Blockstream Makes its Case for Bitcoin-Powered Private Blockchains
Private and public blockchains, normally siloed both technologically and culturally, could become more intertwined if a new effort by bitcoin startup Blockstream gets off the ground. The venture-backed firm is best known for iterating on top of the open-source bitcoin protocol with projects such as the Lightning Network and sidechains, the latter of which aims to allow users to send assets back and forth between blockchains 'pegged' to bitcoin. At the same time, the startup has been working on more enterprise-oriented projects, perhaps biting into the recent buzz and experimentation with....
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Blockchain technology has won accolades for improving efficiency and transparency in business operations. It has also been seen as improving security. But blockchain security is a complex issue that pits anonymity against trust, according to IBM’s Security Intelligence, a thought leadership and technical expertise hub for executives who manage enterprise risk and security. Permissionless blockchains such as bitcoin’s do not require identity information from their participants. The bitcoin blockchain achieves trust through encryption. After each transaction, the cryptographic operation....
Blockstream and Square partnered to construct a solar-powered bitcoin mining facility and demonstrate potential for sustainable energy use.
Many people argue that private blockchains, run by private firms, are useless, since they make users dependent upon a third party ‒ the firm managing the blockchain. Many believe that private blockchains currently being considered are not blockchains, but rather, distributed ledger technology which has already existed. Others believe private blockchains could provide solutions to many financial enterprise problems that Bitcoin does not, such as abiding by regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer....
A few months ago I was writing a research paper centered on this question: Is there a use case for private blockchains? I'll be honest, I started writing it with my conclusions already on mind. I was totally biased. My thoughts were basically that private blockchains (and the lack of PoW) couldn't offer more security than a distributed database. And at the same time they were pretty limited and based on a much more immature technology. So, why on earth a bank or any organization would use a private blockchain instead of a well known and proven technology? Simple answer: fad. Nevertheless,....
Blockstream to leverage blockchain technology to develop the Sidechain. In another case of billionaires betting big on Bitcoin and the blockchain technology, a number of technology entrepreneurs have come together to work on a Bitcoin project. The group of entrepreneurs who have previously worked with companies such as LinkedIn, Sun Microsystems and Yahoo have so far contributed a total of US$ 21 million to Blockstream. Also read: SEC Form Shows Bitcoin Technology Company Blockstream Already Has Millions in Funding. The Blockchain - Difficult to Corrupt. Blockstream aims to enhance the....