Blockchain will mature beyond the enabling technology behind Bitcoin. Recent investments in the crypto-tech space will begin to bear fruit as initial application development platforms and use cases prove themselves in the market. No one will be safe from disruption as blockchain applications push beyond just payments into healthcare, crowd funding, financial services, and even music.
Like the Internet in the early 1990s, blockchain is a promising -- yet early (read: high disruptive potential) -- technology, which means now is the time to experiment, invest, and learn. Companies should explore use cases by creating blockchain-enabled prototypes to understand the potential impact on their existing business. The first web browsing experience does not hold a candle to a modern browser, but for some companies being there first made all the difference. Just look at Amazon.
By Carlos Elena-Lenz