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What may we expect for blockchain and the crypto markets in 2020?

2019 has almost come to an end and we can safely say that this was a remarkable year for blockchain technology. A lot of things, some unexpected, happened. But now it is time to bring our attention to the New Year 2020. Just like last year, and the year before, we try to predict what awaits the blockchain industry. So, let’s look at what does 2020...

30 December 2019 Blockchain Observations

Best wishes for 2020

19 December 2019 Blockchain Observations

Blockchain: the Ten Commandments for CIOs

In my last blog about Gartner and Blockchain I mentioned the importance of the role of CIOs. They are supposed to play a leading role in determining if this technology could be of use for their business. Great question is: are CIOs already prepared for that role. In this blog I will sum up ten commandments for them that should be prerequisites for...

17 October 2019 Blockchain Observations

Gartner and Blockchain: the Good, the Bad and the ....

Last year Gartner, the high-standard research institute, painted a rather realistic scenario for blockchain. In one of its research papers, Gartner stated that its latest technology hype cycle puts blockchain beyond the peak of expectations and is currently sliding down towards the trough of disillusionment stage. They estimated a 5-10 year times...

27 September 2019 Blockchain Observations

Using Blockchain for Legal Entity Identifiers or LEIs

In one of its reports, GLEIF, the Swiss-based organisation which coordinates the management of the global Legal Identity Identifier (LEI-) system, suggested to use blockchain technology for identifying financial legal entities, as that would not only improve transparency and security but may also lead to broader global acceptance of the LEI. This ...

09 September 2019 Blockchain Observations

CSDs have a role to play in a blockchain environment

There is a broad consensus amongst the post-trade industry that blockchain technology will revolutionise the securities post-trade world and could radically change how assets are maintained and stored by custodians and central securities depositories (CSDs). Blockchain technology may enable real-time settlement finality in the securities world. Thi...

06 August 2019 Blockchain Observations

Towards a central bank digital currency: retail versus wholesale

Since Facebook announced its plans to come up with their own digital currency named Libra, a heated debate has risen about whether central banks should issue their own digital currency. Central banks worldwide have expressed their worries about Facebook’s plan. According to them the prospect of a tech firm (and may be also others in the future) wi...

26 July 2019 Blockchain Observations

Facebook and Libra: the new global currency?

Since Facebook announced to launch a new digital currency, the Libra, a complete media craze arose. The one blogger stumbled as it were over the other. And while the one group sings hosanna over this initiative (a salvation for the bankless), warning signals come especially from the supervisors and regulators part (time bomb under the global money...

01 July 2019 Blockchain Observations

Blockchain: A game-changer for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises?

In many countries Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbones of their economy. Their role is crucial to worldwide economic and social developments, with more than half of the overall world population working in such companies. In the Netherlands for instance, more than 90% of the Dutch companies are SMEs and together they produce ...

18 June 2019 Blockchain Observations

Blockchain-as-a-Service: the accelerator for blockchain adoption

Blockchain technology has attracted growing interest from various businesses from large corporates to SMEs. But a large scale adoption by corporates and others has long time been hindered by the lack of options. But that is changing. When interacting with the blockchain they have now two options. They can either set up their node directly, thereby ...

30 May 2019 Blockchain Observations