Enterprise Blockchain Newsletter #12
Blockchain pizza, IMF talking about stablecoins, Bakkt processes and QLDB
Despite descending cryptocurrency prices, the enterprise blockchain space is moving in an upward direction. The technology space is experiencing a full-blown bull market. A lot is happening, and here I will discuss the latest notable blockchain releases.
Gartner blockchain hype
Gartner is always good at producing these curve cycles. Sometimes, Gartner misses the point or is simply guessing what to put where; nevertheless, Gartner is good at producing presentation-worthy materials which we can all use.
DLTs will help with trade finance securitization
Everybody loves a good pizza and now we have the best of both worlds: pizza and blockchain! Great content from Vipin putting it all together showing the great number of trade finance and supply chain projects that exists.
https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pizza-Graph.pdf
Bakkt process details
Bakkt launched last week and is off to a good start with a small volume of trading activity. However, that’s the least important part. What matters most is the infrastructure and the institutional capabilities they Bakkt has built. Here is a good overview of the current futures process, as well as of how CFTC, SROs, and the New York State Department of Financial Services fit into the overall picture.
https://www.bakkt.com/publicdocs/Bakkt_Bitcoin_Futures_Workflow.pdf
Amazon AWS announces the general availability of Amazon Quantum Ledger Database (QLDB)
I probably should have started with this one. Amazon QLDB is a ledger-based append-only database. Think about it as a blockchain without the blocks and smart contracts. So, what do you have left? A centralized database that runs on a highly scalable and professionally managed AWS server that is also immutable. Realistically, not many projects will need decentralization, smart contracts, and private consortia – and that is why Amazon QLDB exists. I am already seeing demand for this and receiving calls from recruiters asking if I know someone who has QLDB experience.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190910006041/en/
IMF Stablecoins
The International Monetary Fund – or “the Fund,” as everybody knows it – is thinking seriously about central bank digital currencies and stablecoins. Yes, the fund that has $1 trillion in resources has just posted two articles in a week about stablecoins and CBDCs. One might ask: “Biser, why did they do that?” The answer is simple: because it just makes sense! Check out the articles here:
https://blogs.imf.org/2019/09/26/from-stablecoins-to-central-bank-digital-currencies/
https://blogs.imf.org/2019/09/19/digital-currencies-the-rise-of-stablecoins/
Ethereum Enterprise
Last but not least, the updated Ethereum.org website just got a new “Enterprise” section that lists interesting and useful resources and guides. Worth checking: