- IBM: Blockchain Use for Legal Cannabis Distribution!
- Who succeeds in the first Blockchain ETF?
- Vatican investigating Connection between Cryptocurrencies and Human Trafficking!
- South Korea vs. USA: How to survive a Week only with Bitcoin!
- Pop Star Björk accepts Cryptocurrencies for her new Album!
- Bitcoin Course Challenge Week 5
Apparently, the technology group IBM intends to use the blockchain technology in the future to optimize cannabis sales. The blockchain can increase consumer safety and simplify the regulatory overview of the distribution of the product.
Accordingly, IBM wants to exploit the potential of blockchain for the distribution of cannabis in the states or regions in which the substance is legally to acquire. This is evident from a document published by the Government of the Canadian Province of British Columbia. The IBM initiative comes at a time when British Columbia is working on a regulatory framework for the legalization of cannabis in the province.
The paper states that IBM wants to provide its extensive knowledge of various technologies to help British Columbia find a mechanism. IBM believes that blockchain is the most appropriate technology to track the entire cannabis supply chain - from planting to final sale.
Both the government and the producers and distributors of cannabis benefit from the use of blockchain. The blockchain helps the provincial government gain control over the entire creation process. The origin, the sale and the pricing of the sold product can be tracked by the state. The government can then pass on this data to producers with whom it cooperates. Thus, the respective producer could be aware at an early stage about the supply-demand ratio and recognize consumption trends, according to which he could address himself.
While the Government of British Columbia has not yet made it clear which distribution model it will adopt for cannabis as soon as a regulatory framework exists, IBM believes the government itself will want to play a role in it. Again, an interconnected blockchain network can help maintain clarity, provide a feedback mechanism, and possibly even make predictions.
IBM continues to be one of the pioneers in the use of blockchain technology.
Apparently two stock exchange companies have started to raise an exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the Blockchain since last week. The companies Amplify ETF Trust and Reality Shares are said to have independently taken the initiative to create the first exchange-traded fund for blockchain related businesses.
Over the past week, the financial services provider Amplity ETF Trust, a publicly traded fund company, initially filed a bill with the US financial regulator SEC for the Amplify Blockchain Leaders ETF fund. It will be managed as an actively managed ETF and will list and trade its shares primarily in the New York Stock Exchange catchment area.
One day later, a second application was filed with the SEC, this time from the company Reality Shares ETF Trust. It was about the creation of the Reality Shares Nasdaq Blockchain Economy ETF. Contrary to the above draft, Reality Shares does not plan to list NYSE stocks, but instead focuses on NASDAQ offerings. NASDAQ, Inc. is even listed as a consultant by Reality Shares and accordingly plays a role in the formation of the ETF
However, both applications have in common the exclusive focus on Blockchain companies. Both companies want to invest in such start-ups or companies with a market capitalization of more than $ 200 million.
Both applications are still in their infancy at the moment, so it will take some time to get an ETF assessment. After many unsuccessful attempts to found a Bitcoin ETF, these two motions have at least a different approach.
The Vatican is serious: In its ambitious agenda to put an end to the modern slave trade, the Papal State targets cryptocurrencies. Banker and crypto expert Joseph Mari of the Bank of Montreal was also invited to the Apostolic See at the Vatican conference against human trafficking last weekend. He was to inform about cryptocurrencies as a money-laundering instrument in the mire of human trafficking. With the unusual push, the pontificate is now battling human trafficking in the digital world.
Catholicism and the digital future, paradoxically, may not be mutually exclusive. This is evidenced by an expert hearing in the Vatican last weekend. Rather, the Catholic Church now casts its eyes on the digital in its fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. As reported by Coindesk, Joseph Mari, senior manager of the Canadian Bank of Montreal, was also a guest at the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences last weekend. He was to draw attention to the role of cryptocurrencies as money laundering instrument in human trafficking and was the church men and answer questions. His expertise should strengthen the papal fight against human trafficking.
With this, the church dares to take a promising leap and possibly expand its strategies into the digital space. With his election as Pope in 2013, Francis set the fight against human trafficking at the top of his papal leadership agenda.
According to United Nations estimates, hundreds of thousands of people are illegally sold and exploited in employment relationships every year. 21 million men, women and children work under duress worldwide. Meanwhile, forms of such modern slavery appear in different forms. While women and children often work as sex slaves, thousands in modern debt bondage pay off loans or are tied to employers through temporary employment contracts. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates their unofficial profits from such forced labor at nearly $ 150 billion annually.
Pope Francis would like to address this together with the leaders of other religious communities: According to a joint declaration, by 2020, human trafficking and slavery "for all time" should be part of the past.
Blockchain as an opportunity for developing countries
Another agenda item for Joseph Mari's presentation was the opportunities offered by blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in cashless states. These could help populations in developing countries lacking access to banks and financial services.
said the blockchain and crypto expert on the importance of technologies for the Vatican agenda as a church development agency.
The hearings were part of a three-day program designed to focus on the fight against trafficking in human beings and modern slavery. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in addition to the diplomatic head and Secretary of State of the Vatican, was attended by many members of the Papal leadership.
In South Korea, there is a new reality TV show. In this two actors faced a very special challenge: to survive a week only with Bitcoin payments. One of the actors performed the experiment in South Korea while the other tried their luck in San Francisco.
Bitcoin on TV
South Korean broadcaster Asia Economic TV has produced and aired its own reality TV show, in which two actors have to survive a week on Bitcoin payments. The title of the show is "Stay alive for a week with Bitcoin". Filmed in the United States and South Korea. As the show turns out, countries are not all on the same level of Bitcoin acceptance.
Actor Kim Bo-Sung performed the experiment in South Korea, while actress Yun Song-Ah tried to survive a week in San Francisco with only Bitcoin. Although the actors in this country are unknown, Kim has been seen in 34 films and 13 series, while Yun played in 8 films and 10 TV dramas.
The show showed how the two actors in the countries fared. The rules were simple: Bitcoin payments alone could be made this week. Therefore, it was important that only sellers who accept Bitcoin as a means of payment were found. Participants had to pay for food, lodging and travel expenses during this time in Bitcoin.
Two actors and Bitcoin
Kim Bo-Sung described himself as a "Bitcoin bandit". On the show you could see him paying an optician, a florist, the campsite and a chiropractor with Bitcoin. It often took a while to find a seller who accepted Bitcoin in South Korea.
In contrast, it was easier for Yun Song-Ah to find suitable shopping opportunities. Many companies already accept Bitcoin in San Francisco.
The producer of the show explained that the show showed how to survive in two very different places with Bitcoin. The last two episodes of the program were broadcast last week.
The Icelandic singer Björk will soon release her new album "Utopia". Their fans can also pay for the album with cryptocurrencies.
A partnership with the UK blockchain startup Blockpool will enable the sale. In advance Björk accepts four cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Audiocoin, Litecoin and Dashcoin) and conventional payment methods such as credit card, bank card and Paypal. The artist revealed that Utopia, her ninth album, will be released on November 24th.
Fans who purchase the album in advance will also receive 100 Audiocoins from the label One Little Indian. Audiocoins is a cryptocurrency, especially for the music industry. With Audiocoins you should also be able to receive other cryptocurrencies or conventional money.
Kevin Bacon, CEO of Blockpool, said:
He also said that Blackpool wants to make it easy for people who "know nothing about cryptocurrencies". A plug-in on the side of the label should simplify the payment of the album.
In addition to paying for albums in cryptocurrencies, the music industry is also investigating the potential use of blockchain technology. This could be used to pay artists and songwriters. Further, Slovenian concert booking platform Viberate is aiming to disrupt the industry with blockchain, and boasts bitcoin entrepreneur Charlie Shrem as an advisor.
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