In a business school lecture hall at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a senior executive for Safaricom gave a prediction of decentralized finance and the future of commerce to a room of keen but confused MBA students. “You will be able to buy your first home on WhatsApp! Smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain will take care of everything and you won’t need a broker,” he said with conviction, pointing to a slide. “How will the house’s title change hands? What about the funds? Can the blockchain do escrow? What role for lawyers? How could we possibly buy something …
Today, the relationship between China and the United States is one of escalating competition. On Oct. 23, 2019, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on Libra. Zuckerberg and members of Congress had much to disagree on. One consensus that did emerge, however, was concern regarding China’s digital currency project. Zuckerberg noted: “While we debate these issues, the rest of the world isn’t waiting. China is moving quickly to launch similar ideas in the coming months.” Building on this, the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy recently discussed the need …
Chinese news program Focus Report has said that there are around 32,000 companies in China that claim to use blockchain technology. Reportedly, the real number is not even 10% of that. On Nov. 18, the predominant state television broadcaster in Mainland China, CCTV, aired an episode by Focus Report, titled “Blockchain is not a Cashchain.” The episode takes a closer look at companies who reportedly misuse the concept of blockchain technology to create business momentum and financial gains. Cracking down on illegal activity The Focus Report talked to Wu Zhen, head of the Key Laboratory of Internet Financial Security Technology …
A veteran Chinese regulator has told those tasked with steering the strategic development of Sichuan province to tap surplus hydropower for the blockchain industry. Jiang Yang — former vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission — advised strategists that: “Sichuan should study further about how the province’s cheap hydropower resources can attract digital currency-related businesses.” Yang’s remarks were noted in an Oct. 30 report from South China Morning Post. Use cryptocurrency mining to absorb excess output Sichuan, located in south-western China, has a protracted rainy season and is thus the country’s biggest producer of hydropower. In 2018 alone, the province …
The George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School National Security Institute hosted a webinar Wednesday, March 30, titled “Crypto and National Security: How to Validate American Innovation and Verify U.S. National Security.” Journalist Laura Shin moderated the discussion. CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation Sheila Warren, executive director of Coin Center Jerry Brito, and global managing partner and chief strategy officer of risk compliance and monitoring firm K2 Integrity Juan Zarate were participants. After opening comments, the first of three questions posed to the panel concerned American innovation. Brito expressed hope that crypto would be allowed to develop with …