection results in products (and their transference) that negatively impact nature and communities through unethically sourced materials and wasted vehicle fuel.

Blockchain, however, can provide consumers with insight into where their products originate, allowing them to verify if something is environmentally harmful or genuinely benevolent.

The company’s founder, Jessi Baker, initially launched the company as a side project in 2013, but now has approximately 250 clients. She says it is essential that companies and consumers know more about where their products come from:

“Opaque supply chains present a huge risk to companies. There could be slavery in their supply chains, there could be huge environmental damage, but just because that information is one or two tiers removed from your core operations doesn’t mean it isn’t absolutely integral to your business.”

Supply chains can be convoluted, but Provenance intends to make it easier for “businesses that make and sell products to share information about the people, places, and materials that create those products.”

EverLedger

Food, data, and packages are not the only things that could benefit from a more transparent supply chain: diamonds, too, are frequent subjects of deception.  

EverLedger has created a blockchain application that tracks assets over the course of their lifetimes. They make notes of history, defining characteristics, and ownership to generate an immutable record via blockchain.

Due to diamonds’ high value, the company reports that an annual total of $45 billion is lost to insurance fraud, and 65 percent of false claims pass undetected. Diamonds are also commonly trafficked and stolen goods. EverLedger’s blockchain can trace an asset back to its origin to help prove ownership in the case of theft and attest to authenticity.

Conclusion

When we can provide irrefutable evidence of origin and denote whenever products change ownership, it’s possible to create a safer and trustworthy economy. From production to transportation to delivery, blockchain technology is poised to alter the future of supply chain management forever—and there are multiple projects eager to do so.

This article by JACOB YOSS was originally published at "CoinCentral.com": https://coincentral.com/top-projects-blockchain-supply-chain/