Author: Frederik Nielsen (Page 21)

The Largest International Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Conference of the Region

As known, Netherlands-based banking giant ING published a customer report recently where it was declared that Turkey is the leading cryptocurrencies owner among all European countries. The fact that the people in Turkey are heading to more technological innovations and current economic circumstances serve as an increasing factor for it.

Investors and engineers, mostly from the Middle East and Central Asian countries as well as from Turkey, who are interested in blockchain and who deal with cryptocurrencies will be participating in this conference. Attendees will better understand Blockchain, the greatest technological and financial revolution of the 21st century, with the expression of expert speakers in the sphere. Thus, “Blockchain Economy Istanbul Summit” rolls out the distinction of being the largest-scale event of the region, ever held in this field.

More than 5,000 attendees from 20 countries will attend the conference and more than 10,000 people will be watching live. By associating investors, entrepreneurs and professionals for discussing  current cryptocurrency market and future of blockchain technology.

International Blockchain & Cryptocurrency conference, will be held on February 20, 2019, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Summit Subjects:

• Future of Payments with Cryptocurrencies: Why do Current Banking Solutions Fail
• Panel Discussion: Will States Make Peace with Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain or will They Struggle Against?
• Redefining Human Value: a New Epoch of Individualized Economy
• People vs. Power: Shifting Away from Centralization
• Bitcoin and the Other Cryptocurrencies: What are the Investors’ Next Step?
• Understanding Economic Crises: Blockchain based Economical System
• Summit web:  https://www.blockchaineconomy.istanbul

What is Blockchain Expo?

As the world of blockchain technollogy continues tog ain steam, more and more events and conferences are springing up across the world. Blockchain Expo is one of the biggest event series centered around blockchaint echnology. So big, in fact, that it will be hosted in several different places this year. The Blockchain Expo events have European, North American, and Global variants. Each event further consists of multiple co-located events, which makes it a paradise for blockchain enthusiasts.

Previous and Future Blockchain Expo events

The previous Blockchain Expo events have received a lot of praise from online critics, and future Blockchain Expo events will only grow bigger each year. The Global and European events have already been held in April and June, respectively, so there is now only the North American event to attend this year. Blockchain Expo Global 2019 will be held on April 25-26 in London, and Blockchain Expo Europe 2019 will be held ion 19-20 June in Amsterdam. Despite these two next event not being held until next year, it is not too early to secure your early bird registration, as well as any speaking or sponsor engagements you might want.

Blockchain Expo North America 2019

The event taking place the soonest is Blochain Expo North America 2019, which will be held in the Santa Clara Convention Center in California on November 28-29. Early bird tickets are still available until September 21. You can save $450 by registering before then by going to the booking site HERE.

The event is set to be huge. As a matter of fact, it is branded as the largest blockchain event in the world. Over 13,000 people will be attending to hear more than 500 speakers share their wisdom and experiences. The speaking engagements are spread across 24 conference tracks, and over 350 companies will be exhibiting their latest products and innovations.

Which topics will be covered?

There is a little bit for everyone at the Blockchain Expo. Entrepreneurs will find a lot of talks on enterprise development and strategies for business. Those interested in the money side of things will find both cryptocurrency and financial services in general being discussed. Creative minds will be interested in the talks on the different platforms and applications being developed. Finally, there will also be a lot of investors present, so there will be a chance to pitch your ideas and network.

Where can you find out more?

You can find out everything you need to know on the Blockchain Expo website right HERE. there you will find a full list of speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors, as well as the conference agenda.

Where do you buy tickets?

There is a range of different conference passes available, as well as various add-ons. There is an option of getting a free pass for the conference, but you can also pay for some of the more exclusive passes. These passes include the Expo Gold, Plus, and Ultimate Passes. Some of the benefits of them include being invited to take part in exclusive networking events and interesting workshops.

Ticket price:

• Blockchain Expo Europe – Amsterdam Netherland
• Blockchain Expo North America – Santa Clara U.S.
• Blockchain Expo Global – London U.K.

Blockchain Game Summit 2018

Blockchain technology has without a doubt been a game changer for many different industries. One ICO after another brings with it a new promise to transform a new industry, whether that be real estate, betting, deliveries, fundraising, or trading.

The gaming industry is one of the many fields that could benefit massively from blockchain technology. Many game developers have already adopted the technology and are working on fascinating online games that will be completely decentralized.

Blockchain Game Summit 2018 is the first ever blockchain conference that will focus on the gaming industry and how it will change with the blockchain technology.

How gaming can benefit from the blockchain

Online gaming is a rapidly expanding industry, and with that kind of growth comes a lot of issues. Security has long been a concern for the gaming community, and the use of the blockchain will be able to remedy this issue. Certain game developers will also be rewarding gamers with cryptocurrency to incentivize their engagement. This has also been seen in other industries and will revolutionize the way we think about consumption of online media.

Blockchain Game Summit will host speakers that will present their thoughts on these subjects and many more.

When and where will Blockchain Game Summit be held?

The event will take place in the Confluence Museum in Lyon, France, on September 25-26. Blockchain Game Summit will host thought leaders, investors, developers, blockchain experts, and many more interesting people in the gaming and blockchain industries.

What will happen during the Summit?

In addition to the talks by industry leaders, there will be panels and live demonstrations on stage. There will be ample opportunity to learn about new innovations and network with the many attendees. You can also participate in a roundtable discussion and playtest some of the developers latest innovations.

Who will be speaking at Summit?

The impressive line-up of speakers can be found HERE. The list includes Marguerite deCourcelle (CEO, Neon District), Daniel Kraft (CTO, Xaya), Nicolas Pouard (Blockchain Initiative Manager, Ubisoft), Alex Amsel (Head of Blockchain Strategy, Fig), and Ben Heidorn (CTO, Blockade Games).

More about the Blockchain Game Summit

Follow them on Twitter HERE.
Like them on Facebook HERE.
Follow them on LinkedIn HERE.
Join their Telegram group HERE.

Where can you get tickets?

You can buy your ticket for €650-€750 by going to the Eventbrite booking site HERE. You can get yourself a nice 20% discount if you use the code SteelmediaxBGS18.

Who is behind the Blockchain Game Summit?

The company behind this amazing event is the video game studio B2Expand, which has worked with Ubisoft’s startup program. Beyond the Void was their first game, and used a money system built on Ethereum’s blockchain. B2Expand has enlisted the help of Exoflow to organize the event, as they have created very successful events in the past.

What is Blockchain Unchained?

This is the conference for both crypto-enthusiasts and the uninitiated alike. Kicking off in Geneva today, blockchain experts and fans from all over the world will gather to share their knowledge and introduce new members into the world of blockchain technology. It will be the perfect opportunity to learn what the hype is about, network with peers in the industry, and explore the fantastic city of Geneva in Switzerland.

What will happen at Blockchain Unchained?

The aim of the conference is to “educate and entertain“. With that in mind, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn from some of the most prominent speakers in the world and participate in ICO (initial coin offering) pitches.

What is the purpose of Blockchain Unchained?

Although blockchain technology has been around for over a decade now, there are still a few people who understand it — or even know about it! The organizers of Blockchain Unchained recognize that the technology can be difficult to understand at times. That’s why they’ve put together this amazing event that aims to raise awareness about the wonders and possibilities of the blockchain. The conference is aimed not only at people already working in the space but also members of the general public who are eager to learn more.

Bridging the off-chain world with the on-chain world

The event will focus on how blockchain technology can improve the world of banking and finance, as well as help launch new and exciting tech startups. Even startup companies who have not yet considered how they can utilize blockchain technology are invited to join the festivities and learn more. As an entrepreneur, you might even be inspired to launch your very own ICO — which you can pitch directly to investors at the conference!

Who is organizing Blockchain Unchained?

The organizers behind the event is a Swiss fintech company called SwissBorg. Based in Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, they are the world’s first blockchain-based cryptocurrency wealth-management firm. A team of financial experts are behind the project and aim to inspire local communities of cryptocurrency traders to push the boundaries for what is possible.

When does Blockchain Unchained take place?

The conference runs from today (September 12) at 8 am to Friday (September 14) at 5 pm.

Where does Blockchain Unchained take place?

The event will be held at the impressive multi-purpose venue Uptown Geneva, on Rue de la Servette 2, Geneva 1201, in Switzerland.

Where can I learn more about Blockchain Unchained?

You can find out more about the event on their website: https://www.blockchain-unchained.net or email the organizers on events@blockchain-unchained.net.

Where can I get tickets for Blockchain Unchained?

You will be able to get tickets at the Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blockchain-unchained-2018-tickets-44914926755

Let us know how it went!

We always love to hear about your first-hand experiences at blockchain events like Blockchain Unchained. If you’re currently attending or are planning to, please share your experiences with us in the comments section below!

Cryptocurrency Attracts the Youth

Interest in cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin, continues to grow amongst the young. As a new study, conducted by Qriously in conjunction with the exchange, Coinbase, shows the rise in interest among students. It has been suggested that Bitcoin is on the same trajectory as the internet and social media before it. Up to one-fifth of students already own Bitcoin, whilst two-fifths of Universities offer courses on cryptocurrency and blockchain. Stanford University is currently leading the way with over ten courses on the subject. And with student interest and enthusiasm flourishing, this trend amongst universities continues to grow.

This bolstered the recent study conducted by Imperial College London, who touted cryptocurrency as the next logical step. Researchers suggest as cryptocurrency moves beyond being a store of value to a readily exchangeable commodity it will elevate itself towards the mainstream. However, as the researchers state, there are several obstacles cryptocurrency must overcome. Regulation, usability, and scalability are the main three hurdles if cryptocurrency manages to straddle these it may very well be on it’s way to winning the race.

Meanwhile in Asia

Mainstream interest continues to pick up in Asia as more people look to work in Blockchain and cryptocurrency. Since 2017, job opportunities in the sector have exploded, increasing by up to 50%. Blockchain, which is the underlying technology for cryptocurrencies has seen a particular interest. Data from Indeed shows a heightened interest in Blockchain jobs all across Asia, from Australia to India, down to Singapore. It’s not just interest that is growing but opportunities too.

Cryptocurrency and blockchain positions are attracting people from all sectors. As the industry grows beyond just development and trade there is a need to round out their operations. Where once the sector mainly attracted individuals from more technical backgrounds, in software development, and financial backgrounds, in banking, it now reaches further afield. As the sector moves towards more distributed applications they are beginning to resemble internet and tech-based companies.

Rakuten Everybody’s Bitcoin

Japan’s largest e-commerce company, Rakuten, believes in the future of cryptocurrency as it continues to expand into new sectors. Rakuten, see’s cryptocurrency based payments to grow exponentially and have been considering entering into the cryptocurrency exchange for some time. Today, 31st August, Rakuten announced their acquisition of Everybody’s Bitcoin, signaling their commitment to the future of cryptocurrency.

Rakuten covers over 70 services, ranging from e-commerce retail to financial services. And they believe that cryptocurrency will become integral across all services. Although they had already begun accepting Bitcoin payments back in 2015, the organizations believe that this is the next step. By providing their own cryptocurrency exchange they will be able to provide better processes for cryptocurrency payment across the board, providing a more streamlined and secure service. Rakuten looks to bring their extensive experience and knowledge of various financial services to Everybody’s Bitcoin. And with Everybody’s Bitcoins knowledge and experience of the cryptocurrency exchange they look to expand and develop cryptocurrency services for customers.

Have you begun investing yet? Let us know in the comments below!

The standoff between cryptocurrency miners and utility companies continues but some may be looking for a way to work together.

Mining is becoming more popular

As cryptocurrency mining grows, so does the need for more power. Mining is a power-intensive process, utilizing large numbers of servers. Bitcoin mining alone absorbs more power than the country of Ireland. Therefore, Crypto-miners are always seeking the cheapest rates in order to maintain profitability. In fact, the cost of power can make or break a mining operation.

The hunt for cheap electricity has led to many confrontations with the utility companies. In, March, Chelan County, Washington, utility regulators had to suspend applications from cryptocurrency miners because the impact their power-intensive operations were having on the small county of Washington was becoming untenable. As 100’s of new mining operations look to set up in rural Washington, due to their cheap utility rates, the tensions have increased. One public utility company even had to beef up security as would-be miners have been harassing their staff. These tensions have led to some companies deciding to set up their own power grids. A Canadian company, DMG Blockchain, have invested in building their own sub-station in British Columbia.

Miners vs. utility companies

It seems on the surface that there is money to be made on both sides, so why the standoff? From the point of view of the utility companies, it would involve a massive investment on their part in an industry with an uncertain outcome. Kevin Nordst of Grant PUD, Washington, states that the infrastructure is not there and it would require millions if not billions of investment to meet the massive demand. The risk of investing in an industry with no track record and a lot of unknowns leaves much to be desired. The utility companies would be building power plants to serve a single industry in an area that does not require that kind of power. If crypto-mining were to disappear, for whatever reason, the utilities would be left footing the bill with an abundance of power they can’t sell. With these concerns in mind and money to be made, both sides are looking for suitable solutions.

Utility companies are looking to start from the ground up. Their first concern is on how to regulate and asses crypto-mining operations. Grant PUD, has created a new classification, known as the ‘evolving class’, this would include not only crypto-miners but any other emerging technologies with power-intensive needs. From this starting point, they would develop effective policies tailored towards these growing industries.

Solutions on the horizon

Crypto-miners, on the other hand, are looking for solutions in the existing system which they believe can benefit all. Power companies keep an excess of power at any given time in order to meet especially high demands. The majority of the time this power goes unused. What crypto-miners are suggesting is to have access to this excess power during the periods where it is not needed and when it is needed they are happy to close down operations. This would give utilities the opportunity to sell off unused power whilst still having the capability to meet the demands of their population base.

As the industry continues to grow we will no doubt see the confidence in certainty rise and more partnership solutions between utilities and crypto-miners.

The adult entertainment industry has always been at the forefront of new technological developments. Back in the 1970s, it was the adult entertainment industry that brought the VHS tape technology into the mainstream. In the 2000s, it did the same thing with DVDs. A few years after that, the adult entertainment industry was crucial to making streaming a mainstream phenomenon. Today, the industry is looking at tokenizing porn viewing — and this is good news for the cryptocurrency industry.

Tube8 is the website that will lead the way

Tube8 is a subsidiary website of the behemoth PornHub and boasts of 10 million members with 150 million page visits every single month. That is a huge amount of traffic. But rather than seeing this as an opportunity to charge people to watch porn, the Tube8 management is seeing a very different opportunity. Robin Turner of Tube8 is very enthusiastic about these latest developments. He mentions in an interview with Hard Fork that it has always been a dream for many people to get paid to watch porn. Up until recently, everyone had to pay for magazines and videos. The streaming revolution enabled people to watch all the adult entertainment they wanted to for free. Soon, the many online enthusiasts will be able to actually earn money for viewing their favorite pass time.

What is the Vice Industry Token?

The cryptocurrency token that users of Tube8 will be rewarded with is the Vice Industry Token (VIT). The token has recently been involved in some controversy, but it hasn’t stopped Tube8 from deciding to work with the team behind it. There are other blockchain projects out there doing the same thing as VIT, but they are not fully decentralized. The content found on Tube8 will be monetized through the VIT protocol. Although the token isn’t specifically designed for the adult entertainment industry, it is designed to monetize all kinds of streamed content online. Previously, people would log into the Tube8 site, watch a video or two, and then log off. With the introduction of the VIT tokens, they will be incentivized to engage more with the content by liking, commenting, and sharing. The VIT token has also formed a partnership with prominent figures like Stormy Daniels.

Technological hurdles ahead for Tube8

There are a few hurdles the project needs to overcome before the dream of getting paid to watch porn can become a reality. One of these is the scalability issue. There has long been a growing concern that the blockchain network is not fast enough to meet demand.

Networks like Ethereum can at present only handle 15 transactions per second. This is very little compared to credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard, who can handle tens of thousands of transaction each second. Given that Tube8 has 150 million page views every day, tokenizing this traffic will become an issue. Rather, Tube8 is looking t the Steem blockchain, which is able to handle 100,000 transactions per second. If Tube8 is successful in their experiment, it could see the entire PornHub Network becoming tokenized. This includes sites like PornHub itself (2.8 billion visits), as well as YouPorn (360 daily visits) and RedTube (510 million daily visits).

What is Malta Blockchain Summit?

Malta is quickly becoming a hot spot for everything blockchain. One of the reasons for this is, of course, the government’s lax attitude towards regulation of the cryptocurrency market. This has led Finance and OKEx, to two of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, to move to the island, which has now been dubbed Blockchain Island.

Malta Blockchain Summit is set to be one of the biggest conferences centered around blockchain technology, digital ledger technology, and cryptocurrency. 300 different companies will be sponsoring the event and exhibiting the latest cutting-edge technology there. 100 speakers will be sharing their knowledge and findings from their research. 5000 delegates will be attending the event to learn from the speakers, interact with the sponsors, and network with their peers in the industry.

Needless to say, this is an event not to be missed. There will be ample opportunity to participate in fascinating discussions about the future of the economy. You will also be able to either witness or participate in the Hackathon that will be held at the event. If you are working on your own ICO, there will also be an ICO pitch where you will be able to connect with potential investors.

What is the agenda?

The Malta Blockchain Summit takes place on 1-2 November 2018 at the InterContinental hotel, St George’s Bay, St Julians and is actually four conferences in one. Each of the four conferences will focus on the separate aspect of the blockchain space. the first conference will look at government and regulation. the second conference will cover marketing and affiliation. The third will look at fintech, tokenomics, and cryptocurrencies. Finally, there will also be a conference about blockchain for developers.

Blockchain app developers will be invited to the event free of charge, in order to benefit as many of the other attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors as possible. The exhibitors will, in turn have their goods displayed at their conference stands for the attendees to peruse. There will also be a Platinum sponsor package, which is an exclusive exhibitor spot that comes with a four-page interview in Blockchain Magazine. There will also be opportunities for sponsors to have their brands made visible to everyone attending the summit.

During the event, there will be an exciting Hackathon, where the competitors will battle against each other and win a range of exciting prizes. The Ico pitch will also see ten exciting startup companies pitch their ideas to potential investors for the chance to form a lucrative partnership that can bring their vision to life.

The end of the summit will perhaps be the most exciting part. There will be an interactive Q&A session, where the attendees can pick the brains of not only the developers, but also the speakers, investors, and sponsors. The event will feature a Blockchain Awards Ceremony where some of the most prominent thought leaders will be awarded prizes for their contributions to the industry. There will be a Crypto Cruise, where attendees will be treated to an incredible view of the Maltese coasts line. Finally, there will also be a crazy party where all the attendees are invited to join in for some fun by the Mediterranean seaside.

Where can you buy tickets?

You can buy your tickets here: https://maltablockchainsummit.com/buy-tickets

Use Coupon Code: 25MBSDCT422991 to get 25% Discount on Ticket Booking

You can find out more here:

Facebook: @MaltaBlockchain

Twitter: @BlockchainMT

Instagram: @maltablockchainsummit

Telegram: https://t.me/maltablockchainsummit

LinkedIn: @Malta Blockchain Summit

Hashtags:
#MaltaBlockchainSummit #BlockchainIsland

What is ASEAN Decentralised 2.0?

ASEAN Decentralised 2.0 By Global Blockchain Foundation 2 day programme of unrivalled content and exceptional networking opportunities, designed for the busy business leader.  Based on unrivalled content and exceptional networking opportunities, join the Summit keynote programme, hear from cutting edge enterprise case studies, deep-dive into topics with roundtable discussions and hosted networking sessions.  Connecting enterprise industry leaders, business decision makers and tech innovators. No co-located side events. A purely Blockchain and DLT focused business audience.

Where will the event take place?

ASEAN Decentralised 2.0 will take place on the 3rd and 4th September, 2018. The event will be located at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Who will be speaking?

There will be an incredible line-up of speakers at ASEAN Decentralised 2.0, including government officials and blockchain experts. 

Some of the confirmed speakers include: H. E. Shri Mridul Kumar (High Commissioner of India to Malaysia), Jason Hsu (Legislator/Congressman, Taiwan Parliament), Bruce Porter Jr. (Chairman and CEO, Globalboost), Oliver La Rosa (President, Government Blockchain Association Malta, and COO, Globiance), Stephen Chia (Regional Head SE ASIA, NEM Foundation), Malcolm Lerider (Senior RED Manager, Neo Smart Economy), Tom Menner (Director, Solution Architecture for Asia-Pacific, R3), and Krishna Ramachandra (Managing Director, Duano Morris and Selvam LLP).

You can see the full line-up of confirmed speakers HERE.

If you are interested in becoming a speaker yourself, you can sign up HERE.

Who are the sponsors?

Many of the most prominent blockchain firms in the world will be sponsoring ASEAN Decentralised 2.0, and you will be able to find them at the Project Launch Exhibition.

Some of the sponsors include: FutureCoin, QuickX, Medipedia, Imagol, GECAS World, SCALA Blockchain, Silkchain, IAGON, Virtuse Exchange, Sylo, Criptohub, ARK.IO, Momentum, TMG, ICOVO, Pegasus, Nubeva, iCyberSec, Intocial, PayX, Quantum Capital, P42 Ventures, Cognitive Social, Delta, Senno, Hexadpay, RRRC, and UbanX.

You can see the full list of confirmed sponsors HERE.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor yourself, you can sign up HERE.

Who are the media partners?

ASEAN Decentralised 2.0 will be covered by many of the most recognisable names in the cryptocurrency industry.

Among these are Coindesk, Luxuo, The Times of Crypto, Digital Notice, and Crypto Comes.

You can see the full list of media partners HERE.

Other patrons, collaborators, and parters

There is no shortage prominent companies collaborating with the Global Blockchain Foundation to make ASEAN Decentralised 2.0 even more special this year. 

Some of the patrons and partners include: Forbes, R3, New, Maersk, Neo, and Petra Venture. 

You can see the full list of patrons and partners HERE.

The Startup Competition

During ASEAN Decentralised 2.0 there will be an opportunity to participate in the event’s startup competition. The entry fee for participating is $3,500 and is only open to the first 20 applications. The winner takes home an award worth no less than $250,000. Each contestant will be given 8 minutes to pitch their startup company to the audience, and will be given a display area for the entirety of the event. The winner of the startup competition will also be given the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion. You can sign up to the competition by entering your details HERE along with a document outlining your startup project.

The ICO Pitch

Attending ASEAN Decentralised 2.0 will also give you the opportunity to pitch your very own ICO in front of an investor jury. The jury will consist of Karthik Iyer (Founder & CEO, Blockchainmonk), Krishna Ramachandra (Managing Director, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP), Henry Lee (Senior Partner, Neon Partners), Dr. Francesca Greco (Director, Astradux Capital AG, and Director & Co-Founder of X8 AG), and Abhijith Naraparaju (Director, Global Blockchain Foundation). You can register to pitch your ICO to the panel by entering your details HERE and submitting a project document outlining your ICO idea. 

How to get tickets

You can get your tickets for ASEAN Decentralised 2.0 on the Global Blockchain Foundation’s website, which you can visit HERE.

A ‘Basic’ ticket costs $100 and will give you access to the paper presentation, the keynote session, the panel discussion session, the project launch, the exhibition, the networking high tea, the fire side chat session, and the entertainment.

A ‘Standard’ ticket costs $250 and will give you access to the luncheon, the paper presentation, the keynote session, the panel discussion session, the project launch, the exhibition, the networking high tea, the fire side chat session, and the entertainment.

A ’VIP’ ticket costs $500 and will give you access to the an exclusive networking cocktail, privileged access to the visitor’s database, a single point of contact support, the luncheon, the paper presentation, the keynote session, the panel discussion session, the project launch, the exhibition, the networking high tea, the fire side chat session, and the entertainment.

Where can you find out more?

You can visit the Global Blockchain Foundation’s website to find out more about the event.

The entire concept of cryptocurrency has been seen as preposterous by the established financial elite since its conception in 2009. The critics of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been very hasty to declare it a fad, citing the market volatility, the lack of scalability, and the perceived stability of the big banks. Despite all these criticisms, Bitcoin alone has been able to facilitate over 300 million financial transactions since its creation. In addition, over 1,500 different cryptocurrencies are in circulation today — and the list just keeps growing. Although only around 3.5% of all financial transactions worldwide are made with cryptocurrencies, this is set to change in the near future.

Potential approval of a Bitcoin ETF by the SEC

The SEC is still contemplating approving an ETF for Bitcoin, and the larger community of investors in the US will most likely not make a move into the cryptocurrency territory before that happens. An approval by the SEC would further help validate and legitimize cryptocurrencies in the business world. Once it happens, and most people are certain that it will, the financial world will undoubtedly be affected by the changed cryptocurrencies are going to bring with them. The time and cost saved on financial transactions will change the banking landscape for the better. The decentralized networks, smart contracts, and secured ledgers will further help transform the industry.

Regulations will benefit the cryptocurrency industry, not harm it

Although many governments around the world, including that of the US, have already begun to implement regulations, it is still early days. Many questions regarding the regulation of the cryptocurrency market are still left unanswered, and many investors are waiting until they are. How, for example, will cryptocurrency exchanges be required to incorporate security measures that protect them from hackers and scammers? Questions like these are what need to be addressed in order to open up the doors to the world of investment awaiting cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrency transactions will be scalable

Although the number of cryptocurrency transactions being carried out at present is impressive, it is still nowhere near the scale of credit card companies. Companies like Visa and Mastercard process tens of thousands of transactions every single second. Networks like Bitcoin cannot even come close to that number at present. However, this is about to change. There are new projects in the pipeline that will address this very issue. Plasma, which will be tied to the Ethereum network, and Lightning Network, which is the corresponding Bitcoin app, will be facilitation rapid transactions that could rival those of credit card companies.

Cryptocurrency will make a move into the developing world

As with many new emerging technologies, cryptocurrency transactions are catching on even quicker in developing countries than in the west. The reason for this is that many African and South American countries are experiencing an unprecedented hyperinflation that is essentially rendering their national currency worthless. In response to this, more and more citizens of these nations are looking to cryptocurrency for solutions.

How do you think cryptocurrency will change business? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!