Blockchain Won't Save the World

Josiah's race to be first to sell 'phygital' opal stones in the Metaverse was recently filmed by the Discovery Channel, and now you can hear his story on the Blockchain Won't Save the World podcast...

If you're looking for innovative examples of Web3 and the Metaverse, you're going to love this!

During their TV series, Josiah and his partner Lisa become the first small-scale mining company to run 100% on renewable energy, leading other mining companies in becoming carbon neutral and selling phygital Opals in virtual store in the metaverse.

During this show, we discuss:
- What does it take to mine opal sustainably?
- How does Blockchain and the Metaverse enhance the buying or selling experience of opal?
- What have the DeStore team learned so-far about the challenges of launching phygital assets?
- What guidance would you give to others looking to set up a business in the Metaverse?

Josiah's is a super interesting story, and you don't often hear about the link between Australian opal and the Metaverse. Also check out their TV show 'Outback Opal Hunters' coming to Discovery in your country soon...

“The Metaverse is Bullshit if you don’t solve a problem”... This and much more from some very knowledgeable experts who are building real Metaverse propositions today, as well as a closer look at legal, accessibility and diversity considerations for how we may spend our digital lives in future...

We LOVE a roast on Blockchain Won't Save the World, and this just may be our best roast yet!

I'm joined by Rutger van Zuidam (Odyssey Momentum), Keir Finlow-Bates (Orthoverse.io, Blockchain Wizard), Irina Heaver (Lawyer and Blockchain VC), Mauricio Magaldi (11:FS, BlockDrops) and newcomer Giselle Mota (NFTY Collective) who share their thoughts on:

- What is the Metaverse (and what it should not be)?

- What does it take to build a Metaverse?

- What advice would you give to others starting out in the Metaverse?

- How should we think about accessibility, diversity and inclusion in the Metaverse?

- What are the worst Metaverse initiatives you've seen, and why?

- Why we don't need pockets and roofs in the Metaverse, and

- Skeuomorphism. Lots of skeuomorphism...

I promise, but the end of this episode you will look at the Metaverse, and the concept of digital virtual collaboration in a whole different light.

It's been one hell of a season, and this is the perfect way to bring it to a close. Thanks to every single listener and guest who have made the Blockchain Won't Save the World Podcast so successful, and who have brought our amazing community together over the past few years.

Students from the University of Auckland share what excites and scares them about some of the most well-known Blockchain platforms, including Cardano, Monax and 'Digital Street' Property Management. We also dive into some thoughtful discussion on decentralised governance, grants and treasuries, DAOs (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations) and who would be crazy enough to apply Blockchain in some of the least digitally mature industries in the world (Construction, Legal, Property). 

Huge shout to Troy Egan, Abhinaw Sai and Mina Cu for the excellent preparation and fascinating insights from some of their own projects, and to Alex Sims from the University of Auckland for bringing us all together.  

We’re doing a playback of the 10 most interesting things we learned about Blockchain technology from Season 2 of Blockchain Won't Save the World. We’ve been to Canada, Brazil, The Netherlands, Germany, Malta, Israel, India, The UAE, Japan, Singapore and Australia; as well as launching the popular ‘Students React’ show, so there's a ton of great content to choose from.

It was hard to pick the 10 best moments, but in the end we landed on the following:

- The first ever digital currency: invented in 1934 (Switzerland, Efi Pylarinou)

- How some countries are more decentralised than others (Germany, Katharina Gehra)

- How to create a thriving Blockchain ecosystem (Netherlands, Marloes Pomp)

- How Blockchain and Open Source is driving economic empowerment (India, Richa Joshi)

- How Blockchain supports the bottom of the economic pyramid (Brazil, Isaque Eberhardt)

- The challenges of launching a Blockchain business in a regulated country (Malta, Dave Pulis)

- How not to regulate-away your entire Blockchain community (Canada, Don Tapscott)

- The important role of Blockchain accelerators (Singapore, Ming Ng)

- Enterprise Blockchains are not dead (Japan, Norbert Gehrke)

- Diversity and inclusion have a chance with Blockchain technology (Akshata Namjoshi)

Thanks to all of my guests from an amazing and inspiring second season of BWSTW. If you want to hear more from any of these speakers, check back on some of the earlier episode from this Season, or from Season 1. And watch out for an explosive Season 2 Finale, coming next month!...

You guessed it... We're doing another Roast!...

It's the last destination of Season 2 before a very special 'Finale' episode, and where better to go than the country that many credit for being the birthplace of the Blockchain movement: Canada... Yes, Canada... Canada has had a surprisingly significant influence from the original Bitcoin white paper, to the founding of Ethereum, Crypto Kitties, the Blockchain Research Institute and much more...

While Canadians are famously modest about their achievements, I'm going to do my civic duty and shine a light on the impressive Blockchain projects, the people and associations behind the rise of Blockchain in Canada. This might just be the most enlightening show we've ever produced, and we've got a VERY special guest speaker for this episode's Bonus Round!

We include speakers from leading Blockchain organisations like Stellar, Shyft, Linux Foundation, Hut 8 Mining, Shopify, Guild One, Veritree, Deloitte, MHH Technology Group, Blockchain Supply Chain Association and Global University Systems; as well as leading academic institutions like ICTC, George Brown College, and the University of British Columbia... Oh, and a rather significant guest speaker...

A veteran of 7 MILLION Ted Talk views, author of the most-read book on Blockchain, and founder of the Blockchain Research Institute: it's the legendary Don Tapscott! Do not miss the chance to hear the great man's take on the good and the bad of Blockchain in Canada, and what more is needed to scale Blockchain technology in Canada and around the world.

Shout out to my other guests: Alexis Pappas, Amy Ter Haar, Derrick Emsley, Emma Todd, Erik Valiquette, George Petrovic, Hilary Carter, Jaime Leverton, Janine Moir, John S. Lee, Joseph Weinberg, Louisa Bai, Marc Lijour, and Vicki Lemieux.

Australia has been a latecomer to Blockchain, Crypto and Web3, but that may be about to change... We get an exclusive interview with Steve Vallas, CEO of Blockchain Australia, right at the close of Australia Blockchain Week 2022. Steve explains why the mood has never been more positive around Blockchain; why the government is taking Crypto seriously; and why, after a talent exodus, Aussie Blockchainers are beginning to return home.

In this episode we cover:

- The highlights of the largest and most successful Australia Blockchain Week ever (250 speakers, 4 cities, all sectors)

- Australia's Blockchain and Crypto community

- Why government interest and conversations about Blockchain are '10x-ing' in Australia

- Australia's first Blockchain unicorn

- What a forward-looking regulatory regime in Australia could look like (including recognition of DAOs)

- The state of Blockchain talent and diversity in Australia

Check out more about Australia Blockchain Week here: www.blockchainweek.com.au

Check out Blockchain Australia here: https://blockchainaustralia.org

Want to learn about the opportunities and challenges of working with Blockchain technology in Africa? We hear first hand from students looking into applying Blockchain for anti-counterfeit medicines, food traceability, and voting. We also hear some fascinating insights into how African countries are applying unique physical security methods to provide security, authenticity and prevent fraud.

Students from Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda share what excites and scares them about some of the most well-known Blockchain use cases, including PharmaLedger, BitCerts, IBM Food Trust and BallotChain (eVoting). Huge shout to Clare, Faith, Joseph, Ridwan (and Kayode our coordinator) for the fascinating insights and local anecdotes from working with technology in Africa.

At one time, Japan was the largest Bitcoin trading nation in the world. After tragic hacks to Mt. Gox and CoinCheck exchanges everything changed. Regulations came in, Blockchain talent deserted, while large enterprises continued to research DLT use cases. Can the recent excitement around NFTs, DeFi and DAOs rejuvenate this once proud crypto nation?...

There remains a lot for us to learn from the Blockchain community in Japan: it's powerful and far-reaching Blockchain Associations, expertise in CBDCs, 80-strong consortium focused on digital assets, the Digital Yen stablecoin that is accepted for tax payments in certain prefectures, and some inspiring grass roots projects such as Astar network and a plethora of new entrants to the NFT space that could already be considered 'mass adoption'.

This is both a sad and inspiring story, with much to learn for anyone working in Blockchain around the world...

Shout to my amazing guests: Aya Walraven (Mercari), Norbert Gehrke (Tokyo Fintech), Ken Kawai, (Anderson, Mori & Tomotsune), So Saito (So & Sato), Marisa Yoshikawa McKnight (Liquid), Tamara Soykina (Far East Blockchain), Ryu Takaki (IBM), Mamoru Fujimoto (SBI R3), Kazumasa Miyazawa (Soramitsu), Kohei Kurihara (Privacy By Design Lab), Toshi Matsuda (FDFA) and Mario Larangeira (Tokyo Institute of Technology) 

The UAE is the hottest nation in Blockchain right now! We cover everything from government, enterprise, crypto, legal, tax and how to the UAE plans to attract 1,000 developers a month...

The federal government and the c.50 free zones within the UAE are all competing to bring Blockchain, Digital Assets and Crypto innovation to the region. From aggressive national strategies, to incentivising and investing in start-ups, and forming collaborations with some of the biggest players in Blockchain, the UAE is more than just a tax haven for Crypto OGs.

Featuring guests from the Dubai Blockchain Centre, Dubai Future Foundation, DMCC, Tezos Foundation, CV VC, du, Etisalat, IBM, Biconomy, Karm Legal, Keystone Law, Abed Group, WoM Protocol and much more...

Whether you're into enterprise Blockchain or Web 3 and DeFi, this episode has something for everyone, as well as deep dives on the attraction of Free Zones, why start-ups pay hundreds of thousands of dollars on tax and legal advice, and bilateral government projects with Blockchain.

Shout to my amazing guests, including: Marwan Alzarouni (Dubai Blockchain Centre), H.E. Gabriel Abed (Ambassador of Barbados to the UAE), Faisal Al Hawi (Dubai Future Foundation), Fatma Elsafty (du), James Bernard (DMCC), Irina Heaver (Keystone Law), Anthony Butler (IBM), Hubert Thonhauser (Tezos Foundation), Lara Abdulmalak (Unlock Blockchain), Alexia Hefti (Abed Group), Jorge Carrasco (Etisalat), Oliver von Wolff (CV Labs / CV VC), Akshata Namjoshi (Karm Legal), Melanie Mohr (WoM Protocol), Maria Vovchok (World of Web3 Summit), Ahmed Al-Balaghi (Biconomy)

Do not miss this episode! Some of the most inspiring, insightful and rich guidance of any podcast I've recorded to-date. 16 of Switzerland's Blockchain Elite talk about the surprisingly long history (as far back as 1934!) of Blockchain, digital currency, start-ups and associations that have put Switzerland in the Top 3 Blockchain nations worldwide. We talk about early Bitcoin developments, establishing foundations like Ethereum, Tezos and Libra, how to found successful start-ups, the venture capital scene, why Blockchain may not be the death of banks, and a healthy amount of Crypto as well!...

In this episode we cover:

- The history of Blockchain and Digital Currency in Switzerland from 1934 to 2009 to the present day

- Why decentralisation is in Switzerland's DNA, and the focus of different regions when it comes to Blockchain 

- The many and varied Blockchain associations, and how they co-exist in harmony 

- The make-up of the Swiss Blockchain community, from gritty start-ups to glamorous events, retreats and parties

- A huge range of use cases, including: Nestle, Wisekey, SEBA Bank, Sygnum, Komgo, FGX, Minespider, Liquity, DFINITY, Smart Valor, 21 Shares, Swisscom Blockchain, the World Trade Organisation, Crypto Finance, Adresta, CV VC and many more...

- A special bonus segment on Blockchain in the Luxury Watch industry

- How Swiss universities are applying Blockchain principles and open sourcing their courses

- Diversity and inclusion in Blockchain, and

- What more is needed to scale Digital Assets, Crypto, how to grow Blockchain start-ups and ecosystems, and the industry more widely

Shout to my incredible guests: Efi Pylarinou, Emmanuelle Ganne (WTO), Fabian Schaer (University of Basel), Jan Brzeczek (Crypto Finance), Leonie Fluckiger (Adresta), Lucas Betschart (Bitcoin Association Switzerland), Liudmila Zavolokina (University of Zurich), Micha Roon (Energy Web Foundation), Olga Feldmeier (Smart Valor), Paul Meeusen (DFINITY), Pedro Lopez-Belmonte (Richemont), Ralf Glabischnig (CV VC), Roland Cortivo (Swisscom Blockchain), Sheraz Ahmed (Crypto Valley Association), Sina Meier (21 Shares) and Tatjana Meier (IBM)

With a supportive Government, some of the world's largest trade networks, and a relentless drive for technology innovation, it's no surprise that some of the world's notable Blockchain projects are based in Singapore. We take a fascinating look at how Singapore became a global hub for Blockchain, the role of Government, Cryptocurrencies, and some of the amazing individuals leading the Blockchain community.

In this episode we cover:

- The history of Blockchain growth in Singapore over the past 5 years

- The focus and importance of technology innovation in Singapore

- A huge range of use cases, including: MAS, Tribe Accelerator, Contour, DLT Ledgers, Hyperledger, R3, Affinidi Group, Standard Chartered, Accredify, Dedoco, Mighty Jaxx and many more...

- A masterclass on the importance of Economics in Blockchain from Lisa Tan

- The unique role of Government in driving Blockchain adoption across a range of settings

- Blockchain talent and the role of Academia

- Diversity and inclusion in Blockchain, and 

- What more is needed to scale in a country already steeped in Blockchain success

Shout to my incredible guests: Alan Lim (MAS), Amit Ghosh (R3), Andrew Koh (HBL), Arnaud Brolly (SITA), Atul Patel (DLT Ledgers), Carl Wegner (Contour), Ernie Teo (Dedoco), Jenny Goh (IBM), Julian Gordon (Hyperledger), Kevin Pang (SGTECH), Lisa Tan (Economics Design), Ming Ng (Tribe), Steven Koh (GovTech), Zelda Anthony (Standard Chartered), Zheng Wei Quah (Accredify)

Special shout also to Khai Wei Ong for the last minute Malay translation! 

The Netherlands was destined to be a leader in Blockchain and decentralised technology. A global hub for trade, financial services and payments innovation, and with a fascinating history steeped in working together to fight back the water; the Netherlands has all the ingredients to be a Blockchain super power. And they haven't been slacking... This episode cites more than 50 examples of projects or organisations working with Blockchain, as well as some important initiatives like the Dutch Blockchain Coalition that have been driving public-private partnerships locally and globally. This is one for the culture: colourful characters, medieval history, influential start-ups, mega-corporations, government experts and so much more.

Shout to an amazing set of guests for this episode: 

Arne Rutjes, Jacob Boersma, Olivier Rikken, Marloes Pomp, Robert Verwayen, Simon Lelieveldt, Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt, Bob Gravestiyn, Aljosja Beije, Sabine Brink, Thibault Schrepel, Rutger van Zuidam, Rudolf van Ee, and Anna Klaapwijk

On-air shouts to a huge number of companies, organisations and projects:

IBM, WBNode, Dutch Blockchain Coalition, Ledger Leopard, Keen Ventures, ABN-Amro, ING, Rabobank, BlockLab, Port of Rotterdam, Shell, TheNewFork, Odyssey, University of Utrecht, Blockchain Netherlands, Deloitte, 2 Tokens, MDex, Bitonic, Python, Philips, Dutch Digital Delta Blockchain Experts Group, Sphereon, WordProof, TomTom, Booking.com, Adyen, Takeaway.com, Guts Tickets, Albert Heijn, Axiom, Equigy/Tennet, Vinturas, Samsung SDS, VAKT, Komgo, We.Trade, Marco Polo, Hyfen, Port XL, T-Mining, Biconomy, Tribe, Port of Singapore, Tu Delft, TU Eindhoven, Groningen University, Nijmegen University, Tilbert University, Maastricht University, Netherlands Bank, Rise, and Female Ventures

What do Blockchain, Banksy, concert tickets, sex tapes, baseball cards and Batman have in common?... It's the roast of Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) and I'm joined by 5 Blockchain superstars who bring different perspectives on the good to the very, very bad of how companies and individuals are looking to transform the world with NFTs and tokens.

In this show we cover:
- The basics of Blockchain and token technology
- The established model for physical collectibles and what we need to consider in the digital world
- Digital twins for real-world assets (crypto chips, stickers, wallets and custody)
- Legal considerations for tokens, copyright and IP
- And a VERY diverse set of NFT examples in the roast (virtual collectibles, ticketing, art, trash art, airlines, postage stamps, malicious calls, tweets, 'intimate' tapes, and more...)

Shout to my amazing guests - please go give them a follow: Brendan Cooper, Irina Heaver, Keir Finlow-Bates, Anne Griffin and Sebastian Becker

A country the size of India deserves serious attention, and with 17 Blockchain veterans on this episode, we uncover the fascinating past and the bright future of Blockchain in India. We go all the way back to 2012 and discuss everything from crypto folklore to huge government interest to the army of Blockchain talent that is transforming the tech landscape in every sector in India today. In this episode we cover:

- A brief history of Blockchain in India from 2012 to today

- Use cases including telecoms, digital identity, life sciences, banking, payments, DeFi, agritech and much more

- The Blockchain community from OGs like Polygon (Matic) to AgroTrust, Hyperledger and the Bosch Blockchain Centre of Excellence

- The importance of Crypto to Indians, implications of the impending crypto ban, and government interest in CBDC

- How huge state governments and the national Blockchain roadmap are shaping India's Blockchain future

- How 4 Million software developers get access to Blockchain training from formal and informal settings

- The importance of diversity in the India Blockchain community, some positive examples and where more work is needed

- Important learnings for scaling Blockchain in terms of capability, leadership, language and regulation

A huge shout to the amazing Indian Blockchain leaders who contributed to this episode: Swati Bhide (IBM), Sunil Sharma (SquadX), Gokul Alex (Gigamesh Garage Ventures), Prasanna Lohar (DCB Bank), Debajani Mohanty (My Earth ID), Rajesh Dhuddu (Tech Mahindra), Kamlesh Nagware (Snapper Future Tech), Richa Joshi (Ethereum Push Notification Service), Kalyan Kulkarni (AyanWorks), Gaurav Somwashni (AgroTrust), Krishnan Mohan (Bosch), Raj Kapoor (India Blockchain Alliance), Ishan Roy (Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency), Srinivas Mahankali (National Insitute for Smart Government), Gnana Lakshmi (WileyNXT), Vinod Kashyap (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India), and Sandeep Shukla (Indian Institute of Technology)

Germany is a fascinating example of how Blockchain technology can evolve and scale in unexpected ways. Driven by a mix of the cosmopolitan crypto community, engineering-focused start-ups and a national Blockchain strategy (and a few lawyers...) this is not the stereotypical German story you might be expecting. In this episode we cover:

- The diverse Blockchain community from Berlin to Bavaria

- Germany's little-know history in the emergence of Ethereum and DeFi

- The national Blockchain strategy and what it means for enterprise and government

- Deep dives into Blockchain at Daimler, The German Energy Authority and Bitwala

- The role of academia in accelerating the Blockchain talent pool and research

- The importance of the Blockchain Lawyer, and much more...

Shout to all my guests on this episode (in order of appearance): Katharina Gehra (Immutable Insight), Florian Glatz (Bundesblock), Dennis Hillemann (KPMG Law), Christoph Iwaniez (Bitwala), Philip Sandner (Frankfurt School Blockchain Centre), Sebastian Becker (Riddle & Code), Philipp Richard (DENA), Harry Behrens (Daimler), Sven Hildebrandt (DLC), Nina Siedler (DWF and INATBA), Bruce Pon (Ocean Protocol), Thomas Jarzombek (German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), Wolfgang Prinz (Fraunhofer Institute).

Also a special shout out to Mr. Bojangles for the fresh beats - love you cuz...

We take a closer look at Israel, known by many as 'Start-up Nation'... A country famous for its production line of entrepreneurs, military-inspired tech, cryptography and most recently Blockchain. Home to over 250 global R&D centres, 6,000 tech companies and 150 Blockchain businesses, Israel has a unique recipe for success in tech - and Blockchain is no exception. 

In this episode we cover: 

- The rapid adoption of Blockchain in Israel from Bitcoin to ICOs to creating leading global players

- The story behind 'Start-up Nation' and why Israel's entrepreneurs are so successful

- The diversity and make-up of the Israeli Blockchain community 

- Country-specific use cases around Financial Services, Trade, Identity and Healthcare

- Chutzpah: the secret, intangible ingredient behind all Israeli successes

- And a rare cameo from the legendary Aviv Lichtigstein - Founder of 101 Blockchains

Shout to the amazing guests who made this show possible: Yael Rozencwajg, Odelia Torteman, Rena Thomas, Igal Nevo, Kfir Nissan, Gabi Zodik, and Aviv Lichtigstein

In this episode we uncover the surprising ingredients behind Malta's rise as one of the 'go to' destinations for Blockchain businesses. It's a story of economics, politics, law, technology, a little bit of hype, and the critical issue of how to virtual world of protocols and digital assets co-exists with the physical world or national borders and regulation. This is one of the deepest episodes yet, and there are some fundamental Blockchain learnings in here that everyone needs to know! In this episode we cover:

- Malta's constant struggle to find it's economic niche, and how its specialty in technology and law created advantage

- The role Malta played in supporting Blockchain businesses during the emergence of Bitcoin, ICOs and virtual financial assets

- The founding of the Maltese Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) and how it evaluates Blockchain companies against Maltese regulation

- The rush of ICOs, crypto and Blockchain businesses to Malta, and the 'thinning of the heard' since 2016

- Blockchain use cases for the island of Malta, including Financial Services, Real Estate and Social Care

- Examples of Blockchain businesses in Malta, and their experience of trying to become regulated

- The role of the Blockchain community and academia in supporting further scaling of Blockchain in Malta

- The future of Blockchain and Virtual Financial Assets, and how Malta's law and regulation may yet play a global enabling role

Shout to all the amazing guests who were part of this episode: Max Ganado, Joshua Ellul, Dave Pulis, Beata Young, Kenneth Farugia, Jonathan Galea, Sandro Psaila and Jean-Michelle Azzopardi

Welcome to Season 2! New theme music, more guests, and a different way of looking at Blockchain technology, culture and community through the eyes of Blockchain experts in the less-publicised nations around the world - and we're starting with Brazil. There is more Blockchain activity happening in Brazil than almost anywhere in the world, and Brazil has produced some of the most talented minds in Blockchain. Adoption of the technology is tightly linked to the strengths and deficiencies of Brazil as a nation, and it's fascinating to observe.

In this episode we cover:

- Brazil's relationship with technology, and how Brazil is a Blockchain leader despite lagging behind tech adoption in other areas

- Examples of national Blockchain use cases in Public and Private sector - from National Identity to Agri Business to Finance and Crypto Assets

- How Blockchain is spoken about in society and the press

- The make-up of Brazil's Blockchain community: Fintechs, Cypherpunks, Gov-techs and Enterprise Adopters

- The main personalities in Brazilian Blockchain, and who you should be following

- Case studies on start-ups in Agri-business and Renewable Energy, and Henkel's 'Reci-Chain' for Recycling

- What more is needed to bring Blockchain initiatives to scale in Brazil, and key learnings for other countries

Shout to my guests: Mauricio Magaldi, Rosine Kadamani, Gladstone Arantes, Tatiana Revoredo, Renato Lopes, Deborah Aguirre, Kiko Duarte, Isaque Eberhardt and Igor Ferreira

After 22 episodes and 1 Roast, I've learned a lot more about Blockchain and DLT from those in the industry doing real work, running global platforms, and taking the technology into production. I've tried to summarise 10 new or updated observations about Blockchain in enterprise from Season 1. Some of the key topics include:

- Strategies for scaling

- Blockchain for social impact

- UX challenges with Public Blockchains

- Self-sovereign Identity

- My favourite quote from Season 1

- How to think about Token business models

- Scaling IoT and Blockchain

- How to solve problems in your sleep

Thanks to all my guests from Season 1, and thanks to all those listeners from around the world you provided feedback and ideas to help improve the series. See you all for Season 2!

The potential for decentralised networks and using protocols to open the floodgates for transparent and fair data monetisation has been a promise made by many over the years.... Streamr are the latest to take on the challenge, focusing initially on Telecoms, Banking and IoT, and are making use of Blockchain within their platform, but possibly not the way you'd expect. Shiv Malik takes us through the opportunity for decentralised data monetisation and the unique concept of Data Unions that Streamr are trying to enable.

In this episode we cover:

- The opportunity for individuals and enterprises around data monetisation

- The role of Blockchain in enabling large scale data monetisation

- Definitions of Data Unions and Data Cooperatives

- Case study examples of data monetisation in Telco and Banking, and scaling decentralised IoT networks for Smart Cities

- Creating 'Monoplasma' side chains for micro payments 

- Overcoming scaling and pricing issues with Ethereum 

- Comparing Streamr's architecture with DAGs and DAOs - is it one, the other, or both?

- How to form, price and scale your own enterprise Data Union

Links to topics discussed in the show:

Shiv's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivmalik

Shiv's Twitter: @shivmalik

Streamr: https://streamr.network/

Henkel is a $35bn company and has one of the most diverse Blockchain portfolios in the enterprise space. Rodolfo, Head of Blockchain at Henkel, talks us through their investments in Sustainability, Supply Chain, Tax and Recycling, and notable collaborations with BASF, Siemens, GS1 and Plastic Bank. An essential episode for anyone looking to understand how Blockchain is being used in Consumer Goods today.

In this episode we cover:

- The role of internal Blockchain teams in a company like Henkel

- Henkel's notable Blockchain platforms: Recichain (Recycled Plastic), Tax Chain (European Tax and Cross-border Exchange), Plastic Bank (Circular Economy and Social Impact), Anti-counterfeit for Specialty Products

- How Blockchain is helping Henkel to achieve its sustainability goals

- How to pitch use cases to internal stakeholders, prospective partners and crafting the business case

- Future opportunities for Blockchain in CPG, notably data and loyalty

- Rodolfo's key learnings from deploying Blockchain technology in an enterprise context (MVE, Focus, Expectations Management)

Links for topics discussed on the show:

Rodolfo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfo-quijano-4044a61

Blockchain at Henkel: https://www.henkel.com/spotlight/2018-12-10-blockchain-launchpad-for-a-connected-future-894756

Plastic Bank: https://plasticbank.com

Good Chain Foundation: https://thegoodchain.io

She256: https://she256.org

Jeremy Waite: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremypaulwaite

Sheila (former Joe Biden campaign manager) and Jason (ex-FBI cyber security agent, focused on Bitcoin and nation state election fraud) give us a detailed view into how Blockchain is already being used in state and local elections in the US, what the key capabilities are for mobile voting platforms, and how they have overcome bias and challenges around security, UX and standards to drive transformation in the US and Europe.

In this episode we discuss:

- The issues with voting security and accountability today

- How the FBI evaluates Blockchain, Bitcoin, and nation state attempts to influence elections

- Blockchain voting pilots in West Virginia (military and ex-pats) and Denver (mayoral and municipal elections)

- Key components of a mobile voting platform (voter authentication, ballot marking, data management, threat monitoring)

- Which Blockchain platforms and node configurations are used to underpin mobile voting propositions

- Would democratic and republic parties consider hosting election nodes and what voter data is actually stored on-chain

- Common issues, challenges and misconceptions around Blockchain from stakeholders in the political sphere

- What more is required in terms of functionality, security, standards, open sourcing etc. to scale use of mobile voting

- Other applications outside political voting (corporate governance, universities, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

Links to topics discussed in the show:

Sheila's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-nix-83399424

Tusk Philanthropies: https://tuskphilanthropies.com

Mobile Voting.org: https://mobilevoting.org

Jason's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontruppi

ShiftState Security: https://www.theshiftstate.com

Voatz: https://voatz.com

West Virginia Case Study: https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/10/18080518/blockchain-voting-mobile-app-west-virginia-voatz

Denver Case Study: https://cointelegraph.com/news/denver-municipal-election-another-small-stop-on-the-road-to-universal-blockchain-voting

We take a drive through the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative's (MOBI) work to-date on blockchain for automotive and mobility, and their imminent crossover into developing Smart Cities technology platforms. Chris and Tram talk about Citopia - an open Blockchain platform for multi-modal ticketing and with scope to expand into infrastructure monetisation and use of gamification to drive citizens' behaviour. We also hear about a top secret Citopia deal that could be coming to a country near you... This episode covers:

- The origins of MOBI - from small gatherings to global automotive consortium

- The ups and downs of being a couple in emerging tech

- The 4 main benefits of Blockchain for Smart Cities

- The BIG opportunity - optimising and monetising $26Tn of road infrastructure globally 

- Citopia: the first Smart Cities mobility platform using Blockchain and open APIs

- A sneak preview of a Top Secret national project where Citopia will be launched in the near future

- The contrast of developing technology with the public and private sectors 

- Example pain points in West Hollywood (Through traffic) and Manhattan (Deliveries and parking fines)

- The importance of tokens, cryptocurrency, digital twins and verifiable ID for enabling Smart Cities use cases

- Other innovations that Blockchain can help scale today: distributed electric charging, virtual battery storage, provision of city services and marginal cost pricing, incentivisation of citizen behaviour, drone deliveries and taxis

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Tram's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tram-vo-6abba310

Chris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ballinger-5aa38912

MOBI Website: https://dlt.mobi

MOBI YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeme5eBgtJA6Q5qaZ8G8ZQg

MakerDAO predates Ethereum and Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) are one of the least understood but potentially most disruptive implementations of Blockchain technology. Rune Christensen talks through the history of MakerDAO, the mechanics of the stablecoin, voting, lending and the potential move towards accepting tokenised real-work collateral. We also discuss why Central Banks are interested, how the crypto crash only strengthened the MakerDAO platform, and how DAOs could be applied in government and legal services. 

*Apologies for the sound quality - Rune was recording in a very echoey room*

In this episode we cover:

- MakerDAO's history from the pre-Ethereum era up to the $250m capitalisation it has today

- Why Argentina and Buenos Aires has become an early cluster for MakerDAO adoption

- The mechanics of the DAI Stablecoin, Vaults, and MKR Governance Tokens

- Examples uses of DAI loans: buying a car, mortgage refinancing or buying more crypto

- How MakerDAO solves the principle agent problem by having MKR holders accountable for risk taking

- How to manage the issue of voter turnout in a DAO, how votes are initiated, and how to cultivate a community

- The upcoming vote on using real world, tokenised assets as collateral such as ConsolFreight (Trade Finance) & PaperChain (Music Royalties)

- Launching just before a crash: how the worst possible market conditions actually proved MakerDAO's robustness

- Feedback and interest from the US Federal Reserve and People's Bank of China in DAOs and DeFi 

- How to look at DAOs from a legal and regulatory perspective

- Other areas where DAOs can be disruptive: Global monetary policy, government, anti-corruption, legal services

- The one thing that Blockchain does better than anything else

Links to topics discussed on the episode:

Rune's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/runebentsenchristensen/

MakerDAO: https://makerdao.com

Maker Forum: https://forum.makerdao.com

ConsulFreight: https://www.consolfreight.io

PaperChain: https://paperchain.io/

Rob Massey may be one of the most influential people in Blockchain that you've never heard of. The man responsible for advising some of the largest ICOs, token issuances, exchanges, consortia and regulators gives us the lowdown on why tax is critical to consider in the digital asset space, and how it can be an agile and collaborative initiative, even where regulation or guidance is limited in a particular jurisdiction.

In this episode we discuss:

- Different digital asset structures and the various tax considerations

- The process of engaging with regulators where guidance is thin on the ground

- How enterprises are looking at digital assets and tokens to create liquidity, capital or new business models

- An introduction to the implications of tax for security tokens, 'property' tokens and utility tokens

- How to 'draw out' the tax implications of different digital asset models and business flows

- Example tax engagements and the differences between enterprises, consortia and foundations

- Tax implications for Decentralised Finance (DeFi) and Distributed Autonomous Organisations (DAOs)

- Different tax considerations for different geographies (the humans, tax treaties, network, and feeling 'natural')

- The potential for digital assets in Financial Services and for IP rights management

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Rob's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-massey-7571b7b/

Deloitte's 2020 Blockchain Survey: https://www2.deloitte.com/ie/en/pages/technology/articles/Global_Blockchain_survey.html

The fascinating story of how a $1bn company, famous for sticker books and trading cards, launched its own Blockchain business. Brendan is incredibly knowledgeable about Blockchain, DLT and Crypto, and he managed to convince a very traditional business to take the leap straight into Crypto Collectables - and he's got much more planned for the future. We talk about why they chose Hyperledger Sawtooth, how he helped Panini Executives to 'level up', and where wallets, mirror nodes and Zero Knowledge Proofs fit in his technology roadmap.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The history of the Panini collectables business

- Brendan's early Blockchain inspiration from Crypto Pepe

- Important adjacencies: Rare cars, artwork and fractional ownership

- Why 'Panini Coin' (or CoopCoin) never made it into production and the problem with the 'Crypto' moniker

- 'Levelling' up the Panini Executive Team to become Blockchain experts

- The reaction of traditional customers and the crypto community

- Why Panini's platform uses Hyperledger Sawtooth, Ethereum's UX and scaling challenges, and using mirror nodes for public verification

- Collectables technologies to keep tabs on: public protocols, crypto collectables, privacy solutions, DeFi and ZDP

- Future considerations - bearer instruments, custodial services, live sports feed oracles, full crypto, DAOs?

- What Fortnite should have learned before launching digital collectables

Links to topics mentioned in this episode:

Brendan's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendantcooper

Panini Blockchain - https://www.paniniamerica.net/blockchain

OpenSea - https://opensea.io

Starkware - https://starkware.co

International Standard Content Code - https://iscc.codes

Social Identity of Objects - https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170024485A1/en

Alison McCauley, trained organisational psychologist and Blockchain thought leader, explains why companies and executives find it so hard to understand and adopt Blockchain technology. We discuss the barriers to embracing emerging technology, why Blockchain's hype cycle has been uniquely unhelpful, and predict how and where Blockchain adoption will be most impactful. In this episode we cover:

- How senior leaders think, and why emerging tech (and Blockchain specifically) doesn't fit their mental model

- Where hype comes from, and why Blockchain hype isn't comparable to that of AI or Cloud

- The psychology behind driving change and creating burning platforms

- The external factors impacting demand and peoples' expectations for Blockchain technology

- How Blockchain incentive models could be the missing ingredient for Contact Tracing apps

- Alison's most impactful use cases: voting, credentials, carbon credits, digital identity, DAOs

- What is the place for crytocurrencies in an enterprise context

Links to topics discussed in the show:

Alison's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/unblocked

Alison's Twitter: @unblockedfuture

Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trustbarometer

Getting the inside track on the Open Source movement and some of the Hyperledger Projects you may never have heard of... Marta is an Ecosystem Director for Hyperledger and is responsible for growing the community, progressing projects from ideas to Labs to Projects, and has worked with developers, enterprises and consortia worldwide. She also supports technical governance for Sovrin, and shares her views about the intersections between Sovrin, Hyperledger and Indy. In this episode we talk about:

- The importance of open source technology for developers, enterprises and governments

- The mission and goals of the Hyperledger Foundation

- The process and governance for starting and progressing Hyperledger Projects 

- The origins of Cactus, the latest project in the Hyperledger 'greenhouse'

- A comparison between Sovrin and Hyperledger, and where they intersect with Hyperledger Indy

- Encouraging diversity, growing a Blockchain community and how to keep the peace

- Key learnings from Marta's past projects, including Caliper ('A Working Group that did real work'), Iroha ('Hyperledger's Greatest Hidden Secret') and Ursa ('Don't Implement Your Own Crypto')

- What's Next: Why interoperability and on-chain governance are needed, but the importance of defining 'how' and 'where'

Links to content discussed on the show:

Marta's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/martapiekarska

Hyperledger YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_X0WkMtkWzaVUKF-PRBNQ

Hyperledger Website (for Developers): https://wiki.hyperledger.org

Hyperledger Website (for non-Developers): www.hyperledger.org

Marta's New Book: https://www.manning.com/books/permissioned-blockchains-in-action

This is one for the culture! Veteran inventor and holder of numerous Blockchain patents, Keir Finlow-Bates takes us through what it takes to innovate in the Blockchain space, why some of the world's largest companies are rushing to create Blockchain patents, and what it takes to get one. We also talk about Keir's approach to identifying where Blockchain can be disruptive, using the subconscious mind to create content, and why it's better to invent in a van than in a shed! In this episode we cover:

- Why companies like Visa, GM, Baidu and Walmart are churning out Blockchain patents

- Why Vitalik Buterin is wrong on patenting Blockchain innovations

- The process for patenting Blockchain propositions

- Why Keir became an inventor and how to generate new-to-world inventions

- Some of Keir's most famous Blockchain inventions (Proof of Location, Alternative Mining Power)

- How Blockchain could support the patent value chain (registration, licensing, transfer of ownership)

- Where P2P Networks, Asymetric Key Cryptography, Hash-Linked Lists and Byzantine Fault Tolerance provide most value

- The source material for Kier's legendary Blockchain vlogs

- The power of subliminal processing (this one is really cool!)

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Keir's Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/keirf/

ChainFrog: www.chainfrog.com

ThinkLair: www.thinklair.com

What is Digital Cash, and how does it fit in a world with Libra, Central Bank Digital Currencies and Crypto? Jack Nikogosian has made the transition from Bitcoin to ICO to regulated digital bank, and explains the unique value of central bank-backed Digital Cash for enabling access to banking for all, and the goal of zero fee remittances worldwide. A truly transformative opportunity.  

In this episode we discuss:

- The challenge of bringing Bitcoin to traditional banking systems

- The difference between Digital Cash, Stablecoins, CBDCs and Cryptocurrencies

- The cost of cross-border payments and remittances for migrant workers

- How digital cash could be a better underlying asset for Facebook's Libra

- The technology architecture for a digital cash bank (core banking, Ethereum, cloud, compliance, data centres)

- How to scale a digital cash ecosystem worldwide

- Migrating from an ICO token model to a traditional shareholding and buyback model (this is really cool...)

Links to topics discussed on the show:

Aryze: https://aryze.io/

Jack's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacknikogosian

Coinify: https://coinify.com

Combining the exponential capability of both Blockchain and IoT is seen by many as the next major horizon for technology innovation, and few know more about this topic than David Sønstebø who takes us through everything you need to know in this space, from the use cases to the architecture, and when he expects the Blockchain+IoT fusion to reach the mainstream. In this episode we cover:

- Why the Internal of Things needs its own network, and why traditional connectivity and payment rails will not work

- The genesis of IOTA - from Internet Forums to International Foundation

- Key domains where Blockchain and IoT can have the greatest impact: Automotive, Supply Chain, Smart Cities

- A detailed comparison of Blockchain and Direct Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture

- Interoperability with Hyperledger, Ethereum and other Blockchain protocols

- Unified Identity Protocol, IOTA Enterprise Edition and Distributed Identity for COVID-19

- Forecast for when IOTA and DAG infrastructure will be production ready and scaled

Links to topics discussed on the show:

IOTA: https://www.iota.org

Unified Identity Protocol: https://blog.iota.org/the-first-step-towards-a-unified-identity-protocol-7dc3988c8b0e

David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sonstebo-760319a5/

David's Twitter: @DavidSonstebo

As the entire world is looking to Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) as a potential solution to COVID-19, Arwen Smit gives us some home truths about the complexity of identity management, what is required to develop SSI networks, and potential business models for private sector enterprises. Arwen is hugely knowledgeable and a pleasure to listen to - essential for anyone who wants to learn more about the digital identity space.

In this episode we cover:

- An overarching framework for identity and trust (human trust, cryptographic trust)

- The major problems that SSI aims to address (and some that is should not)

- How SSI could be applied to the COVID-19 Pandemic

- Critical challenges to consider (governance, ethics, fraud, commercial models)

- The relevance of Blockchain as an enabler for SSI

- Case studies including Estonia, MOBI, Sovrin, the UN and more

- Arwen view on 'If data is the new oil, is SSI the electric motor?' and,

- Her most valuable, most impactful, and favourite SSI use cases for the future

Links to topics discussed:

- Arwen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arwensmit

- Arwen's Website: https://arwensmit.com

- Identity Reboot: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Identity-Reboot-Reimagining-Privacy-Century/dp/1916314414

A uniquely Danish view on construction, design and the disruptive impact of Blockchain. Niels has been working with the Danish Industry Foundation to explore technologies and use cases that can bring transparency, efficiency and solve age-old problems within the sector, and he explains why he thinks Blockchain offers something very different to what has gone before.

In this episode we discuss:

- Why the Construction industry has a data and transparency problem

- Ideation and prioritisation of the 150+ Blockchain uses cases that Niels and the team developed 

- Deep dives on the team's priority use cases: Material traceability, IoT devices, Client decision making, Component tracing, and 'Proof of Work' 

- Working with Stellar, Azure, Hyperledger, Quorum

- The future of BIM, 3D models, reality capture, generative design and exoskeletons

- Key challenges of working with Blockchain in the Construction industry

- Niels' prediction for when we'll see true digital transformation in the sector

How to find Niels:

Niels' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsfalk/

HD Lab: https://www.hdlab.dk/

*Apologies for some glitches in Niels' audio in this episode - Zoom was not having a good day...

Everything you wanted to know about Stablecoins in one podcast. The boys from Sygnum talk through how they created their own Swiss Franc Stablecoin under Swiss banking regulation, the different classifications of Stablecoin, and how the future may unfold in terms of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and Facebook's Libra. A must for anyone wanting to understand Stablecoins in more detail.

In this episode we cover:

- Stablecoin classification: Centralised crypto-collateralised, Decentralised crypto-collateralised, FIAT collateralised and CBCDs

- How to develop a Stablecoin using Ethereum ERC20 tokens

- Integrating Public Blockchain and HSMs with traditional core banking platforms

- The differences between permissionless cryptocurrencies and regulated stablecoins (KYC, Whitelists, Pauses and Confiscation)

- How many Stablecoins does the world need? Will there be one to rule them all, or multiple domain or country-specific coins?

- The value and potential impact of Libra and Central Bank Digital Currencies

References made in the show:

Sygnum: https://www.sygnum.com/

Gorazd's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorazd-ocvirk-phd-43ba4763/

Gavin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinpacini/

A great introduction to how Blockchain is being applied in the business of international supply chains and logistics. Martijn talks through how the Port of Rotterdam began exploring Blockchain business networks, creating partnership ecosystems and developing its own Deliver platform with ABN-AMRO and Samsung, along with a number of other topics, including:

- The role of a port in the wider technology innovation landscape

- Benefits of Blockchain in trade, logistics and trade finance

- How to form and govern a global business network

- Details about PoR's Deliver platform and its learnings and challenges to-date

- Interoperability between Blockchain networks (Hyperledger and Ethereum)

- The role of other exponential technologies in supply chains, including AI, Drones, Quantum and Digital Twins

References to topics mentioned on the podcast:

Port of Rotterdam: www.portofrotterdam.com

Blocklab: www.blocklab.nl

Deliver platform: www.deliver.community

Martijn's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/martijnthijsen

A Blockchain technology Master Class with Antonio Senatore, Deloitte's Global CTO for Blockchain. We discuss what he sees as the 'core' Blockchain technologies for enterprise, his key learnings from taking both Public and Private Blockchain platforms into production, and his forecast for when we will see emerging domains like Zero Knowledge Proofs, Interoperability and Blockchain-enabled AI being ready for prime time.

On this episode we discuss:

- What it takes to be considered a 'mature' Blockchain platform

- Relative maturity of Ethereum, Hyperledger, Corda, VeChain and others

- Key challenges for implementing Public and Private Blockchains in enterprise

- The importance and time horizon for Interoperability between Blockchain networks

- Why we should be excited about Blockchain and AI, and what can they bring together

- What are Zero Knowledge Proofs, and what is required for broader adoption

- What questions to ask of emerging Blockchain technology vendors looking for partnerships

- Where Antonio gets his reading list

References mentioned during the show:

Antonio's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-senatore-b759273/

Andreas Antonopoulos: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aantonop/

QEDIT: https://qed-it.com/

Polkadot: https://polkadot.network/

Constellation Network: https://constellationnetwork.io/

Krystal is a global expert in designing and forming consortia and business networks using Blockchain technology. She shares critical thinking and experience in the areas of network design, business case and governance models, with a number of real-world examples. Crucial topics for anyone looking to scale Blockchain networks and initiatives.

In this episode we discuss:

- Network intent - rationale and objectives for forming Blockchain networks

- Building the business case - Business value, incentive structures and return on investment

- The implementation challenge of creating new digital businesses with non-digital participants

- Comparing market utility, founder-led and for-profit network models

- Governance design using BOLT: Business, Operations, Legal and Technology

- Member management - onboarding, offboarding and ‘the rules to change the rules’

- A lot of ‘cake talk’: Scaling by Cupcake, Birthday Cake and Wedding Cake

Krystal’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystalwebber/

Krystal Webber on Twitter: @krwebber1

Initiatives mentioned by Krystal in the podcast:

Tradelens: https://www.tradelens.com

FoodTrust: https://www.ibm.com/IBM-Food-Trust/Blockchain

Meet Proof of Impact who are using Blockchain, complex algorithms and a Micro Services approach to verify environmental, social and health impact at a granular, unit level. Kevin discusses the unique process of digitally verifying impact projects, unitising and creating impact securitisation models, and creating customised portfolios for enterprises. A fascinating and scalable approach to driving social and climate impact.

In this episode we discuss:

- How securitisation (the financial mechanism behind mortgages) can be applied to social impact projects

- Defining what is a 'unit' of impact, the required digital verification models, and creating immutable proofs

- Dynamic impact 'pricing' based on differing levels of verification

- Using the Ethereum blockchain for tokenisation, and which is the best protocol for tokenising a Rhino

- How to scale a global Blockchain impact platform 

- Proof of Impact's involvement in the COVID19 response, and a call for support

You can find more about Proof of Impact here: https://proofofimpact.com/

Proof of Impact Twitter: @proofofimpact

And Kevin's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevindeanpettit/

Welcome to the first ever edition of Blockchain Won't Save the World. This episode covers why I believe Blockchain has a marketing problem and how I plan to set the record straight. I'll share the topics that you, the community, most want me to cover in future episodes, such as:

- Myth busting
- How to ‘sell’ Blockchain
- Blockchain architecture
- Scaling platforms
- Forming ecosystems
- Blockchain commercial models
- Digital & self-sovereign identity
- Supply chain management
- Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)
- Climate action & social impact
- Stablecoins
- Open source & ecosystem governance
- Government & public initiatives
- Blockchain legal matters
- Regulation

And also walk through my Top 10 learnings and observations from 5 years working in Blockchain. Thanks for tuning in, and looking forward to your feedback for future episodes.

Links to those mentioned in the Podcast:

Peter Diamandis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterdiamandis/

Singularity University: https://su.org/

Rutger van Zuidam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rutgervz/

Odyssey Hackathon: https://www.odyssey.org/