FINTECH ARTICLES OF THE WEEK 06/19/16 In what turned out to be a prescient post--one of several on whether FinTech is in a boom or a bubble, Joi Ito suggested that the rush into blockchain shared public ledger technology is “a bit over its skis.” Mr. Ito, a long-time internet analyst who heads the MIT Media Lab, suggests that the focus be on building the infrastructure in a … [Read more...] about Boom-Bubble Blues
Cryptofinance
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/19/16
I wrote a headline nearly a year ago "Blockchain Blues," about industry thought leaders considering "the problems as more major banks endorsed the technology’s potential." Now the blues are really being heard, with the backing on the Ethereum-based DAO, a somewhat utopian venture fund. The fund is winding down and is expected to roll back the transactions, something that would … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/19/16
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/12/16
The Federal Reserve flirts with blockchain. Global central bankers learned about blockchain technology at the Federal Reserve's annual meeting last week. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reportedly called for central banks to study blockchain and noted that the Fed does not have the authority to regulate cryptocurrency. Coverage of the meeting, closed to the media, is classic … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/12/16
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/05/16
Microsoft steps up its blockchain business, as it seeks to build an open blockchain-based identity system with Blockstack and ConsenSys. One of the trends I'm watching accelerates as the term "smart contracts" gets a workover by lawyer and blockchain consultant Josh Stark. And a set of tools "to issue, display, and verify digital credentials using the bitcoin blockchain and the … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/05/16
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 05/29/16
There’s been a lot of chatter surrounding the potential blockchain applications, but many banks are still testing. IntelligentHQ outlines the different applications for blockchain in and outside of finance ranging from smart contracts in the legal sector to payments infrastructure. For a breakdown of blockchain companies, visit the Blockchain Angels’ excellent and comprehensive … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 05/29/16
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 05/22/16
"Time to tap the brakes on the blockchain," writes bank payment news service PaymentSource, in its daily email of Wed. May 18. Widespread blockchain adoption will take time, according to an MIT panel. Big banks may be getting excited about blockchain and testing its possibilities but ubiquitous adoption of the technology won’t occur in the near future. “The other piece is that … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 05/22/16