Blockchain technology is powering our future. As the technology behind cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and Facebook's Libra, open software platforms like Ethereum, and disruptive companies like Ripple, it’s too important to ignore. In this revelatory book, Don Tapscott, the bestselling author of Wikinomics, and his son, blockchain expert Alex Tapscott, bring us a brilliantly researched, highly readable, and essential book about the technology driving the future of the economy. Blockchain is the ingeniously simple, revolutionary protocol that allows transactions to be simultaneously anonymous and secure by maintaining a tamperproof public ledger of value. Though it’s best known as the technology that drives bitcoin and other digital currencies, it also has the potential to go far beyond currency, to record virtually everything of value to humankind, from birth and death certificates to insurance claims, land titles, and even votes. Blockchain is also essential to understand if you’re an artist who wants to make a living off your art, a consumer who wants to know where that hamburger meat really came from, an immigrant who’s tired of paying big fees to send money home to your loved ones, or an entrepreneur looking for a new platform to build a business. And those examples are barely the tip of the iceberg. As with major paradigm shifts that preceded it, blockchain technology will create winners and losers. This book shines a light on where it can lead us in the next decade and beyond.
The Ethereum Revolution Is Here! Looking to educateyourself on the second-highest valued cryptocurrency that’s sohot that over one-hundred-fifty mainstream companies are collaborating togetherin a nonprofit just in anticipation of what new advancements will be possible? Maybe you’re just looking for some background on this network before investing,or you just want to ‘mine’ the easiest, quickest, and cheapest way Have no idea what a ‘smart contract’ is and want to know what allthe excitement is about? Been wondering just what a ‘decentralized’ networkis? Download this book and you’ll learn the reasons for the hype andexcitement and just why Ethereum is considered to be so muchmore than just another new cryptocurrency. And how to fully takeadvantage of each aspect of this network. Ethereum is stilllargely unknown to the general public that doesn’t keep up withcryptocurrencies or the tech industry, and while there is at least a semi-decent amount ofinformation available now, the information is spread out and it stillis not widely-known exactly what all the Ethereum network has to offer. Assuch, I scoured the available documentation and completed my own research forthe beginner and present it all together in this book, in an easy tounderstand format and language. From the history ofthe protocol and Ethereum system and how it was all theorized, developed, andultimately launched, to the steps you’ll need to follow to mine for Ether. Ihave ‘mined’ through it all and lay it out in detail. You’ll gain agood understanding of what a block and blockchain are, what exactly smartcontracts are and what they’re used for, how smart contracts utilize Ether topower the Ethereum blockchain, and how to sell your Ether for cash ortrade it for other cryptocurrencies. Thousands, if not millions, of people around the world, wish they had taken thestep to learn more back when Bitcoin was less than $1,000 USD, and while notmany have heard of Ethereum yet, you have the opportunity to join agrowing community. Download this book and see why Fortune 500companies have invested in the Ethereum blockchain technology with more joiningin consistently, strengthening the network and tantalizing the industry withexcited apprehension. With continued value growth as an investment and the broadening value andacceptance of the Ethereum blockchain technology itself, learning the basicsis a wise move everyone should make at this point. Reading my bookisn’t guaranteed to make you rich, or provide you with the solution to yourbusiness needs, but it will provide you with some great insight on Ethereum,what it can do and what you can do with it, how to get started mining for yourfirst Ether, and what Ethereum could mean for cryptocurrencies, and the world. As long as itstechnology proceeds to be adopted near the recent pace it has seen, Ethereumis certain to continue to see a rise in excitement and value, makingit an investment worthwhile. The time is perfect to learn all you canabout the Ethereum blockchain network. You Will Learn: The What’s The How To’s How Does It Compare? What Dapps Are Currently In Ethereum? Recent Ethereum News What’s Ahead for Ethereum? “If the plan doesn’t work. Change the plan. But never change the goal”
"Views differ on bitcoin, but few doubt the transformative potential of Blockchain technology. The Truth Machine is the best book so far on what has happened and what may come along. It demands the attention of anyone concerned with our economic future." —Lawrence H. Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard, Former Treasury Secretary From Michael J. Casey and Paul Vigna, the authors of The Age of Cryptocurrency, comes the definitive work on the Internet’s Next Big Thing: The Blockchain. Big banks have grown bigger and more entrenched. Privacy exists only until the next hack. Credit card fraud is a fact of life. Many of the “legacy systems” once designed to make our lives easier and our economy more efficient are no longer up to the task. Yet there is a way past all this—a new kind of operating system with the potential to revolutionize vast swaths of our economy: the blockchain. In The Truth Machine, Michael J. Casey and Paul Vigna demystify the blockchain and explain why it can restore personal control over our data, assets, and identities; grant billions of excluded people access to the global economy; and shift the balance of power to revive society’s faith in itself. They reveal the disruption it promises for industries including finance, tech, legal, and shipping. Casey and Vigna expose the challenge of replacing trusted (and not-so-trusted) institutions on which we’ve relied for centuries with a radical model that bypasses them. The Truth Machine reveals the empowerment possible when self-interested middlemen give way to the transparency of the blockchain, while highlighting the job losses, assertion of special interests, and threat to social cohesion that will accompany this shift. With the same balanced perspective they brought to The Age of Cryptocurrency, Casey and Vigna show why we all must care about the path that blockchain technology takes—moving humanity forward, not backward.
"I'll walk you through the essentials of how Blockchain technology works, using simple explanations and giving examples along the way. I've introduced many people to blockchain, so I know where beginners usually get confused and the main questions they have. All of the basic principles are addressed step-by-step in this book." -- Provided by publisher.
Nobody can deny the importance of currency in the financial or economic world. With the advancements in technology, there was a need for some digital way to store data. Then Blockchain arrived and changed the thinking of people and businesses. Yes, Blockchain is definitely a breakthrough in the digital financial world and it is going to be the stronger technology for future generations. Big companies, as well as businesses, have felt the importance of this new technology. That is why many of the biggest organizations, business owners and businesses are focusing on Blockchain. They also think that this is going to be the front line method to transfer or send money from one place of the world to the other place within a few seconds. There is no doubt that Blockchain has already made great changes in the financial as well as the other fields of the world. In the future, it is expected to grow more and surely its future is bright.
Discover how $55 million in cryptocurrency vanished in one of the most bizarre thefts in history Out of the Ether: The Amazing Story of Ethereum and the $55 Million Heist that Almost Destroyed It All tells the astonishing tale of the disappearance of $55 million worth of the cryptocurrency ether in June 2016. It also chronicles the creation of the Ethereum blockchain from the mind of inventor Vitalik Buterin to the ragtag group of people he assembled around him to build the second-largest crypto universe after Bitcoin. Celebrated journalist and author Matthew Leising tells the full story of one of the most incredible chapters in cryptocurrency history. He covers the aftermath of the heist as well, explaining the extreme lengths the victims of the theft and the creators of Ethereum went to in order to try and limit the damage. The book covers: The creation of Ethereum An explanation of the nature of blockchain and cryptocurrency The activities of a colorful cast of hackers, coders, investors, and thieves Perfect for anyone with even a passing interest in the world of modern fintech or daring electronic heists, Out of the Ether is a story of genius and greed that’s so incredible you may just choose not to believe it.
Murder for hire. Drug trafficking. Embezzlement. Money laundering... These might sound like plot lines of a thriller, but they are true stories from the short history of cryptocurrencies - digital currencies conceived by computer hackers and cryptographers that represent a completely new sort of financial transaction that could soon become mainstream. The most famous - or infamous - cryptocurrency is bitcoin. But look beyond its tarnished reputation and something much shinier emerges. The technology that underlies bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies - the blockchain - is hailed as the greatest advancement since the invention of the internet. It is now moving away from being the backbone for a digital currency and making inroads into other core concepts of society: identity, ownership and even the rule of law. The End of Money is your essential introduction to this transformative new technology that has governments, entrepreneurs and forward-thinking people from all walks of life sitting up and taking notice. ABOUT THE SERIES New Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.
Some experts say that cryptocurrencies and blockchains are just a scam; others say they're "the most important invention since the internet." It's hard to tell who's right. Authored by Product Managers from Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, Bubble or Revolution cuts through the hype to offer a balanced, comprehensive, and accessible analysis of blockchains and cryptocurrencies. You'll learn the core concepts of these technologies and understand their strengths and weaknesses from real-world case studies; dive deep into their technical, economic, political, and legal complexities; and gain insights about their future from exclusive interviews with dozens of tech industry leaders. No coding or math needed! Are cryptocurrencies and blockchains a bubble or a revolution? We'll help you decide for yourself. What's inside: Bitcoin and the blockchain How Bitcoin and blockchains work from a technical perspective with no assumed technical knowledge Satoshi Nakamoto and the history of Bitcoin, the original blockchain A thorough overview of crucial crypto concepts (eg. blocks, keys, mining, nodes, etc.) Frameworks for understanding when it actually makes sense to use blockchain Major application scenarios for blockchain and cryptocurrencies and where it'll fall flat Public blockchains and altcoins Emerging trends in blockchain technology What you should know before buying any cryptocurrency An overview of Etherum and smart contracts An overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the top altcoins and stable coins, including Monero (XMR), Tether (USDT), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Alternatives to blockchain and cryptocurrencies New kinds of decentralized ledger technology (dlt) The economics of both traditional payment methods and cryptocurrencies Cryptocurrency security best practices and major breach case studies Private blockchains How blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and traditional banking and finance will interact with one another in the future Public blockchains vs private blockchains Limitations and shortcomings of public blockchains and cryptocurrencies The role of blockchain in the strategy of top tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft Case studies of how non-tech companies are effectively utilizing blockchain (eg. Walmart using it to prevent foodborne illness) Business blockchain case studies ranging from gaming (e.g. Xbox) to cloud services (e.g. Microsoft Azure's blockchain-as-a-service and Amazon's AWS offering) Blockchain's use for big data, internet of things (IoT), and machine learning (ML) Cryptocurrency regulation and policy ICOs vs STOs vs IPOs ICOs' status as securities The SEC's STO rules and Reg A+/CF/D/S KYC and AML laws The debate over whether cryptocurrencies are securities The official stance of various countries on crypto An overview of crypto policy and regulatory hurdles The role of crypto in emerging markets and China Digital democracy and voting on the blockchain The future of decentralized technology If, how, and when the tokenization of national currencies will play out Facebook and WhatsApp's upcoming cryptocurrencies Currency tokenization and China's efforts to tokenize the yuan Blockchain, IoT, and the tangle Cryptocurrencies vs. fiat vs. the gold standard Predictions about the future of money, business, and currency Why blockchains would do better on Mars than Earth
This book focuses on the innovation of blockchain technology and the advantages it offers. It provides a clear and comprehensive overview of blockchain technology and its possibilities, and thereby helps readers to form an opinion and draw their own conclusions about its potential exploitations. The book begins with a chapter on the topic of decentralized networks, which familiarizes readers with their challenges by using the example of an online trading platform. Hereinafter, it is then detailed what blockchain technology is, where it comes from, and how it works. The necessary underlying technologies are explained, and various individual approaches as well as their composition are presented. Using well-known examples such as Bitcoin and Ethereum as an illustration, the book looks at the architecture of blockchain technology and focuses on the challenges such as security and scalability. The options available when introducing blockchain technology are also outlined, and best-practice examples are presented to get a better idea of what areas benefit from this technology. Numerous examples and detailed explanations will accompany the readers throughout the book. By the time they have reached the end, they will be able to decide for themselves what is truly innovative about blockchain technology and what is nothing more than hype.
Blockchain technology is the buzzword in the world of computer science, but it won't stay limited there for long. It is the concept that has the financial world scrambling to catch up. Whether you are an investor or a private citizen, Blockchain is going to mean a lot to you in the future, hailed by some as the second coming of the Internet. So what is it? And what can you do to get involved?
