'I have bought something called a Facsimile Machine, can you buy one too, otherwise it is worthless?' said my NY agent in circa 1984

The headline above from 1984 has been replaced in 2018 by 'Blockchain Solutions looking for problems'.

That 'Blockchain solutions’ like Cargo X have undoubtedly achieved a technical advancement. What’s missing from the solution described is the underlying standards and the participants that represent the value exchange.

What intrigues me - and where the real step forward is more likely to come from - is the Blockchain Alliance (BITA) that Cargo X are members of, but is not featured here.

It appears many offerings have a further vision, to 'own' the data that forwarders have traditionally held for their customers. And it is rolled out without any reference to 'Fees'.

You have to always consider, are shippers/importers seeking this 'secure Bill Of Lading' ?

I understand the functionality of this linear process, but where is:

a. The commercial requirement

b. The traditional Banks who are often supplying credit terms for importers

c. How does this impact overdraft facilities as it appears to be bypass the traditional banks

d. What is the transactional cost

e. How many businesses want the 'currency exposure' by moving into volatile cryptocurrencies. The world’s largest cryptocurrency bitcoin has fallen by 3.51 per cent to $4,314.68, according to data from Coindesk, while Ethereum has dropped 6.47 per cent to $123.34.

Bitcoin is trading almost 80 per cent down on this time last year, after falling below $5000 to a 13-month low earlier this week.

A Blockchain for Bills of Lading appears to segment the whole process for the sake of the offering. Presently there does not appear to be many willing stakeholders represented at each trading milestones to make this required in the short term.