Five ways to live the future--right now. Part 2: Blockchain, blockchain everywhere, but now what?

2. Get (More) Curious About Blockchain

For many, blockchain immediately signals thoughts of Bitcoin as it is the underlying technology behind the rising and falling cryptocurrency.  But it’s important to understand it at a deeper level: blockchain itself is a decentralized ledger. When applied to Bitcoin - or other cryptocurrencies - it represents a list of all transactions across a peer-to-peer network that allows people to transfer value across the Internet without the need for a middle man like a local bank.

But cryptocurrencies are just the first and most popular application of the Blockchain technology. It has tremendous potential. For instance, the idea of “Smart Contracts” -- cryptographically enforced and lawyerless agreements that can be built on the Blockchain -- is quickly gaining momentum. There’s also the potential for your personal identity to be captured on the Blockchain, potentially solving problems of identity fraud. Maybe you’re already paying for things with cryptocurrency, but do you really understand how blockchain works? Start by learning the grounding principles here.

This is part 2 of a 5 part series. Catch up by reading part 1. Follow me on Twitter: @dlclarke.