Russia Opens the Door to Cryptocurrencies

Another example of blockchain moving to the mainstream.  This article from Antonia Colibasanu at Geopolitical Futures gives some background to the reasons why Russia has announced that it will legalise the use of cryptocurrencies.

Letting Students Own Their Credentials

Very soon this nascent technology could securely enable registrars to help students verify credentials without the hassle of ordering copies of transcripts.

How Will Blockchain Impact HR?

Of all the emerging technologies, blockchain is the least exciting as a technology, but potentially the most impactful on society. Blockchain doesn’t converse with you, it won’t 3D print your house or cut out your kidney stones with precision while the surgeon has a cup of tea. In terms of technology, it is about as exciting as relational databases.

When you think of blockchain, you might think of Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that requires a maths degree to buy and ownership of a laptop that never crashes. Yet Bitcoin is just one of many different cryptocurrencies that uses blockchain as its core technology. And blockchain technology is also being used outside of financial services.

Read the full article from Andrew Spence on HRN Blog. 

Bitcoin: Commodity, Store of Value or Digital Currency?

Article from Vinny Lingham that looks at whether we can class Bitcoin as a commodity, a store of value or a currency, looking at the properties of each and wondering what should be the aim moving forward.

“Blockchain technology” is a buzzword with little meaning. Here’s what matters.

Article from Peter Van Valkenburgh published via CoinCenter introducing their new whitepaper, "Open Matters - Why Permissionless Blockchains are Essential to the Future of the Internet".

What is Blockchain Technology? A Step-by-Step Guide For Beginners

This article from BlockGeeks gives us decent breakdown of what blockchain is, and shares some examples of how it is currently being used and developed across a variety of markets.

The blockchain is an undeniably ingenious invention – the brainchild of a person or group of people known by the pseudonym,  Satoshi Nakamoto. But since then, it has evolved into something greater and the main question every single person is asking is: What is Blockchain?

Some Simple Economics of the Blockchain

Paper from Christian Catalini of MIT and Joshua S. Gans from University of Toronto

Abstract:
We rely on economic theory to discuss how blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies will influence the rate and direction of innovation.