DWT Download: The Blockchain Session

Our annual DOWNLOAD event will be taking place tomorrow. Unfortunately it’s sold out, but we’ll be blogging about the blockchain session we’re doing in the afternoon. We’re especially excited to welcome our three great panelists, Carlos Mendez of Crayhill Capital and Monegraph; Yorke Rhodes from Microsoft; and Rik Willard of Agentic, to the DOWNLOAD stage.

Here’s a description of the panel:

BEYOND BLOCKCHAIN: Distributed Networks for All Industries

When the bitcoin cryptocurrency first appeared seven years ago, few expected that its implications would stretch beyond virtual currency and online payments. Yet over the past few years, the underlying framework that powers bitcoin — known as blockchain technology, has spawned intense investment and development for usage across diverse industries.

A blockchain is a decentralized, distributed ledger of transactions that have been verified using cryptographic functions. Technology innovators are exploring how to use this concept of distributed networks — which eliminate “middlemen,” — for applications that can transform many industries from media and entertainment, online advertising, e-commerce, the supply chain, the Internet of Things, energy grids, and insurance.

This session will educate you about this exciting shared future, as the panelists discuss:

• What is blockchain technology and how do distributed networks work?
• New technological innovations and how they will impact many industries
• Legal issues triggered when business is conducted via distributed networks