Journey to Blockchain: A Non-Technologist’s Guide to the Internet of Value

Report Overview

Author: Hilary Carter
Release Date: November 28, 2019

Abstract:

Written in a conversational style, this guide is aimed at people new to blockchain technology and interested in boosting their careers or identifying business opportunities for themselves or their organizations. It unpacks confusing blockchain jargon with lots of examples, and it covers what every professional needs to know about this area of innovation. Its appendix provides a range of activities for learning more and developing hands-on experience with the technology. The author’s goal is to help readers understand the role of blockchain as a disruptive force in their industries, their organizations, and their careers.

Related Content

Coopetition in Global Commerce

This research project explores coopetition as a strategy for realizing the potential of Web3 technologies in global commerce. The author starts by recounting FedEx’s own blockchain use case and lessons learned, then describes how coopetition has advanced standards and best practices in the rail, airline, and automotive industries through such groups as the Associate of American Railroad, the International Air Transport Association, and the Global Express Association. He discusses coopetition through industry- and platform-oriented consortia, including the Global Blockchain Business Council and the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance. Finally, he walks through the challenges of permissioned enterprise blockchains (e.g., B3i, TradeLens, and we.trade) and entrenched corporate cultures as well as the benefits of open innovation such as interoperability, transparency, and risk mitigation. Throughout, the author keeps the enterprise executive’s questions and concerns front and center. It is great read for the C-suite.

Read More

State of Enterprise Blockchain: A Mid-Year Review

This project reports on the state of the enterprise blockchain space. It begins with commentary on the state of the world writ large—from the pandemic’s effects on the economy and the global need for vaccinations to the K-shaped recovery and the consequences of helicopter money (e.g., inflation). It covers a series of developments relevant to enterprise users: the price volatility of cryptocurrencies, the shortcomings of consensus mechanisms for enterprise needs, the growth of stablecoins, the status of tokenless blockchains and blockchain-as-a-service offerings, and the latest on central bank digital currencies (e.g., China’s digital currency electronic payment initiative). It concludes with a summary of implementation challenges that enterprise applications must overcome to gain traction. It’s time for blockchain innovators to address enterprise leaders’ tough questions about use cases, regulation, criminal usage, and environmental harm.

Read More
Blockchain Research Institute™ Europe