Digital Trends

Blockchain beyond Bitcoin

Bitcoin was just the beginning: A 7-part series on how blockchain will change the world.

Everyone’s talking about bitcoin, but don’t let the cryptocurrency zeitgeist fool you. The real revolution isn’t bitcoin itself, but the technology behind it. This technology, known as blockchain, is more than a passing fad. As Harvard Business Review puts it, blockchain is a “foundational technology” that “has the potential to create new foundations for our economic and social systems.”

To help you wrap your head around why, we’re taking a deep dive into the world of blockchain. In this series, we’ll go beyond cryptocurrency and hone in on blockchain applications that could reshape medical records, voting machines, video games, and more.

Series Introduction

How blockchain will reshape the future

By Drew Prindle - Mon April 16, 2018
Problems with blockchain

It's no crypto-utopia. Blockchain has real problems to solve.

By Jon Martindale - Mon April 16, 2018
What is a blockchain?

Without blockchain, bitcoin couldn't exist. Here's how it works

By Jon Martindale - Mon February 11, 2019
Government

From the doctor to the DMV, blockchain can make governments swift and secure

By Jon Martindale - Mon April 16, 2018
Healthcare

The tech behind cryptocurrency could save lives by fixing medical records

By Jayce Wagner - Mon April 16, 2018
Online ads

The creator of Javascript is using blockchain to save the internet from ads

By Drew Prindle - Mon April 16, 2018
Global supply chains

Global supply chains are often murky, but blockchain may bring them into the light

By Will Nicol - Mon April 16, 2018
Gaming

Blockchain will turn gaming into a career, and give power to the players

By Matthew S. Smith - Mon April 16, 2018
Elections

Blockchain is coming to an election near you, but don’t expect it to be perfect

By Brad Jones - Mon April 16, 2018
Latest blockchain news
Blockchain Abstract
Computing

Microsoft is getting into Blockchain and J.P. Morgan is its first client

Microsoft Azure now includes full support for blockchain apps and services, helping businesses create smart-contract platforms and distributed ledgers to manage permissions and data access across broad consortiums.
Posted — By Jon Martindale
civic pay vending machine sxsw activation150
Emerging Tech

Age-verification tech could usher in vending machines for beer and weed

Ever dreamed of being able to get an ice-cold beer from a vending machine? One of the problems with this idea is how customers prove that they're of drinking age. One startup has the answer.
Posted — By Luke Dormehl
Bosch HBLP651LUC oven review Bosch
Smart Home

Bosch plans to harness the power of Blockchain for its next refrigerator

Bosch is teaming up with Wien Energie to create a refrigerator that runs on blockchain. The appliance will give users more control over where their power comes from and how much their fridge consumes.
Posted — By AJ Dellinger
california uses blockchain and iot to manage groundwater use feature 5
Emerging Tech

Blockchain is overhyped, but it’s also perfect for California’s drought problem

With California’s aquifers overdrawn, the state is making a push to better regulate groundwater use, and a group of researchers have an intriguing solution, combining two exciting technologies: Blockchain and the internet of things.
Posted — By Will Nicol
htc exodus news
Mobile

Short on Bitcoin? You can now buy HTC's Exodus blockchain phone with real money

HTC has released another smartphone, and this time it's geared toward blockchain technology. Known as the HTC Exodus, the smartphone is designed to support cryptocurrencies and decentralization.
Posted — By Christian de Looper
bank of england testing blockchain technology image edited
Emerging Tech

Blockchain could ensure the integrity of scientific research trials

Scientific misconduct can lead to real-world consequences when data is falsified. Now a group of researchers has proposed a way to make research data more trustworthy and less susceptible to manipulation -- by using blockchain.
Posted — By Georgina Torbet
what is a blockchain blockchainimage02
Computing

Blockchain does way more than power Bitcoin. Here's how it works

What is a blockchain? It was once merely an academic idea and today it's the backbone of the cryptographic industry, helping to send billions of dollars worth of digital assets all over the world.
Posted — By Jon Martindale
Bitcoin Mine
Computing

The first Bitcoin was born 10 years ago today. How far we’ve come

Bitcoin mining has come a long way in the 10 years since the genesis block was mined and the first back of Bitcoins came into existence. Here's a look back on that decade-long journey.
Posted — By Jon Martindale
blockchain drone ship water readings robonomics on volga
Emerging Tech

Russia goes all-in on buzzwords, builds solar-powered blockchain drone boat

A new Russian solar-powered drone boat is designed to take smart sensor readings and save them to the Ethereum blockchain. Why? To battle the effects of water pollution, of course.
Posted — By Luke Dormehl
microsoft-xiaoice
Digital Trends Live

DT Daily: PlayStation 5 rumors, Kroger food robots, and the future of A.I.

Today on DT Daily, Greg Nibler discussed noteworthy headlines from PlayStation rumors to artificial intelligence. We also sat down with Eric Lamison-White, CEO of Blockchain Development Co., to discuss his Stablecoin patent.
Posted — By Brie Barbee
Dell G3 Gaming Laptop Review | Fortnite close up
Gaming

‘Blockchain gaming’ startup gets $16 million in Series A funding

A gaming startup, Mythical Games, has raised $16 million in Series A funding to work on their concept of blockchain gaming. The aim is for the startup to develop games for the PC, console, and mobile markets.
Posted — By Georgina Torbet
Amazon Music Unlimited
Opinion

As Amazon turns up the volume on streaming, Spotify should shudder

Multiple players are all looking to capitalize on the popularity of streaming, but it has thus far proved nearly impossible to make a profit. Could major tech companies like Amazon be primed for a streaming take-over?
Posted — By Tamir Koch
what is a blockchain phone we asked an expert blockchainphone feature 1
Mobile

What’s the point of a blockchain phone? We asked an expert

If you’re curious about what a blockchain phone might be, then we have some answers for you. Join us as we ask an expert to unravel the mysteries of the blockchain and how it fits with a smartphone.
Posted — By Simon Hill
morocco wind farm blockchain soluna image 4
Emerging Tech

Giant wind farm in Morocco will help mine cryptocurrency, conserve energy

One of the windiest parts of Morocco is set to get a $2 billion wind farm power plant, which could help power eco-friendly cryptocurrency mining in a more environmentally friendly way.
Posted — By Luke Dormehl
face trade selfie vending machine vendingmachine2
Emerging Tech

Crazy vending machine swaps computer art for your permanent selfie

Coder artist Matthias Dörfelt's camera-equipped vending machine swaps unique prints of computer-generated faces for the rights to upload your selfie onto the main Ethereum blockchain.
Posted — By Luke Dormehl
top tech stories 12 08 2017 google headquarters hq
Computing

Google bets on blockchain technology with two new Google Cloud partnerships

Google will support distributed ledger technology, aka blockchain, on the Google Cloud Platform. The reveal arrives by way of the company’s announcement regarding the Google Cloud Next ’18 conference in San Francisco.
Posted — By Kevin Parrish
Sirin Labs Finney Crypto Phone
Mobile

Sirin Labs’ crypto-phone could change the way we pay

If blockchain technology, tokens, hot and cold wallets, and all the other cryptocurrency buzzwords have put you off learning about and using this fascinating technology, Sirin Labs is making the phone for you. It’s called the Finney.
Posted — By Andy Boxall
what is bitcoin
Computing

Everyone's talking about Bitcoin. Here's what it is and why it's important

What is Bitcoin? If you asked one of the recent investors who jumped on the bandwagon at the end of 2017, they might be unlikely to tell you. Here's a breakdown of what it is and why it's important.
Posted — By Jon Martindale