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Industries that are Impacted by Cryptocurrencies and the Innovations of Blockchain Technology

The blockchain technology managed to alter the way we look at money even if it’s still in its early days. The most common comparison is that blockchain will do for money what the Internet did for media, e-commerce, and communication. What the blockchain mainly did is that it managed to reduce the need for a trustworthy third-party to authenticate transactions. On the other hand, blockchain can facilitate transactions on an open source distributed ledger. Cryptocurrencies started to gain popularity mainly because such currencies offer unique benefits that other traditional methods can hardly compete with. The controversy involving the discussion of whether cryptocurrencies and considered currencies involves local laws because some countries see things differently compared to others.

So far, blockchain transactions have been targeted at the exchange and trade of cryptocurrencies and speculations say that in the future, blockchain will flaunt an even more significant impact across more or less expected industries even beyond cryptocurrencies.

Let’s have a look at a few significant sectors that will likely be impacted by cryptocurrencies and blockchain as well in the near future.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has a lot to gain from using the blockchain technology. For instance, a distributed ledger is, and this means that it needs using advanced cryptography to process transactions. This reduces the need for large-scale cybersecurity protocols to store databases in centralized locations all over the world. Even if the blockchain was also affected along the way by various hacking events, the shift towards it will help lots of industries including cybersecurity to become more secure and reliable for users.

Financial services

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies have been making headlines in the financial sector for quite a while now. The crypto space slowly but surely penetrated even the Wall Street, and massive players such as Goldman Sachs have already entered the game. An increasing number of bank executives are interested in the benefits provided by the blockchain and using cryptocurrencies, and this can only lead to enhanced implementation of the technology and the currencies in the banking sector. The best benefits of using cryptos and blockchain include reduced transaction times and diminished fees. Even the SWIFT technology is slowly but surely becoming an old-school method compared to the blockchain.

The gambling industry

Even if it may seem hard to believe for some people, from the very beginning the mix between cryptocurrencies and online casinos has turned out to be quite a match. Online gambling showcased a massive growth in popularity for the past few years and this went hand in hand with the increasing popularity of the crypto trend. Both these developing trends managed to captivate more and more tech enthusiasts to have a look at online casinos such as Casino.com.

As we already said, the vision on cryptocurrencies vary from one country to another and considering that when you’re gambling with cryptos, you’re not betting with fiat money, the gambling legislation doesn’t apply for them. As expected, Bitcoin was the first crypto used on online gambling platforms, and more and more casinos started adding it as a payment method. New cryptocurrencies appeared, and online casinos adopted more cryptos as well, such as Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin and more. An essential aspect of blockchain casinos is that they’re not restrained to payments with cryptos. The usage of blockchain tech offers various advantages for online gamblers giving them the possibility to use their payment method of choice.

Healthcare

Healthcare is also impacted by the use of blockchain because the technology allows for digital medical records to be much better secured. The patients’ data is crucial in the industry and leak of such confidential information is the enemy in this area. IBM teamed up with the US Food and Drug Administration in order to fight the risk for data leakage and what the blockchain can do is modernize healthcare services all over the world leading to better outcomes for both patients and healthcare services by generating increased revenues.

With each passing day, more and more industries in the entertainment area, Internet of Things, real estate and more are embracing the cryptocurrency space and the blockchain technology as innovative ways to attract users and customers.

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Crypto Markets

Blockchain Technology In China Got The Support Of The Ministry Of Industry And Information Technology

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology expects 2018 to be another important year for investment in the blockchain technology, as in the last five months about 250 investment agreements have been registered in companies dedicated to developing technology based on the blockchain, highlighting the first quarter of this year with 68 investments in the industrial sector. All these thanks to the cryptocurrency trading that survives in China despite the strict regulations.

According to the China Money Network, the ministry reported that 250 agreements have already been registered this year, a figure that represents more than double the number of agreements signed last year, with nearly 100 investment operations carried out throughout 2017, a number that translates the interest in technology into facts.

There are currently 456 companies registered in China that are dedicated exclusively to developing blockchain technology

Of these 456 companies, 295 are focused on developing solutions for different economic sectors, while 86 companies based in China are dedicated to providing services to the financial industry, according to a report from the Chinese ministry.

In addition, the number of projects focused on building blockchain infrastructure reaches 40 startups.

However, the report states that the blockchain sector is still at an early stage, as the investments were not long-term. A fact they expect to happen later, so the bet is to increase investments.

It is important to note that Chinese officials have been studying blockchain technology development in China for years. In fact, two weeks ago they published an index that ranks the main chains of blocks in the ecosystem, based on the applicability, free access, and transparency.

Cryptocurrency trading survives in China despite the strict regulations

These efforts and reports speak about the Chinese government’s interest in taking sides in the development of blockchain technology, even though cryptocurrency trading survives the hostile policies coming from the part of regulatory agents.

It should be noted that since September 4th, 2017, the Initial Coin Offers (ICO) in China have been banned, a regulatory decision that was followed by the announcement of the closure of all national and international cryptocurrency exchange operators.

However, a government spokesman told CCTV, China’s state-owned TV station, that the ICO operations are still “rampant” throughout China despite these bans.

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Crypto

Blockchain Technology Development Center Will Be Implemented In New York

The New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced the launch of several initiatives that will utilize blockchain technology applications in the city at the 4th annual blockchain technology summit, Consensus 2018, May 14-16.

In this regard, the president and CEO of NYCEDC, James Patchett, said that the Blockchain Center will operate as a physical space for industry and will aim to educate and connect entrepreneurs interested in blockchain technology, through tutoring, business support, and advice for new ventures in DLT.

As for the public competition for blockchain, called The BigApps Blockchain, Patchett explained that the goal is to develop applications, from the blockchain, that helps improve public sector services and processes. He added that he aspires to hold the competition at the end of 2018 and that on May 14 a bidding process has already been opened to choose the company that will be in charge of its organization.

Within the framework of Consensus 2018, Blockchain Week in New York City will showcase employment opportunities in the city through a first free job fair in the blockchain, open to the public, with the participation of companies such as IBM, Accenture, Deloitte, ConsenSys, Ripple, KPMG, and Ledger.

Blockchain technology boom in New York

All the initiatives announced by NYCEDC were supported by many of the participants in Consensus 2018, representing companies and organizations such as the Economic Development Commission, the New York State Assembly, the Technology Committee, OGroup, and Tech: NYC, among others.

They all agreed on the significance of the fact and the advantages that these projects will bring to New York City, making it a great focus of innovation and development for the emerging ecosystem of blockchain technology.

In this regard, new cases of use and applications of technology in large New York business sectors, such as finance, media, insurance, healthcare and real estate, are highlighted.

All this growth of the blockchain technology among New Yorkers may have been the cause of the recent introduction by state legislators of four bills that seek to include this technology within the legal framework, recognizing the possibilities its use brings.

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Crypto News

John McAfee Got Involved In Cryptocurrency And Blockchain Technology And Thinks Cryptos Will Change Everything

Politics, ethnicity, and religiosity could be some of the acceptable themes to talk over with John McAfee. However, if you are suspicious of Fintech in general and blockchain in particular, it would be wise to stay quiet.

McAfee, the computer developer and entrepreneur behind the multi-million dollar computer software company that carries his name, strongly trusts that cryptocurrency and blockchain, the technology that keeps all cryptocurrencies function, will utterly wipe out life as we understand it.

The blockchain is a gateway that can safely authenticate transactions and entities via a network of many decentralized repositories. It’s a brand-new approach to dealing with each other as the gateway can confidently track who you’re trading with and trace the source and the path of anything you’re trading.

Over the past 10 years, a number of bizarre occurrences have involved McAfee (the man) in a wide range of contentious issues, from outrageous allegations of murder in Belize to a short-lived run for the United States presidency.

John McAfee, knee-deep into cryptocurrency and blockchain technology world, think cryptos will change everything from jobs to governments

Now, he has embarked with all his energy on a journey within the universe of blockchain and cryptocurrencies and sells promotional tweets on his official Twitter account for just $105,000 dollars per tweet. McAfee has mentored or partnered with about 17 cryptocurrency businesses but its newest project is Docademic.

Docademic is John McAfee’s business that is dedicated to giving virtual access to clinicians worldwide by using artificial intelligence and blockchain technology for free.

Furthermore, McAfee thinks that, somewhen in the future, blockchain and cryptocurrency will force all the countries’ governments in the world to struggle for raising tax money for their budget. He meant that cryptos will take over fiat and governments “will not know where the money is, who has it and where it’s been transferred to.”

John McAfee also considers that blockchain technology and cryptocurrency will change how the jobs will be done in the future as many people will have no bosses, no banks to work with, no retirement. Cryptos will replace everything we know today, according to McAfee.

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Crypto News Tech

Blockchain Voting Platform Has Been Successfully Tested During West Virginia Local Election

This week, in West Virginia, United States, the 2018 local election ended, being the first voting session in the United States to be held on a blockchain platform. The pilot test was carried out on the Voatz blockchain platform which was built on the set of applications developed by the Hyperledger Project.

The participants of the test chose their candidates for the Senate elections which will be held in November. However, the test of the blockchain voting platform was limited to the foreign-based military and their families.

Blockchain voting platform received positive feedback from the officials of West Virginia

The pilot test was conducted only with foreign military personnel from Harrison and Monongalia Counties and, at the moment, Voatz and the West Virginia’s IT and Security department, are still auditing the data obtained in the test, so results and announcements are expected in the coming weeks.

In this regard, the office of West Virginia Secretary of State, Mac Warner, says the state government believes that “blockchain technology provides a higher level of security in this type of voting application.” Warner, therefore, hopes that the blockchain voting platform will soon be available to all the US military voters from all over the world.

It is important to note that Voatz is a native mobile platform that combines blockchain with biometric technology for identity authentication and is working together with West Virginia authorities since March 2018.

The West Virginia blockchain test has also received negative critics

A professor of computer science at the University of South Carolina, who specializes in voting systems and electoral integrity, says that one of the main problems with this idea is the fact that the code lines are not visible, so, according to him, Voatz can’t be fully trustworthy.

However, the blockchain voting platform is based on the code developed by Hyperledger Project which is an open source initiative with very positive feedback.

West Virginia is the first state in the United States to consider holding its elections on a decentralized and encrypted blockchain voting platform. A digitization of the votes that, according to a Benenson Strategy Group survey, almost 50% of the millennials consider more pleasant.

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