SolidX Seeking to List Bitcoin Trust on New York Stock Exchange
#Blockchain firm #SolidX has filed with the SEC in a bid to launch a public investment vehicle that would offer exposure to #bitcoin.
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SolidX Seeking to List Bitcoin Trust on New York Stock Exchange
#Blockchain firm #SolidX has filed with the SEC in a bid to launch a public investment vehicle that would offer exposure to #bitcoin.
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Will Bitcoin Halving Grow China’s Already Outsized Influence?
#Bitcoin was designed to be decentralized, but as it matures, the currency is moving increasingly toward centralization — in China. This has significant implications for the #cryptocurrency, whose future early developers imagined would lie in the hands of a distributed global network of miners, but now largely lies in the hands ofRead More
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Blockchain: the answer to life, the universe and everything? | World news | The Guardian
If you aren’t tied to the tech community, you might not have picked up on this salvation rhetoric. But you probably have heard of #bitcoin, which burst into the public consciousness before imploding dramatically in 2014.
But now, bitcoin is starting to look less important than the engine that drives it – the #blockchain. It was created to solve a problem that had been puzzling digital activists for decades: how to create digital property without a central authority keeping track of who owns what.
The answer to that question, first proposed by bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, was to create a decentralised digital ledger, keeping track of every transaction made, and with its accuracy guaranteed through the combined honesty of the entire network.
The core of the idea is to get computers burning energy in order to prove that they are trustworthy, and stamping that trust on the “blocks” of recorded transactions. You could still lie to the network – but you’d need to burn more energy doing so than every honest participant, combined.
Bitcoin was the first #technology to use the blockchain, but the currency is now starting to look a bit like the steam pumping engines invented in the 17th century. Yes, it’s ingenious, but the real revolution comes when the underlying technology is used for something altogether new.
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What is bitcoin and the blockchain?
A #list of articles, blog posts, videos, books and courses to help get you started.
As #bitcoin, ethereum and other cryptocurrencies have become more popular, we’ve gotten more and more requests from people seeking suggestions for how to learn about the #technology.
In pulling together this list of starter articles, blog posts, books and courses, we’ve found that most people are initially willing to invest about 30–45 minutes to learn about cryptocurrencies. That can then ignite enough curiosity to invest another 2–3 hours — and then they’re off to the races.
Feel free to share this list with others. Over the last year, members of the Digital Currency Initiative have sent it to several hundred people — from finance ministers to longtime developers interested in the #cryptocurrency space and, as a result, have seem them change their policy position or even change jobs.
This list of articles is by no means exhaustive; it’s a living document. Feel free to suggest your favorite ethereum, smart contracts, regulatory and DAO explainer articles ([email protected]) or create your own list and share it with the community!
Overviews (30–45 mins)
- Why Bitcoin Matters by Marc Andreessen
- Why the #Blockchain Matters by Reid Hoffman
- How Does Bitcoin Work? (video) by David Andolfatto
- Programmable Blockchains in Context: Ethereum’s Future by Vinay Gupta
- The Blockchain Application Stack by Joel Monegro
- The Shared Data Layer on The Blockchain Application Stack by Joel Monegro
- How Bitcoin Is Like SMTP by Joel Monegro
- How The Blockchain Can Unshackle Us by Jalak Jobanputra
- The Non-Expert’s Guide to the Mt. Gox Fiasco by Arianna Simpson
Applications (60–90 mins)
- Some ideas for native bitcoin apps by Chris Dixon
- Certificates, Reputation and the Blockchain by Philipp Schmidt
- Bitcoin Fact. Fiction. Future. by Tiffany Wan & Max Hoblitzell
- State-Sponsored Cryptocurrency: Adapting the best of Bitcoin’s Innovation to the Payments Ecosystem by Deloitte
- Elizabeth Rossiello Describes How BitPesa Slashes International Payment Fees by Laura Shin
- Bitcoin Overview & Applications (video) by Brian Forde
- How the blockchain will enable self-service government by Brian Forde & Michael Casey
- Can Bitcoin Be Used For Good? by Chelsea Barabas & Ethan Zuckerman
- Want to rent Star Wars? May the force be with you… by Brian Forde
Technical Overviews (2–4 hours)
- Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System by Satoshi Nakamoto
- Bitcoin: The new gold rush? by Val Srinivas
- Bitcoin And Blockchain: Two Revolutions For The Price Of One? by Richard Gendal Brown
- How the Bitcoin protocol actually works by Michael Nielsen
- Network Security and Proof of Work: Do We Need an Alternative? by Arianna Simpson
- Research Perspectives and Challenges for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies by Joseph Bonneau, Andrew Miller, Jeremy Clark, Arvind Narayanan,Joshua A. Kroll, Edward W. Felten
Books (1–2 days each)
- Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas M. Antonopoulos
- The Age of CryptoCurrency by Michael Casey, Paul Vigna
- Blockchain Revolution by Don and Alex Tapscott
- Digital Gold by Nathaniel Popper
Bitcoin Course & Textbook (4–5 weeks)
- Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies (course) at Princeton University
- Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies (textbook), by Arvind Narayanan, Joseph Bonneau, Edward W. Felten, Andrew Miller, Steven Goldfeder
Special thanks to Michael Casey, Chelsea Barabas and Neha Narula for suggesting articles for this list!
Brian Forde is Director of the Digital Currency Initiative at MIT Media Lab
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At $400 Million a Year, Academic Argues Bitcoin Mining Worth the Cost
A recent note from the University College London’s #blockchain research center explores the fair #cost of #bitcoin #mining.
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We Have Passed Peak Blockchain Investment
As the summer heats up, #blockchain hype may (finally) be cooling down. 2016 will likely see less #investment in #bitcoin and blockchain #technology, but that is true for many other areas, as well. This year to date has seen $ 161 million invested so far, while 2015 saw a total ofRead More
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Credit Suisse Report Names Technologies Trends Changing Banking
#Credit #Suisse has released a #report on the Swiss financial center in which it points out the key #trends and #technologies that are #changing #banking.
The report, entitled ‘Swiss Financial Center 2016,’ addresses the ongoing changes occurring in the financial service industry worldwide.The Internet is changing the behavior of bank clients. Meanwhile innovative startups are coming up with new business models and cutting-edge technologies to change the way we manage our money.
During the past two years, interest in #fintech has increased massively, becoming a dominant buzzword in the financial industry.
“Digitalization in the financial sector will change banking,” the report says. Notably, digital transfers and payments transactions provide an attractive alternative to cash payments as they can be generated via smartphone apps.
In retail banking, online processing of banking activities is providing greater convenience and flexibility to clients.
Personal financial management (PFM) applications give clients an overview of their personal assets, current income and spending. They generate analysis and recommendations for personal budgeting.
Trading and advisory platforms enable users to access stock exchange trading. These platforms also analyze client portfolios using algorithms and generate automated investment recommendations. #Robo-advisors are also used in private banking, complementing the work of client advisors.
Robo-advisors are increasing in popularity in the private banking segment, and their advantages are clear: they are low-cost, can be used in a multitude of areas, have access to huge databases and are on call 24 hours a day.
In credit operations and capital markets, new products are enabling users to avoid financial intermediaries. On these platforms investors and borrowers come into direct contact with one another. These platforms are for instance crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lendings platforms.
Virtual currencies are an alternative means of payment to national currencies. #Bitcoin for instance enables users to make payments directly to one another, without using the services of a bank or other middleman.
Digital support, also known as regtech, promotes the implementation of regulations and helps ensure that risk analysis of unstructured data, scenario analysis and monitoring activities are organized more efficiently.
&8220;The new technologies in the financial arena will lead to a rationalization of processes in the banking sector in the years ahead and due to the strengthening of the client&8217;s position are set to alter the client/bank relationship on a lasting basis,&8221; the report says.
Another #technology that plays a significant role within fintech is #blockchain technology, which the report claims has &8220;the potential to fundamentally change the financial industry.&8221;
It details:
&8220;Blockchain gained recognition above all thanks to the #cryptocurrency Bitcoin. However, its area of use is not just confined to digital currencies.
&8220;Indeed in principle the technology can be applied to a very wide range of areas: For example, the US Nasdaq stock exchange has introduced a trading platform based on blockchain.
&8220;It is conceivable that blockchain technology will replace clearing houses in securities trading. But in the art and diamond trade too, blockchain has the potential to make forgeries and the sale of stolen goods more difficult.&8221;
The report points out the conditions for the successful integration of digitalization into the business world. First, there must be a state-of-the-art communications infrastructure that meets current requirements. Then, the growing importance of the MINT (mathematics, IT, natural sciences and technology) subject must be addressed in order to ensure that businesses located in Switzerland can recruit the specialist personnel they need. Finally, overall regulatory conditions must be adapted to the new requirements.
It further advises on the formation of clusters of various different economic sectors, citing the example of Silicon Valley.
&8220;Switzerland is well placed with economic centers that are located in close proximity to one another such as Zurich (financial services, industry), Basel (pharmaceuticals, chemicals) and Geneva (financial services, commodities),&8221; the report notes.
For Switzerland to keep its position as a world leading financial center, there much be a number of actions to be undertaken by the public sector and the private sector. It suggests regular reviews and modification of existing overall regulatory conditions to facilitate new business models, as well as the creation of a recognized &8220;Digital Switzerland&8221; umbrella brand to improve external perceptions. Other ideas include launching sector initiative to encourage digitalization, adapting existing business models and services to the digital reality, as well as networking with other sectors to achieve scale effects.
Featured image by everything possible, via Shutterstock.com.
The post Credit Suisse Report Names Technologies Trends Changing Banking appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News – FintechNewsCH.
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Why Blockchain Immutability is a Perpetual Motion Claim
Is #immutability becoming the next overhyped #blockchain buzzword? #Bitcoin pundit Chris DeRose discusses in his latest op-ed.
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Internet Watch Foundation Partners to Stop Illicit Bitcoin Use
The #Internet #Watch #Foundation has announced a partnership with a #blockchain industry startup aimed at fighting online child sex abuse.
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