The Token Economy: When Money Becomes Programmable

Webinar Overview

Author: Michael J. Casey
Release Date: September 28, 2017

Abstract:

A new phenomenon—initial coin offerings—enabled through blockchain technology is upending basic tenets of twentieth-century capitalism. This project frames the opportunity in terms of addressing the tragedy of the commons. He studies the development and ramification of the emerging token economy and walks through the landscape of token types. He previews the economic effects of digital scarcity, tokens as powerful incentives, and the legal and policy ramifications for securities law and property rights.

Related Content

Non-Fungible Tokens – Part II: An Enterprise View of Programmable Digital Assets

In recent months, popularity of non-fungible tokens has soared again, at a new level of maturity in tools, infrastructure, and proven use cases. These advances have catalyzed the interest of enterprise leaders seeking to understand the value of NFTs in their businesses. This project focuses on what companies should know about this fledgling industry for unique digital assets. NFTs present opportunities to tokenize intellectual property, reputation, conversations, tangible assets, and new ways to engage customers, employees, and communities. From social media and online gaming to enterprise software and physical goods, organizations should find use cases worth pursuing.

Read More

Cosmos and Polkadot for the Enterprise

This project explores one of the most critical implementation challenges of blockchain technologies: interoperability. Enterprise uses are reluctant to tokenize their assets or invest seriously in decentralized finance and digital asset management capabilities without assurances that they will be able to move these assets across blockchain platforms. What if chosen platforms fail? What if better platforms emerge? Some of the best minds in the space are addressing these issues head on with a range of innovative solutions. This project features two of them: Cosmos and Polkadot. It looks at their origins and ethos, architecture and core technology components (including the role of their native tokens ATOM and DOT), consensus and governance, and the applications already using them. Finally, the author reviews what enterprise decision-makers need to know as they weigh their options.

Read More