Sorting through the hype

Reports from Construct - Abu Dhabi bank blockchain - Bundesbank details blockchain trial - How the FBI tracks ransomware criminals - Cambridge Blockchain funding  View this email in your browser February 1st, 2017 "The electric light did not come from the continuous improvement of candles." – Oren Harari Got this from a friend? SUBSCRIBE HERE Our inaugural Construct conference brought together key contributors to all the major public and private blockchains. They discussed divisions, unifying factors, and respective roadmaps of the growing ecosystems, and deliberated issues that were both technical and conceptual.   One of the more notable talks was given by Greg Maxwell, a long-standing bitcoin developer. On the morning of Day 2, he took the stage to address what he sees as fundamental misconceptions of the bitcoin vs blockchain debate.   He raised the possibility that strong blockchains might not be able to exist without bitcoin, since the underlying innovation would not the same without an incentive.   He also acknowledged that certain elements of bitcoin are not ideal for networks of trusted parties, but questioned the premise that even in private networks, all parties can be trusted.   On the fundamental issue of the definition of bitcoin, Maxwell believes that it is both a cryptographic protocol and a type of money, and that, at scale, it will reveal what kind of money people prefer.   Read the whole story Tweet Share WHAT DO YOU THINK? Will blockchain disrupt venture capital? Is the lack of legal framework a barrier? Do you think ICOs are safe? We would really appreciate your feedback for our forthcoming State of Blockchain 2016 report. 🎉 TAKE THE SURVEY 🎉 Wait, there's more: Life After SegWit? Bitcoin Gridlock Takes the Stage *Construct 2017*:  At our inaugural Construct conference in San Francisco, talks onstage and off revolved around the potential advantages of Segwit. Apart from the boost to bitcoin's transaction capacity, backers say it's the key to other technical improvements such as Lightning payment channels. Although political considerations seem to be holding Segwit back, the community appears to believe that activation will happen, possibly soon. Read more. R3 Director: 2017 is the Year of the DLT Pilot *Construct 2017*: Clemens Wan, associate director of R3, believes that DLTs still need broader buy-in from enterprises to achieve a strong network effect. He compared R3's Corda to Xbox Live to highlight the importance of the ecosystem and the connectivity. He also commented on R3's transition from a membership laboratory to a services platform, and acknowledged that rather than a blockchain, Corda is "blockchain inspired". Read more. A New Version of OpenBazaar is Just Months Away *Construct 2017*: CEO Brian Hoffman presented plans for OpenBazaar 2.0, including a roadmap and new features. One of the top priorities, he said, is improving the search function, which is a particular challenge for decentralized networks. Hoffman also touched on the slow adoption of bitcoin, saying that he believes we are 3-5 years away from seeing that change. Read more. Abu Dhabi Bank Partners with Ripple for Cross-Border Payments The National Bank of Abu Dhabi, one of the largest in the UAE, is the first of its kind within the Middle East to offer a service based on distributed ledger tech. Read more. Germany's Central Bank Details Blockchain Trading Test Results The securities trading trial, which was carried out last year, used blockchain as a means for exchanging digitized assets. According to Bundesbank executive board member Carl-Ludwig Thiele, the system "works", but needs refinement before commercial use. Read more.   To Catch a Bitcoin Ransomer: Inside the FBI's Cyber-Investigation Process At a recent talk at Fordham University, FBI special agent Joseph Battaglia gave a glimpse of the detailed work involved in tracking down bitcoin ransomers. He also discussed the relationships, both domestic and international, that the agency has developed with other institutions and sectors to help it in its quest. Read more. Identity Startup Cambridge Blockchain Finishes $2 Million Fundraise In conversation with CoinDesk, CEO Matthew Commons discussed the firm's plans to use the funding for ongoing pilots, mainly aimed at helping financial institutions meet compliance requirements by simplifying the KYC process. Read more. NH Legislators Seek Money Transmission Exemption for Bitcoin Startups The New Hampshire bill also seeks to add a formal definition for "virtual currency" to the state's laws, although it does not specify which activities would be covered by the exemption. Read more.   Go to CoinDesk BTC: $968.24 +1.4%  ETH: $10.59 +0.1% @10:00 EST - More price details JOB LISTINGS GENESIS TRADING - Sales Marketing Associate The Sales and Marketing Associate is a sales-support position, responsible for identifying and contacting prospects, with the expectation of bringing revenue-producing clients into Genesis' digital currency business lines. More info. GENESIS TRADING - Research Associate The Research Associate will support the continued growth and expansion of the business, and will proactively assess new market opportunities and products within the digital currency space. More info. PRESS RELEASES   30, Jan - Press Release: CoinDesk Acquires Lawnmower, Accelerating Growth in Research Offerings 25, Jan - Press Release: Bitcoin Faucets become the new entry points for Bitcoin in developing countries 25, Jan - Press Release: Wall Street Blockchain Alliance Adds OTC Exchange Network as Corporate Member Hi there! Notice that we have introduced a new section: JOB LISTINGS. We're just getting started, but maybe you'll find your dream job there. If you're looking for talent, why not let our dedicated audience know? For more info, send us an email, or just reply to this one. Copyright © 2017 CoinDesk, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you subscribed for updates on our website. 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