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 - Apr 16, 2018
Problems with blockchain

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

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

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

By Jon Martindale - Aug 3, 2018
Government

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

By Jon Martindale - Apr 16, 2018
Healthcare

The tech behind cryptocurrency could save lives by fixing medical records

By Jayce Wagner - Apr 16, 2018
Online ads

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

By Drew Prindle - Apr 16, 2018
Global supply chains

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

By Will Nicol - Apr 16, 2018
Gaming

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

By Matthew S. Smith - Apr 16, 2018
Elections

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

By Brad Jones - Apr 16, 2018
Latest blockchain news
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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
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
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
htc u11 eyes
Mobile

HTC's blockchain phone is coming soon, and will have Cryptokitties inside

HTC has another smartphone on the horizon, and this time it's geared toward blockchain technology. Known as the HTC Exodus, the smartphone is designed to support cryptocurrencies and decentralization. Here's everything we know.
Posted — By Brenda Stolyar, 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
how mastercard is making real money more like bitcoin insecure 1
Computing

Why Mastercard is ripping a page from Bitcoin’s book

Mastercard's new blockchain patent seeks to put an end to credit card skimmers and make money safer. Regardless of what you think of cryptocurrency, the largest financial institutions are transforming real money to become more like it every…
Posted — By Luke Larsen
blockchain problems how to solve issues with the latest vogue tech topshot canada economy computer mining bitcoins
Computing

Hackers prove how powerful computers can cheat Bitcoin and blockchain

The cryptocurrency ZenCash became the latest victim in a trend of 51 percent attacks which have lead to the theft of thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency, raising questions about the security of certain blockchains.
Posted — By Jon Martindale
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Outdoors

This website lets you earn cryptocurrency by picking World Cup winners

Cryptocup gives players an opportunity to earn cryptocurrency by predicting the outcome of all of the games in the 2018 World Cup tournament, with the tokens gaining value throughout and the top 10 percent splitting the pot.
Posted — By Kraig Becker
tech trends 30 years from now questionable bitcoin
Emerging Tech

A German bank is using Bitcoin to handle international loans

A German bank is now using Bitcoin to help speed up international loans while keeping costs low. Bitbond was founded in 2013 and became an officially licensed bank in 2016, It currently manages $1 million each month.
Posted — By Eric Brackett
Kodak Ektra
Photography

KodakOne uses blockchain and web crawlers to spot stolen images

Kodak licensee Wenn Digital is using blockchain to create a registry of images called KodakOne and cryptocurrency to pay photographers. KodakOne is slated to arrive later, but the cryptocurrency KodakCoin launches on May 21.
Posted — By Hillary Grigonis
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Social Media

Facebook confirms it’s making a big move with many of its executives

Facebook's leadership structure looks a bit different now but even users that don't care about the who's who of Facebook could see the effects as the company creates teams for privacy tools and blockchain technology.
Posted — By Hillary Grigonis
volition card game blockchain technology ccg feat
Computing

Volition is a blockchain-powered collectible card game that you print at home

Volition is a collectible card game that's built on blockchain technology, bridging the digital and analog worlds to create a new type of tabletop experience that players can print themselves.
Posted — By Jon Martindale
Fallout 4
Gaming

Games from Space lets you loan your GPU to earn free games

Games from Space is a new PC gaming service that allows users to loan the power of their GPU to earn free digital games. The selection of titles includes newer releases like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
Posted — By Gabe Gurwin
what is sweatcoin sweat coin lifestyle image
Health & Fitness

What is Sweatcoin and how does it work?

Whether you’re seeking motivation or you’re a fitness buff who wants kickbacks for working out, Sweatcoin is a great way to earn rewards for staying active. But what is Sweatcoin exactly? We've broken down all the frequently asked…
Posted — By Rachel Cavanaugh
top tech stories bitcoin cash split
Computing

Miner One takes Bitcoin mining to new heights with space mission

Miner One sent its cryptocurrency mining rig to new heights. The Space Miner One rig used a helium balloon to launch into space to mine for bitcoin in a publicity stunt for an ICO launch.
Posted — By Chuong Nguyen
bank of england testing blockchain technology image edited
Computing

Blockchain-based GLN hopes to challenge Steam and Apple gaming platforms

Steam has many rivals, and now a block-chain based start-up is hoping to provide an alternative platform for independent game developers to fund, develop, and sell their passion projects.
Posted — By Eric Brackett