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Copyright: © Richard Jacobs
"There are very few proof of stake currencies… people like to stick with what they know," says Douglas Pike. But just three years ago, Pike decided to venture into this lesser explored area of crypto technology, becoming the co-creator and lead developer of VeriCoin- a proof of stake (PoS) currency that distinguishes itself from other PoS currencies in a number of ways. "We wanted to take the proof of stake model that existed and improve upon it and build the foundation for a currency that was decentralized, but also basically costless," says Pike. Aside from affordability, VeriCoin promises significantly faster transactions times. How? By developing a consensus pairing between VeriCoin and Verium (a digital reserve), they created the first every dual blockchain system that combines a proof of stake chain with a proof of work chain. They call it Binary Chain, and you can expect to be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months. Tune in to hear Pike's in-depth explanation of these topics and more. Pike also discusses: * The most important distinctions between proof of stake and proof of work, as well as how the combination of the two makes Binary Chain so effective as a solution for slow transaction rates and scalability. * VeriCoin's staking parameters, network parameters and the size of the VeriCoin network * The decentralization/democratization of mining
Piracy is a huge problem for TV networks, cable, and satellite providers, and Verimatrix provides scramblers, descramblers, and other encryption methods to ensure that paid content is communicated to subscribers only. Verimatrix also provides security for IOT devices. Many of these devices are rushed to be put on the market, or their developers and manufacturers simply do not place a premium on the need for security. Using blockchain technology, devices can create an identity, which can become trusted through cryptosecurity methods such as shared secrets or issue certificates. They believe that the first IOT devices to get these security measures will be the devices that need them most, such as door locks and surveillance cameras, and will spread to all other types of devices afterwards. For more information, visit www.verimatrix.com.
Richard Jacobs didn't start out as a Bitcoin industry insider–instead, he realized that during the stress and unhappiness of the 2016 election season, reading and learning about cryptocurrency and blockchain fascinated him, and ultimately made him happy. In order to learn more about the industry, he began Future Tech Podcast. Since his first interview with Mate Tokay of Bitcoin.com, he has interviewed more than 200 industry insiders, from all corners of cryptospace–miners, hodlers, whales, crypto enthusiasts, founders of blockchain companies, venture capitalists, and much more. This gave Ricahrd a unique, bird's eye view of the crypto industry. Intended both for curious newcomers and experienced veterans, Richard's book "Bitcoin, Ethereum, Alt Coins, and Blockchain: Surprising Insights from 200+ Interviews with Industry Insiders" provides an overview of many advances in cryptospace, as well as reference pages for each company mentioned. Ultimately, his book is a way to both educate those who are interested in learning more, as well as to thank those who have helped him get where he is today. Don't forget to check out the Bitcoin, Ethereum & Blockchain Superconference, Dallas, Texas, Feb 16-18. Go to www.bitcoinsuperconference.com to register or get on the free notification list.
Turning your ideas into something tangible–that's the goal of the consultants at SetDev. Specializing in assisting companies in the cryptocurrency space, machine learning, Facebook's React framework, and virtual reality fields, SetDev has helped many companies be able to offer tangible products, including an intelligent fashion feedback app, a blockchain application designed to keep elected officials accountable to their constituents, and the monetization of a music streaming service. LaFarga also offers some thoughts on the tech skills that companies and individuals should know, and some advice on how to decide which cryptotokens and ICOs to invest in. For more information, or to work on an idea with SetDev, visit www.setdev.io.
"At the end of the day, it's about getting corruption out of our public ledgers, and those public ledgers are both voting and budgets… by putting the voting and these budgets on blockchains, we remove the corruption. And now that's going to reflect the will of the people," says Herb Stephens, explaining the ultimate aim of Democracy Earth. As president of the company, Stephens elaborates on the ways in which a blockchain-based online voting system would bring an unprecedented level of transparency, accessibility, and understanding to the democratic process. As it stands, elections and polls across the globe are vulnerable to manipulation, limited by the binary choice of a "yes" or "no" vote, and reflective only of those who can cast their opinions at a polling station. "Liquid democracy opens up possibilities, so we can think of different forms of democracy operating over time," says Stephens. "Right now we have liquid democracy, but it's frozen." Stephens also discusses: * His skepticism regarding successful adoption by the U.S., and why there is resistance to the level of transparency that Democracy Earth makes possible. * The meaning behind the term "decision laundering" and how it can be prevented through the use of blockchains. * The new Democracy Earth token called "vote" and the upcoming, first of its kind Initial Rights Offering (IRO). * Examples of top-down and bottom-up use cases.
It's brand new, but it's already growing: the Redwood Digital Group Fund (RDG Fund) is a cryptocurrency fund that operates in several areas, including crypto lending, algorithmic trading and indexing. Any accredited investor interested in blockchain-based tokens can choose to invest in the RDG Fund, which has already attracted a wide variety of investors. We're "continually building systems… and looking to organize data…in a way that makes sense, that's actionable, and that develops actionable insights," says Yerger. In addition, the RDG Fund emphasizes the importance and benefits of indexing, viewing it as "a very, very powerful vehicle, that if done properly, can increase your exposure and reduce your risk." Press play to learn more about this budding fund. Yerger also discusses: The reason for using algorithms instead of human traders, and the role of human intervention in trading The type of investors interested in (and targeted by) the RDG Fund Future plans for the RDG Fund, including expansion and the creation of the company's first website
There is a great disconnect between the way that we shop for items, and the way that we purchase items–most people will shop for items online, but 9/10 purchases are made in a physical store. Problems that customers can run into include different pricing between online and stores, special offers available in one place but not the other, and more. Through Cardlinx's mobile app, consumers can connect rewards programs and loyalty cards to a payment card, and automatically receive available promotions when making purchases with that card or digital wallet. Cardlinx also assists other collaborations between the different areas of commerce in order to create a seamless experience for consumers. In the future, consumers will be able to order and re-order items through AI virtual assistance, and receive contextual offers based on location and previous purchasing history. For more information, visit www.cardlinx.org.
In order to capture the growing Chinese market for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, Bixin has created one of the first currency multiple-signature wallets and exchanges based in China. Users are able to purchase Bitcoin and Bitcoin cash with RMB, through either an Android or iOS app, or through their online platform. Bixin currently offers their website in Chinese, English, and Japanese, with a Spanish translation coming soon and possibly a Korean translation down the road. Bixin is also a social media platform, where users can add each other as friends, connect to their Wechat accounts, and more. For more information, visit im.bixin.com.
NYIAX, a forwards advertising contracts exchange, which was developed in conjunction with NASDAQ, combines the two main methods of purchasing advertising content–direct, old fashioned contracts between two parties and a real-time bidding environment. Like the more traditional way of buying and selling advertising space, the buyer and the advertiser come to an agreement on the specifics of a proposal, using blockchain as their core ledger. However, if one party is no longer able to meet the requirements of the contract, it can be traded or re-sold to someone else. This allows companies to only pay for the advertising that they use, and for advertising firms to be able to guarantee their revenue streams. NYIAX has received much positive feedback, and plan to go live in October. For more information, visit www.nyiax.com.
Most online marketplaces, such as Amazon, Etsy, and Ebay, are operated by large companies. Because of this, these platforms charge sellers fees to advertise their products, collect information about sellers and buyers, and censor the products available to shoppers–Amazon, for example, doesn't sell Google Chromecast, a direct competitor to Amazon's Firestick. Open Bazaar is a decentralized, peer-to-peer online marketplace app, meaning that e-commerce can happen without fees, data collection, or product censorship. Additionally, because product inventory can be re-seeded through multiple users, sales can occur even when the seller is offline. A built-in bitcoin wallet allows for purchases to be paid with cryptocurrency or fiat. To learn more, open up a store, or get involved in their version 2.0 beta testing, visit www.openbazaar.org
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