The Intrepid Report Issue #57 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: There are now more than 2,000 cryptocurrencies on CoinMarketCap, while Singapore and Taiwan are making welcoming moves towards cryptocurrency. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on blockchain trade finance platforms, as well as insights on the blockchain-GDPR paradox, designing for blockchain, fundamental rights, and much more. … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #57 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: There are now more than 2,000 cryptocurrencies on CoinMarketCap, while Singapore and Taiwan are making welcoming moves towards cryptocurrency. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on blockchain trade finance platforms, as well as insights on the blockchain-GDPR paradox, designing for blockchain, fundamental rights, and much more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

Number of Cryptocurrencies on CoinMarketCap Surpasses 2,000
Before 2009 there were zero cryptos, and when Bitcoin launched in January 2009 it was the only one of its kind, a situation which persisted for years. As of October 3, 2019, the number of cryptos on CoinMarketCap surpassed 2,000, which reveals that the crypto space is flourishing despite the market downturn during 2018. Check out some other interesting figures here.
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Temasek’s Vertex Invests in Cryptocurrency Exchange Binance to Expand in Singapore
Vertex Ventures, the venture capital arm of Temasek Holdings, said it made an investment in Binance to develop a fiat-to-cryptocurrency exchange in Singapore. For Vertex, the oldest venture-capital firm in South-east Asia, investing in the crypto-market is a nod to a relatively new industry that is starting to see institutional money slowly back projects.
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Taiwan Drafting National ICO Standards
The Taiwanese Financial Supervisory Commission is drafting a set of national standards for initial coin offerings. The regulator reportedly aims to make tokens as easy to invest and as liquid as stocks. The Commission emphasizes that it “has no intention of curbing the creativity and productivity associated with cryptocurrencies if they are not used as securities.”
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

Global Trade Rewired: Exploring Blockchain Trade Finance Platforms
Trade finance is a centuries-old industry that has played a pivotal role in the creation of a competitive and productive global economy. But legacy trade finance platforms built on old world technologies are rapidly proving ill-equipped to handle the globalized nature of the economy and increased speed of trade flows. Here’s how blockchain technology can build the global and dynamic trade finance platforms of the future.
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Want to be a Thought Leader in Blockchain?
Apply to be a contributor to The Blockchain Review. Reach thousands of entrepreneurs, investors and blockchain enthusiasts globally.
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Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

Blockchain GDPR Paradox: Is it a Rising Conflict Between Law and Technology?
GDPR is a new law that protects data security and promotes more control over a person’s individual information and data on digital platforms. Since GDPR became law on 25th May 2018, there is a growing debate among tech experts how it will affect the Blockchain. In fact, the debate is more about how to find a way for blockchain around the GDPR, or how to make it GDPR compliant. Is there really a conflict between GDPR and blockchain technology?
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Designing for Blockchain: What’s Different and What’s at Stake
Blockchain technology is redefining the concept of trust and transforming how we think about the structures of everyday life, from identity to economics, and government. It pushes designers to think systemically and at larger scales — redefining our role and value on teams that are committed to building the decentralized future. Here are some pointers on how to design for trust around a “trustless” technology.
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Application of Blockchain Technology in the Manufacturing Industry
Do you know how blockchain can transform traditional industries? This paper shows both the high potential of blockchain for the manufacturing and machine tool industry in the future, as well as the challenges that occur with that technology. Several use cases of blockchain technology are discussed and conditions under which blockchain solutions might be most beneficial are also covered.
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Virtual Currencies and Fundamental Rights
Virtual currencies, like Bitcoin, raise new legal questions due to their innovative technological concepts. While academic research covers nearly all areas of the technological concepts of those currencies, legal studies have not discussed the relationship between AML regulation (regarding virtual currencies), crime prevention (in conjunction with virtual currencies), the prosecution of crimes involving virtual currencies and fundamental rights. This paper examines the above topics in detail.
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Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

Metabase Network Main Sale 2 – Final Bonus
Main Sale 2 offers a 5% bonus, which will be the last round of bonus sales for the ICO. To allow more users to buy into the sale, the minimum contribution is 5 USD and the buying process has been simplified to 5 minutes.
Buy Now

We are Hiring! Build the Future With Us
We are hiring back-end (Golang, C++) and blockchain protocol engineers! If you are imaginative and can make abstract ideas practical, useful, but totally out of the ordinary, and have a passion for blockchain, apply to join us.
Apply Now

3 Simple Steps to Invite Friends and Get More Tokens
Earn 5% Metabase tokens when your friends buy tokens using your invite link! Simply buy Metabase tokens (min. 5 USD) and send your invite link to friends to start earning. By using your invite link, you are also giving your friends additional bonuses of 1-5% on their first purchase.
Invite Friends

Let’s Shake up the Tech Event Industry in Asia!
We want to know what you want when it comes to events in the digital, innovation and tech space. What’s lacking? What’s awesome? Let us know here!
Let Us Know

Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

The Intrepid Report Issue #53 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: Google ends its ban on certain cryptocurrency ads, and Coinbase launches a crypto index fund for retail buyers. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on blockchain technology’s role in supply chain and healthcare transformation, as well as insights on blockchain in healthcare, stablecoins, the PwC global … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #53 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: Google ends its ban on certain cryptocurrency ads, and Coinbase launches a crypto index fund for retail buyers. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on blockchain technology’s role in supply chain and healthcare transformation, as well as insights on blockchain in healthcare, stablecoins, the PwC global blockchain survey, and much more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

Google Ends Cryptocurrency Ad Ban — But Only for Certain Kinds of Ads
Starting this month, Google is reversing part of its sweeping ban on cryptocurrency-related advertising and plans to allow regulated crypto exchanges to buy ads in the United States and Japan. Facebook also started allowing some types of cryptocurrency-related advertising back on its platform in June.
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Blockchain could Improve Transparency in Africa’s Commodity Market
Corruption, mismanagement and opaque business practices have for decades defined Africa’s commodity markets. Governments such as Kenya’s have set up task forces to study the benefits and challenges. The decentralized, distributed ledger technology is also being used to disrupt everything from agriculture in Kenya and savings in Zimbabwe to trade in Nigeria and land fraud in Ghana.
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Coinbase Launches Poor Man’s Crypto Index Fund for Retail Buyers
Coinbase is launching “Coinbase Bundles,” a pre-packaged collection of five cryptocurrencies. The Bundle consists of Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Ethereum Classic (ETC). A bundle of five cryptocurrencies can be purchased for a meager sum of $25, and will be introduced to the U.S., E.U, and U.K markets in the coming weeks.
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

Using Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency and Traceability
The supply chains of today have become difficult to manage and incapable of supporting the complex, on-demand and geographically dispersed production and supply cycles which characterize the globalized digital economy. There is a pressing need for companies to seek out innovative technological tools like blockchain to ensure competitiveness. This article covers the key problems that blockchain can address in the supply chain industry.
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Blockchain Applications in Healthcare: Unlocking a Future of Untapped Potential
Ever wondered about blockchain applications in healthcare? This post will give you a well-rounded introduction to the transformative potential of blockchain in healthcare as well as set out the complex interrelated issues that stand in the way of change.
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Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

The ICO Market is Not Collapsing. It’s Maturing.
Despite a rash of claims to the contrary, the ICO market remains quite robust with $1.4 billion raised in August — an increase of 44% over the prior month. All signs point to a maturing ICO market: fundraising grows more competitive, more established companies wade in, and security tokens show their first signs of life. For the first time, Singapore hosted more ICOs than the U.S.
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How Blockchain Is Impacting Healthcare And Life Sciences Today
We are now seeing a rapid expansion of blockchain-based technology offerings, many of them in the Healthcare and Pharma/Biotech spaces. Though still in the early days and many of these value propositions remain little more than prototypes, the rate of evolution is surprisingly fast. Here’s a review of some of the emerging use-cases and where blockchain in healthcare will head in the imminent future.
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Here’s Everything You Need to Know about Stablecoins
A ‘stablecoin’ is a cryptocurrency that’s price is pegged to a real-world asset like gold or the dollar. With over 50 projects in development, here’s a guide to what they’re used for, how they work, and why people are excited about them. The guide also covers the challenges that stablecoins face to give you a balanced perspective before you jump in.
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Blockchain in Business – PwC Global Blockchain Survey
Everyone is talking about blockchain, and no one wants to be left behind. As a distributed, tamperproof ledger, a well-designed blockchain doesn’t just cut out intermediaries, reduce costs, and increase speed and reach. It also offers greater transparency and traceability for many business processes. Gartner forecasts that blockchain will generate an annual business value of more than US $3 trillion by 2030. Here are four strategies for blockchain business success, and more.
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Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

Simon Phipps joins Metabase Network Advisory Board
We are excited to announce that Simon Phipps has joined as an advisor. Simon has over 25 years experience in the insurance industry. He currently leads global development and blockchain initiatives at The Digital Insurer, the worlds leading forum for digital innovation in insurance. Read on for more of Simon’s expertise and the reason he joined Metabase!
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Let’s Shake up the Tech Event Industry in Asia!
We want to know what you want when it comes to events in the digital, innovation and tech space. What’s lacking? What’s awesome? Let us know here!
Let Us Know

Exclusive Bonus Coupon for Metabase Tokens
Main sale 1 offers a 15% token bonus and it is going on right now. Use this exclusive bonus coupon code MBT-4f7k and get extra bonus tokens for all purchases starting from as low as 5 USD! You can buy Metabase tokens with your Credit Card, Ethereum, Bitcoin and popular currencies like BitcoinCash, XRP, Litecoin, Bancor, and many more!
Buy Tokens

3 Simple Steps to Invite Friends and Get More Tokens
Earn 5% Metabase tokens when your friends buy tokens using your invite link! Simply buy Metabase tokens (min. 5 USD) and send your invite link to friends to start earning. By using your invite link, you are also giving your friends additional bonuses of 1-5% on their first purchase.
Invite Friends

Webinar: Blockchain Digital Marketing & Sales Masterclass
If you’re one of the many out there assembling a company that is fueled by blockchain technology, you’ll find yourself not only having to stand out from the crowd but also having to establish trust in for your technology and organisation. Join us in this webinar on defining a successful content marketing strategy, thought leadership through content, building a community of followers, leveraging analytics and automation to make smarter and quicker decisions.
Sign Up

Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

The Intrepid Report Issue #54 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: Prominent thought leaders and organisations in South Korea and the United States are advocating for changes in blockchain and crypto regulations, and Yale University invests in a crypto fund. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on crypto assets – a new digital asset class, as well … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #54 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: Prominent thought leaders and organisations in South Korea and the United States are advocating for changes in blockchain and crypto regulations, and Yale University invests in a crypto fund. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on crypto assets – a new digital asset class, as well as insights on blockchain in clean tech innovation, how the blockchain could flip Google’s ad economy, and much more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

Why A Bill To Define Blockchain Could Be ‘Dangerous’
After a bill aimed at establishing a definition for blockchain technology was introduced in Congress, a few in the crypto community raised concerns. Here’s why a definition of blockchain could impact technological innovation and development.
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South Korean Regulators Discuss Proposals for ICO Legislation
It has been about a year since ICOs were banned in South Korea, but the government has yet to introduce a set of guidelines for them. Korean lawmakers are increasingly pushing for the regulation of ICOs with multiple bills currently pending at the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the Korean Blockchain Association has also come up with its own set of self-regulatory guidelines for crypto exchanges and ICOs. Here’s more on future directions in South Korean regulations.
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Yale Invests in Crypto Fund That Raised $400 Million
Yale University, the Ivy League school that has invested in everything from Puerto Rican bonds to timber in New Hampshire, is getting into the market for cryptocurrencies. The university is said to be one of the investors that helped to raise $400 million for a major new cryptocurrency-focused fund, Paradigm. This fund reportedly plans to invest in “early-stage” crypto-focused projects, new blockchains and digital asset exchanges. Here’s why Yale’s decision matters.
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The SEC’s Approval Of a Bitcoin ETF and the Associated Consequences
Despite the dismal performance of crypto assets, this space continues to receive attention from prominent thought leaders in traditional capital markets, making it evident that this industry shows promise and is much more than a well-thought-out fad or trend. Read on for reasons on why crypto is here to stay.
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

Crypto Assets: Beyond Cryptocurrencies to a New Digital Asset Class
Cryptocurrencies have proliferated rapidly ever since the inception of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Since then, a whole new digital asset class has developed which arguably represents the most significant investment opportunity since the Internet. Understanding this emerging crypto asset class is critical for the development of new businesses, smarter investment strategies and the diversification of traditional portfolios.
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Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

Blockchain Is A Clean Tech Innovation Catalyst
The electricity grids that power our global economy are undergoing greater, more rapid transformation than any time in their history. With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), centralized, cloud-based supercomputing is no longer sufficient for running critical energy infrastructure for the future grid due to two crucial shortcomings. Firstly, centralized supercomputing is relatively and unacceptably insecure, with a single point of failure vulnerable to cyber or other attack. Secondly, the capacity of centralized computing is limited. Here’s why the cleantech industry should pay attention to blockchain.
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What if Ethereum Never Switches its Core Consensus Algorithm?
It’s an idea that may sound blasphemous to developers building the world’s second-largest blockchain, where plans have long been laid for a transition away from bitcoin’s proof-of-work model to a more egalitarian alternative – proof-of-stake (PoS). Yet, several mining companies have invested millions in building specialized mining chips (also called ASICs) for Ethereum, machinery that will only function as long as the network does not switch to PoS. Here’s more on why entrepreneurs continue to invest in building ASICs for Ethereum.
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The 310 BTC Challenge
This is a challenge in which 310 BTC is hidden in the picture shown on the webpage. Whoever finds the key to the coins may keep the Bitcoins. Have fun cracking the code!
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Introducing Cloudflare’s IPFS Gateway to Support Distributed Web Hosting and Serving
Currently, when a user tries to access a website from their browser, their computer tracks down and send a request to a server located somewhere around the world. The server will respond by sending back the content requested to the requester. But when the server is unavailable for some reason (e.g. natural disasters, the owner decides to take it down), the content becomes unavailable. That’s the downside of centralized hosting and the Internet as we know it. The InterPlanetary File System (IFS) that embraces the content decentralization idea aims at changing that by embracing a new decentralized version of the web. Here’s how it works!
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How the Blockchain could Flip Google’s Advertising Economy
Services such as Google and Facebook are free because users are willing to share information about themselves. You are the product, as the saying goes – platforms are incentivised to gain as many users and personal data as they can. Advertising has become the de facto economic driver of the internet, but adherence to a business model that collects personal data to be sold to third parties could change as we see models based on blockchain and tokens. Handled in the right way, tokens need not be extractive, but add value, not just to the platform but to all its users.
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Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

How to Survive in the Crypto Bear Market – Blockchain Fair Asia Panel Discussion
Our Managing Director & Co-Founder, Collin Thompson, will be participating in a panel discussion with leading VC professionals at Blockchain Fair Asia 2018 (October 11-12, 2018 Manila). If you’re in Manila, don’t miss this opportunity to hear insights on challenges faced by blockchain start-ups in South East Asia and how to survive in the crypto bear market.
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Why Blockchain Technology Matters: Building Future-Proof Businesses
The drivers of business success have changed. If you’re an entrepreneur or business owner, you’ve probably noticed the business environment is a lot faster, more global, interconnected, digitized and much more competitive than in years past. Forget the hype and BS. Here’s why entrepreneurs must embrace blockchain technology.
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Blockchain Marketing Landscape Review
In our webinar series with Hubspot, Collin Thompson discusses what’s going on in the blockchain and ICO industry & how Metabase Network is developing a global community. If you are running a blockchain company, read on for insights on how to successfully market a blockchain company and build sustainable blockchain businesses.
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Metabase Network Main Sale 1 Ends Next Week!
Your 15% bonus ends when main sale 1 closes. Use this exclusive bonus coupon code MBT-4f7k and get extra bonus tokens of up to 5000 MBT tokens! You can buy any amount of tokens starting from as low as 5 USD! The token process is so simple it literally takes less than 5 minutes to complete your token order. Try it out now.
Buy Tokens

3 Simple Steps to Invite Friends and Get More Tokens
Earn 5% Metabase tokens when your friends buy tokens using your invite link! Simply buy Metabase tokens (min. 5 USD) and send your invite link to friends to start earning. By using your invite link, you are also giving your friends additional bonuses of 1-5% on their first purchase.
Invite Friends

Let’s Shake up the Tech Event Industry in Asia!
We want to know what you want when it comes to events in the digital, innovation and tech space. What’s lacking? What’s awesome? Let us know here!
Let Us Know

Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

The Intrepid Report Issue #61 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: Despite price lows, the fundamentals of Bitcoin and blockchain technology remain intact. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on how blockchain can transform real estate and property, as well as insights on the 7,000 year history of trust, the future of identity, and much more. Check … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #61 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: Despite price lows, the fundamentals of Bitcoin and blockchain technology remain intact. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on how blockchain can transform real estate and property, as well as insights on the 7,000 year history of trust, the future of identity, and much more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

Bitcoin Fundamentals ‘Still Intact’ Despite Price Lows
The combination of entry-level investors piling in during 2017, regulatory uncertainty and standard principles of supply and demand resulted in the 2018 bear market. However, the fundamentals of the industry are still intact, says blockchain intelligence group.
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State of Blockchains Q3: VC Investments Soaring to an All-Time High
Speculators flee while the industry shifts more towards thinking about the role of tokens not just as fundraising mechanism but also as a business model innovation. Venture capital financing is moving earlier in the funding cycle at Seed or Series A, and governments around the world look to create friendly environments for blockchain startups.
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Thai SEC Warns Against 14 Unauthorized Cryptocurrency Operators
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against 14 websites whose operators have been soliciting customers to buy and sell cryptocurrencies and related products. According to Thailand’s cryptocurrency regulations which went into effect in May, companies wanting to conduct crypto business in the country must obtain approval from the Thai SEC, the country’s main crypto regulator.
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

How Blockchain can Transform Real Estate & Property
Buying, selling and renting property is expensive, slow and stressful. In this article, we’ll revisit the topic of how blockchain technology can fundamentally transform real estate and property.
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Want to be a Thought Leader in Blockchain?
Apply to be a contributor to The Blockchain Review. Reach thousands of entrepreneurs, investors and blockchain enthusiasts globally.
Contribute  Now


Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

Edward Snowden Explains Blockchain to His Lawyer — and the Rest of Us
Blockchains can be boring, inefficient, and wasteful, but, if well designed, they’re practically impossible to tamper with. As with all new technologies, there will be disruption and there will be abuse. The real question is not “what is a blockchain,” but “how can it be used?
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A 7,000 Year History of Trust with MIT’s Michael Casey
To the average scholar, the idea of record keeping may not stir the imagination like the great conquests and cataclysms of the ages, but according to MIT’s Michael Casey, record keeping and the trust it begets have played a foundational role in the development of civilization. Here’s how centralized record keeping has played an integral role in civilization, and why blockchain represents such a profound leap forward.
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The Future Of Identity
To learn about identity in a cyber-physical world, today’s identity concepts should be left behind. When learning about identity in the cyber-physical world we must not be biased by our today’s concepts of identity. We must acknowledge that identity is fundamentally changing. Read on for how your identity is evolving over time and what the future holds.
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The Crypto Insurance Market May Total $6 Billion. That’s Nowhere Near Enough
As Wall Street raises the stakes around cryptocurrency, large institutional players are circling this new asset class. A critical condition for making institutions feel at home is providing adequate insurance against theft for all their custodied assets. The problem is that there’s not enough of this insurance to go around. Here’s a deeper look at the root of the problem.
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Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

Get More Bonus Tokens by Inviting Your Friends
Earn 5% Metabase tokens when your friends buy tokens using your invite link! Simply buy Metabase tokens (min. 5 USD) and send your invite link to friends to start earning. By using your invite link, you are also giving your friends additional bonuses of 1-5% on their first purchase.
Invite Friends

We are Hiring! Build the Future With Us
We are looking for back-end developers with knowledge and experiences in Go, C++ and LLVM. If you are imaginative and can make abstract ideas practical, useful, but totally out of the ordinary, and have a passion for blockchain, apply to join us.
Apply Now

Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

The Intrepid Report Issue #60 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: The IMF discussed why central banks should issue their own cryptocurrencies, and a crypto ETP will start trading on Switzerland’s stock exchange next week. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on How to Find and Hire a Blockchain Developer, as well as insights on hard forks, … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #60 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: The IMF discussed why central banks should issue their own cryptocurrencies, and a crypto ETP will start trading on Switzerland’s stock exchange next week. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on How to Find and Hire a Blockchain Developer, as well as insights on hard forks, blockchain in real estate and healthcare, a deep dive into crypto market caps, and much more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

IMF Says Governments Could Set Up Their Own Cryptocurrencies
Head of the International Monetary Fund made a case for why governments should consider offering their own digital currencies to prevent the systems from becoming havens for fraudsters and money launderers. A system regulated by central banks could become the basis for a rapid expansion of financial services to developing world countries and much more.
Read More

Switzerland Green Lights World’s First Crypto ETP to be Listed Next Week
The exchange-traded product (ETP) is to start trading next week on Europe’s fourth-biggest traditional stock exchange, SIX Swiss Exchange, with a market capitalization of $1.6 trillion. This ETP will give both institutional and retail investors access and exposure to cryptocurrencies. Here’s more on how ETPs work and how they are different from exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
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The Bitcoin Cash Hash War Has No Real Winners
The Bitcoin Cash blockchain has split into two separate networks, each kicking off a new cryptocurrency. Now that Bitcoin Cash has forked into two rivalling cryptocurrencies – BAB, maintained by Bitcoin-ABC, and BSV, maintained by Craig Wright’s nChain – it remains to be seen which network will surface as the dominant chain. Here’s more on the status of the fork.
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Hedge Funds Seek ICO-Like Returns With Equity-Charged Tokens
Hedge funds aren’t giving up on cryptocurrencies just yet. This time around they’re betting on a new crop of equity-like digital tokens that appreciate when usage of the underlying stable coins increases. With promises of decreasing volatility by serving as a conduit to facilitate trading between other tokens, stable coins have become one of the hottest sectors in crypto. Read on to find out why.
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

How to Find and Hire a Blockchain Developer
Even as the recent explosion of Initial Coin Offerings (ICO’s) subsides, demand for developers far outstrips the number of talented and experienced individuals available. If your company has been trying to get ahead of the innovation curve and build blockchain projects or capabilities, you probably believe that there just aren’t that many great blockchain developers out there. That’s not entirely true, and here is why.
Read More

Want to be a Thought Leader in Blockchain?
Apply to be a contributor to The Blockchain Review. Reach thousands of entrepreneurs, investors and blockchain enthusiasts globally.
Contribute  Now


Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

Video – Blockchain Takes Manhattan
Here’s how blockchain is creating an impact in the real estate industry, from providing liquidity in an illiquid market to allowing more people to own a portion of valuable physical assets. This video showcases how a 36.5 million dollar condominium was sliced into digital shares, and how you could own a piece of it.
Watch Now

Crypto Market Cap: An In-Depth Review & Survey Of Emerging Alternatives
This piece is a guide to the metric that dominates discussions of value in cryptocurrencies: market capitalization. We will take a closer look into topics like Why Metrics Matter, The Non-Crypto Origins of Market Cap, 4 Major Critiques of Market Cap, A Review Of Market Cap Alternatives, and much more.
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What You Need to Know About The Controversial Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork
Many people are talking about the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) hard fork. So what exactly is it about and how does it affect the BCH community? Here are some details on the backstory and the journey ahead.
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How Blockchain Technology Could Disrupt Healthcare
The healthcare industry is plagued by inefficiencies, errors, bureaucracy, and high administrative costs. Could blockchain technology help solve some of these challenges? This report analyses where blockchain is likely to be integrated into healthcare in the short, medium, and long-term, based on known stakeholders, scalability requirements, and necessary safeguards.
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What is a Hard Fork?
Don’t know what a hard fork is yet? Here’s an article that explains hard forks, soft forks, and protocol upgrades with diagrams and concise summaries.
Read More 


Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

Video – Can Blockchain Bring Prosperity to The Global Poor?
Is blockchain destined to be just another wealthy person’s tool? Zach Piester, our co-founder and Chief Development Officer talks about the barriers to access in many markets, but also about the potential for Blockchain to unlock new business opportunities.
Watch Now

Metabase Network Main Sale 3
This is our last bonus sale round! Build future-proof businesses for scale and impact. Be part of building the technology that will power smart cities, supply chain and manufacturing, the financial industry, and more.
Buy Now

We are Hiring! Build the Future With Us
We are looking for back-end developers with knowledge and experiences in Go, C++ and LLVM. If you are imaginative and can make abstract ideas practical, useful, but totally out of the ordinary, and have a passion for blockchain, apply to join us.
Apply Now

Invite Your Friends and Get 5% Bonus Tokens
Earn 5% Metabase tokens when your friends buy tokens using your invite link! Simply buy Metabase tokens (min. 5 USD) and send your invite link to friends to start earning. By using your invite link, you are also giving your friends additional bonuses of 1-5% on their first purchase.
Invite Friends

Let’s Shake up the Tech Event Industry in Asia!
We want to know what you want when it comes to events in the digital, innovation and tech space. What’s lacking? What’s awesome? Let us know here!
Let Us Know

Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

The Intrepid Report Issue #51 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: France passed one of the most progressive legislation on ICOs this week, and a BTC trust has achieved mutual fund status in Canada. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on Smart Cities and the new digital economy, as well as insights on the next steps for … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #51 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: France passed one of the most progressive legislation on ICOs this week, and a BTC trust has achieved mutual fund status in Canada. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on Smart Cities and the new digital economy, as well as insights on the next steps for blockchain technology, and much more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

France Passes the Most Progressive Legislation on ICOs, Bank Accounts to be Guaranteed
The French parliament has passed on Wednesday what looks like the most progressive and the most innovative legislative framework on Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). That makes them the world’s first national legislative body to pass a law on ICOs and on the surface it looks like a very reasonable regulatory framework. Here’s more on what the framework encompasses.
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Bitcoin Mutual Fund Launches in Canada
This week, First Block Capital Inc, a Canadian blockchain and cryptocurrency investment company, announced that its Bitcoin (BTC) trust has achieved mutual fund status in Canada. This movement will allow accredited investors to deposit their fund units into accounts which provide substantial tax benefits for retirement and savings purposes. Read on for the impact of this development.
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Two US-Audited Stablecoins Debut, Experts See Massive Impact on Crypto Market
Stablecoins has become a popular topic recently. Paxos and Gemini officially announced the introduction of two stablecoins, both of which are backed by the U.S. dollar on a 1:1 basis. Experts believe that the emergence of fully audited, legitimate and licensed stablecoins will have a profound impact on the crypto market, especially in the long-term, as it provides investors a way to retain value without being exposed to the volatility of the market.
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

Blockchain, Smart Cities, and the New Digital Economy
A technologically accelerating and globalizing world means governments in both developed and developing countries must tackle increasingly complex issues. From economic volatility to mass migration, money laundering, and terrorism, here’s how blockchain technology can be used to build smarter cities, attract human capital and cultivate Industry 4.0.
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Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

The Second Blockchain Bubble is Now Complete — What’s Next?
The last few months haven’t been easy for crypto investors. Beyond reading the latest token prices, it is time for us to get back to the real work of building up this new technology and turning it into the revolution it one day could be. Here are several veins of research and development around blockchain that are deeply exciting, if we have the patience to see them through.
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Gemini Dollar Code Review Reveals the Stablecoin’s Accounts Can Be Frozen
This week a blockchain researcher published a code review on the new stablecoin, the gemini dollar, created by the Gemini Trust cryptocurrency firm. According to Lebed’s study, gemini dollar accounts can be frozen by the exchange, and the tokens can be turned into non-transferable assets. Read on for the implications of such code functions on stablecoins.
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Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

Buy Metabase Tokens with Bitcoin and Altcoins
You can finally buy tokens using Bitcoin and altcoins! We have integrated with ShapeShift, which supports Bitcoin and popular altcoins like BitcoinCash, Ether Classic, Litecoin, Bancor, and many more! The main sale offers a 15% bonus and we will be announcing our referral program that allows you to earn even more tokens for free!
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Metabase Network Blog
Many of you have been asking for more information on the Metabase Network project. Here are the updated articles, news, and technical deep dives on our project blog. We would love to hear suggestions and feedback from our community on what articles your would like to see next! Feel free to send us a message on Telegram or our live chat on the blog.
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How to Create an Ethereum Wallet on MetaMask
Many people have been reaching out to us about what an Ethereum wallet is and how to set it up. We are definitely hyped that there’s so much interest in the blockchain space and understand it could get confusing for beginners. Follow Julien from our team as he brings you through how to set up MetaMask, one of the most popular and user friendly Ethereum wallets, all in less than 5 minutes!
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Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

Blockchain & Crypto Hype Cycle: Where We’re at and What’s Coming Next – Blockchain Review

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency have been on a wild ride since 2008. Epic booms, busts, wild swings, scams and a lack of real-world implementation have led many to dismiss the technology as overhyped and valueless. But a closer look at the last decade reveals blockchain has thus far had a typical journey for an emerging … Continue reading “Blockchain & Crypto Hype Cycle: Where We’re at and What’s Coming Next – Blockchain Review”

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency have been on a wild ride since 2008. Epic booms, busts, wild swings, scams and a lack of real-world implementation have led many to dismiss the technology as overhyped and valueless.

But a closer look at the last decade reveals blockchain has thus far had a typical journey for an emerging technology on the road to maturity and adoption. A journey that’s evident in the rise of many other innovative and game-changing technologies.

The Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies was first published in 1995 and is somewhat of an institution in high tech. It proposed a standard adoption model and process for new technologies on their path to becoming a mature technology.

Here are descriptions of each stage direct from Gartner.

Innovation trigger – A potential technology breakthrough kicks things off. Early proof-of-concept stories and media interest trigger significant publicity. Often no usable products exist and commercial viability is unproven.

Peak of inflated expectations – Early publicity produces a number of success stories — often accompanied by scores of failures. Some companies take action; many do not.

Trough of disillusionment – Interest wanes as experiments and implementations fail to deliver. Producers of the technology shake out or fail. Investments continue only if the surviving providers improve their products to the satisfaction of early adopters.

Slope of enlightenment – More instances of how the technology can benefit the enterprise start to crystallize and become more widely understood. Second- and third-generation products appear from technology providers. More enterprises fund pilots; conservative companies remain cautious.

Plateu of productivity – Mainstream adoption starts to take off. Criteria for assessing provider viability are more clearly defined. The technology’s broad market applicability and relevance are clearly paying off.

 Blockchain’s Innovation Trigger – The Bitcoin Whitepaper

Blockchain technology’s innovation trigger came in the form of a white paper written by a mysterious figure in 2008 named Satoshi Nakamoto. The white paper titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System shared the workings for a new digital currency system that didn’t rely on banks to facilitate transactions or governments to create and disseminate the currency. Although the proposed bitcoin payment system was exciting, it was the mechanics of how it worked that was truly revolutionary. As it turned out, the main technical innovation was not actually the digital currency itself but the technology that lay behind it, known today as blockchain.

In the following few years after the white paper is released, word begins to spread amongst technology insiders, businesses and at conferences. These years also witnessed the birth of altcoins such as Namecoin, Litecoin, OpenCoin (Ripple) and other more privacy-focused coins like DASH, Monero, and ZCash.

Peak of Inflated Expectations – ICOs, Lambos & FOMO

The peak of inflated expectations arguably started with the rise of Ethereum in 2014 but reached crazy levels in 2017 where market mania and speculation took over. Pure speculation led token and coin prices to go through the roof. The Bitcoin price hit just under USD 20,000 a rise of around 1900% from the beginning of 2017 while the price of Ether with all its technological constraints remaining unsolved rose 13,000%.

You may remember this guy.

It was the advent of Ethereum back in 2014 that ultimately enabled the explosion of new projects and coins and the subsequent mania. Developers had for the first time a platform to build and deploy other decentralized applications but Ethereum also gave birth to a new fundraising mechanism called an Initial Coin Offerings (ICO), which sent the cryptosphere to the peak of inflated heights.

Overall, the period of time from 2014-2017 saw expectations reach unprecedented levels with hundreds of startups and tokens being created, some seemingly overnight, and billions of dollars invested in projects with little promise. The vast majority of projects have since failed to gain traction and many have also been exposed as scams taking advantage of the euphoric and unrealistic expectations of the public.

Talk of the potentially revolutionary nature of blockchain technology hit its peak and expanded to a larger segment of the population and business community. Blockchain technology was idealized as a panacea to every known problem in the world and became the hot topic in the tech and business community. Some corporations, like the Long Island Iced Tea Corp., merely renamed themselves to include the word blockchain and witnessed their share price soar 289%.

Of course, during this time, a few success stories emerged as well and established multinational companies in banking, insurance, healthcare, and many others industries began to take legitimate steps to develop solutions. Enterprises started a more in-depth exploration of the technology through consortiums and R&D initiatives and some produced working prototypes and tested the technology in the real world.

Trough of disillusionment – 2018’s reality check

This is where blockchain and crypto are now. 2018 has been a dramatic year with general sentiment now one of skepticism and caution. Prices have dropped significantly, projects are failing at high rates and people are unsure whether the technical issues impacting adoption such as scalability and usability can be overcome. Real-world use cases are still being defined and publicly available blockchain solutions are relatively few in number when compared to the technology’s level of hype. 

According to Gartner, blockchain technology is officially entering the trough of disillusionment. And there’s plenty of evidence to suggest this is correct.

Huge price drops

At the end of 2017, Bitcoin hit an all-time high of USD 19,783. At the time of writing, it sits at around USD 6300. Ethereum’s price has experienced a total decline of approximately 76% in 2018, according to data from CoinDesk. The same goes for most other altcoins. A large number of investors have lost a lot of money which has, in turn, dragged down disillusionment and spread negative sentiment even further.

Projects are failing, ICOs aren’t fashionable & funding has dried up

The failure rate of ICOs has skyrocketed in 2018, some research indicating that well over 50% of ICOs fail and do so rather quickly. It’s become much harder for projects to raise funding as there is now widespread skepticism around scams and the potential for meaningful ROIs on ICOs. Even blockchain startups that have managed to navigate the market downturn are struggling and have needed to go back to the drawing board.

The overall view, especially among the retail investor community toward ICOs and blockchain projects is now one of distrust. There is also a far greater acknowledgment of the speculative, risky and dangerous nature of these types of ventures.

Enterprises slow at delivering on blockchain initiatives

Due to a variety of technological, regulatory and cost-related reasons, only a small portion of enterprises have delivered real-world blockchain driven products and services. R&D initiatives and moving beyond PoC to the pilot stage is proving slow and difficult. Some enterprises have even shelved their blockchain related efforts sighting regulatory and market uncertainty as well as a knowledge gap.

What’s coming next  – Promising signs of maturity 

According to Gartner’s 2018 Hype Cycle, blockchain technology is entering the trough of disillusionment stage. Precisely how long this will last is unknown, however, the average length of the trough ranges for emerging technologies is from two to four years. Some rapidly moving innovations mature much faster, only suffering from a slump of six to twelve months.

Of course, there are no guarantees that emerging technologies will make it out of the trough of disillusionment stage of the Hype Cycle. There are many examples of technologies that have failed to catch fire like Ultrawideband and RSS Enterprise. Other emerging technologies like Speech Recognition have taken decades longer than expected to reach full maturity.

There are good signs that blockchain technology will not be added to this list. In fact, the technology could be further along the Hype Cycle than Gartner has concluded. Blockchain is showing signs that are usually associated with an emerging technology in the Slope of Enlightenment stage.

  • Companies improving products on the basis of early feedback.
  • More instances of how the technology can benefit enterprises start to crystallize and become more widely understood and used.
  • More enterprises funding pilots.
  • Second- and third-generation products appear from technology providers.
  • The reputation of the technology rising again.

Banks and Wall Street are warming up

There are signs that banks will soon be more open to partnering with projects to help with their day to day operations. The Swiss Bankers Association has issued guidelines to banks that wish to do business with startups and The Monetary Authority of Singapore has said it is willing to help cryptocurrency companies secure banking services by bringing the banks and cryptocurrency startups together to reach an understanding.

Some of the biggest names on Wall Street are warming up to trading Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as well. The parent company of the New York Stock Exchange has been working on an online trading platform that would allow large investors to buy and hold Bitcoin, Goldman Sachs has started registering clients for its new Bitcoin trading desk, and over 70 of the largest banks have joined in an unprecedented move to adopt blockchain based payments systems. The Australian Securities Exchange and the Vanguard Group are well on their way to implementing blockchain in 2018 after successful pilots. These are just a few examples.

More enterprises are funding pilots and moving into production

Blockchain has grabbed the attention of enterprises in a wide range of industries. After a long period of R&D, major enterprises are moving beyond pilots toward production. IBM alone is working with hundreds of enterprises on blockchain implementations. The latest tally is that there have been tens of thousands of blockchain pilots run within corporations, some of which are moving into full implementation.

Cypherium, developed by former software developers at Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Tencent has released a beta version of its enterprise blockchain ready for use in the wild. There’s also the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI) made up of 30 members including Ford, Renault, BMW, GM, Bosch, IBM, Hyperledger and IOTA which is developing standardspilot projects, and open source software tools. Most major Fortune 500 companies, from insurance and finance to retail and manufacturing are developing pilots and real-world services using blockchain technology.

Regulatory advancements

The regulatory landscape is shifting and advancing. Regulators in many countries are taking real steps to crack down on scams, and are also producing research papers, standards and introducing new regulations.

One of the first countries to begin building a regulatory framework for blockchain projects was Switzerland. The country has proposed an idea for minimizing regulations while still keeping companies in line with legislation through ‘sandboxes’ which allow startups to experiment and innovate within controlled conditions.

Britain and Singapore have been exploring their blockchain and crypto regulatory environment as well, providing a platform which enables companies to experiment under relaxed regulation and licensing requirements. The upper house of the UK Parliament has also published an inquiry on crypto-assets and the G20, EU, and many other bodies are all actively investigating the implementation of new regulations that will spur innovation in the blockchain sector. In the US, the New York Attorney General’s Office recently launched the most comprehensive study on exchanges.

A rise of enterprise custodial products and services

Custody solutions have begun to emerge which is expected to catalyze the entry of institutional capital into the industry. Coinbase has announced its Coinbase Custody product upon completion of their first successful deposit. The multinational investment bank, Citigroup, has announced that it will offer crypto custody solutions to institutional investors. Citigroup launched a product called Digital Asset Receipt, which is intended for institutional investors to securely invest in cryptocurrencies in a fully regulated and secure manner.

There’s also BitGo, a leader in cryptocurrency security. The BitGo Trust Company has been approved by the South Dakota Division of Banking as a public South Dakota Trust Company, making it the first qualified custodian purpose-built for storing digital assets.

Third-generation blockchains are emerging

Blockchain innovation is moving quickly. Bitcoin represented the first generation of blockchains, Ethereum the second and although it’s early days, there is now a new breed of 3rd generation blockchains actively working to solve some of the technological limitations of their predecessors. These platforms are tackling significant inhibitors of usability and mainstream adoption and have better scalability, interoperability, treasury systems, and on-chain governance. Ethereum is also pursuing and implementing major improvements and overhauls to their platform.

Universities have added blockchain to their curriculum

As demand for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology-related jobs increases, demand for education and courses in these areas is reaching new highs. As a result, universities and schools are starting to offer different specializations in blockchain and cryptocurrencies. According to new research conducted by Coinbase and research firm Qriously, 42% of the world’s top 50 universities now offer at least one course on crypto or blockchain.

What does this mean for enterprises and investors?

The Hype Cycle is a model developed by Gartner to understand how emerging technologies rise, behave and grow on the journey to maturity.

If you’re part of an enterprise thinking about utilizing blockchain to optimize and transform business operations or an investor seeking investment opportunities, the Hype Cycle can be quite useful.

It should not be interpreted as gospel, or solely relied on, but enterprises and investors can use it as a guide to help decide when to act (invest/develop) alongside other due diligence. It can also assist in analyzing risks and managing expectations.

For example, investors with a low-risk appetite might want to wait until an emerging technology is more proven and mature, toward the end stages of the cycle. An investor or enterprise with a high-risk appetite that is looking for big rewards could, for example, make investments right after a technology breakthrough has just been made, during the peak of inflated expectations or at the beginning of the trough of disillusionment. In the blockchain and crypto world, this would be the equivalent of making investments in the immediate years following the release of the Bitcoin whitepaper leading up to the peak in 2017 and arguably throughout 2018 as well.

Of course, investing too late or too early both come with risks. Too late and you risk being left behind competitors or even wholly disrupted. Too early, and there is a significant risk of losing money as immature technologies yield little results and markets are not ready.

At the end of the day, every organization and investor has their own risk appetite, but this should not completely dictate their actions. This is especially true for transformational technologies like blockchain.

“If an organization operates exclusively within its comfort zone, it will miss opportunities. It will always tend to adopt everything early, or late, in line with its enterprise personality. Organizations should recognize their risk comfort zones, but be prepared to step outside them depending on the strategic importance of an innovation.” – Gartner 

As the blockchain ecosystem suffers through a downturn, it is also showing clear signs that it will overcome challenges and continue to mature. It’s arguably the best time for enterprises, and investors to act. This does not necessarily mean investing millions of dollars tomorrow morning. What’s important now is to at least invest in education so to understand:

  • How potentially valuable blockchain technology is to you or your organization.
  • How the technology is impacting your industry.
  • Where the technology is currently positioned on the Hype Cycle and the associated pros and cons. 

Final thoughts – Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

Nobody really knows precisely when blockchain technology will mature and reach mainstream adoption. Some experts have said this will happen in 2020/2021, while others point to 2025 as a more realistic timeframe.

What is becoming clearer, however, is that blockchain technology is on track to become a transformative and disruptive force. Yes, market conditions and sentiment are bad, there are many average projects out there, and some critical technological shortcomings still need to be overcome. But there are good projects and initiatives too, building great products and services and actively solving these issues.

If you zoom out a bit, get some perspective and put the current market into context, you’ll realize that blockchain is on a rather typical journey to maturity and mainstream adoption.

Did you enjoy the article? Please take a quick moment to share it with your network. Also, if you have any questions or would like to connect you can find me on Twitter or email me at [email protected] I’m always interested in meeting people working, learning, or involved with the blockchain space.

Anthony is the head of content and research at Intrepid Ventures. He has spent the past several years researching and analyzing technologies and working with a diverse mix of blockchain companies to help them gain insight and develop authoritative content.

Also published on Medium.

The Intrepid Report Issue #62 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: The US sanctioned two Bitcoin addresses, but whether the sanctions can work is another question. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on the risks and benefits of investing in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, as well as insights about the value of networks, blockchain trends, business value, … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #62 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: The US sanctioned two Bitcoin addresses, but whether the sanctions can work is another question. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on the risks and benefits of investing in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, as well as insights about the value of networks, blockchain trends, business value, and much more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

Study Shows ‘influence of press reports on cryptocurrencies is difficult to ignore’
An analysis of mainstream media coverage of cryptocurrency from 2013 to 2018 shows how press coverage and cryptocurrencies have influenced one another. Text from over 7,500 crypto-related articles from 48 national and international media outlets was analysed. Here are the results of the study.
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World’s First Two Bitcoin Addresses Sanctioned by US, But How Does This Work?
The United States government has announced sanctions on two bitcoin addresses which they claim belong to two Iranians who supposedly assisted in exchanging bitcoin ransom payments into Iranian fiat money. Can the sanctions work on a decentralised system like Bitcoin?
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Researchers Say Bitcoin Mining is Far More Green Than Reported
The usual narrative applied to cryptocurrency mining is that it’s very energy-intensive and damaging to the natural environment. Critics say that the increasing power consumed by mining outfits will lead to disastrous consequences in the future. However, a new study says we should put a brake on such notions.
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

The Risks & Benefits of Investing in Cryptocurrencies & Digital Assets
Buying, selling and renting property is expensive, slow and stressful. In this article, we’ll revisit the topic of how blockchain technology can fundamentally transform real estate and property.
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Want to be a Thought Leader in Blockchain?
Apply to be a contributor to The Blockchain Review. Reach thousands of entrepreneurs, investors and blockchain enthusiasts globally.
Contribute  Now


Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

How to Understand Value in Networks: A New Framework
This is a framework for approximating and comparing the value of your users, and ultimately, understanding the value of your whole network. If you’re a startup founder, tech investor, employee at a tech company that employs network effects, or just interested in the understanding and optimization of group formation, this is for you.
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Blockchain Trends In 2019
CB Insights examined 18 of the biggest blockchain trends, covering everything from bitcoin mining to security tokens to smart contract platforms. Can decentralized exchanges operate in tandem with US securities regulations? Can blockchain give individuals the ability to control and sell their own user data? Read the report to find out more.
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How the Blockchain Brings Social Benefits to Emerging Economies
Developing countries such as India, Kenya and others in East Africa are discovering an increasing array of applications for blockchain, the decentralized ledger technology that promises a secure, peer-to-peer mechanism for verifying information. Here are some use-cases already being implemented and adopted in these countries.
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The Business Value of the Blockchain
The sheer scope of blockchain’s potential uses means there’s something for almost everyone, from startups to major players. To measure the extent of blockchain’s business value, McKinsey analysed key metrics in more than 90 distinct use cases across multiple industries. Here’s an infographic that summarises the key findings.
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Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

Metabase Network: Developer Update #1
The Metabase engineering team has been working hard and making progress over the last few months. We have a few coding updates from our end which we would like to share with you.
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Get More Bonus Tokens by Inviting Your Friends
Earn 5% Metabase tokens when your friends buy tokens using your invite link! Simply buy Metabase tokens (min. 5 USD) and send your invite link to friends to start earning. By using your invite link, you are also giving your friends additional bonuses of 1-5% on their first purchase.
Invite Friends

Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

The Intrepid Report Issue #63 – Blockchain Review

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: ConsenSys undergoes a restructure as the crypto market crashes, and other blockchain startups also face financial troubles. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on the blockchain and crypto hype cycle, as well as insights about the trends enterprises should watch out for in 2019, and more. … Continue reading “The Intrepid Report Issue #63 – Blockchain Review”

Here’s what’s in store for you this week: ConsenSys undergoes a restructure as the crypto market crashes, and other blockchain startups also face financial troubles. We’ve got thoughts from the Blockchain Review on the blockchain and crypto hype cycle, as well as insights about the trends enterprises should watch out for in 2019, and more. Check it out below!


Key news highlights. What’s going on in the world of Blockchain?

Cryptopia In Crisis
ConsenSys has played a significant role in building the Ethereum ecosystem since its launch. However, only a handful of the spokes ConsenSys has launched have gained traction. With the recently plunging crypto prices and the lack of a well-defined organisational structure, what does the future hold for ConsenSys 2.0 as they begin to tackle these challenges?
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The Race Is On to Replace Ethereum’s Most Centralized Layer
“If we don’t stop relying on Infura, the vision of Ethereum failed.” is how Ethereum’s most popular – and controversial – technology was described. Here’s how Infura has become a bottleneck for truly decentralising the Ethereum network.
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Crypto Market Crash Leaving Bankrupt Startups in its Wake
The plunge in the cryptocurrency market is weighing on the software-development community that spawned over 1,000 digital coins amid dreams of independence from traditional financial systems and instant wealth. Read on for more about how the projects are holding up amidst the recent changes in market conditions.
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Coinbase Plans to List up to 30 New Cryptocurrencies
The $8 billion-valued company, Coinbase, trades fewer than ten cryptocurrencies to consumers but has recently announced a major expansion that could see it list up to 30 new tokens. Read on for the full list of upcoming coins.
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The latest insights, thoughts, and analysis from the Intrepid Team

Blockchain & Crypto Hype Cycle: Where We’re at and What’s Coming Next
Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency have been on a wild ride since 2008. Epic booms, busts, wild swings, scams and a lack of real-world implementation have led many to dismiss the technology as overhyped and valueless. Here’s a closer look at the journey of blockchain in the past decade and what lies ahead for the technology.
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Want to be a Thought Leader in Blockchain?
Apply to be a contributor to The Blockchain Review. Reach thousands of entrepreneurs, investors and blockchain enthusiasts globally.
Contribute  Now


Articles, white papers, ebooks, and more

The Hungry Protocol: How a Protocol Gets Fat
This post explores the different ways a tokenised protocol might look to acquire value to accelerate its network growth, including technology, talent (acqui-hire), market share (multiple verticals), and the network (nodes, dapps). The Hungry Protocol references and extends the idea that unlike Web 2, value in Web 3 will primarily be captured at the protocol layer rather than the application / market layer. Read on for how the above approach works.
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Blockchain in 2019: 4 Trends to Watch
Early attempts by corporations to experiment with blockchain or run pilot programs have encountered some obstacles. However, we’re entering a phase where early adopters will learn from initial challenges and adapt. Here are some trends you should be watching for in the months ahead, and what you can do to prepare your organisation for innovation.
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Updates on what we’re up to and our upcoming events

IDEX Listing & Code Updates
The Metabase project has continued to build over the last few months. We are happy to share two more updates before the end of 2018. Check them out here!
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Get More Bonus Tokens by Inviting Your Friends
Earn 5% Metabase tokens when your friends buy tokens using your invite link! Simply buy Metabase tokens (min. 5 USD) and send your invite link to friends to start earning. By using your invite link, you are also giving your friends additional bonuses of 1-5% on their first purchase.
Invite Friends

Want to learn more about blockchain? Check out our new micro-site How Does the Blockchain Work, a clear and non-technical guide on how blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum works, and more. Check it out.

Interested in learning from leading entrepreneurs in the blockchain world? Check out our Founders in Focus interview series on YouTube. A show where we uncover the personal stories and journeys of founders and innovators from the crypto sphere. 

What are the Different Types of Digital Assets? – Blockchain Review

Cryptocurrencies have proliferated rapidly ever since the inception of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Yet a mere decade later, cryptocurrencies have become kinda old news. A whole new digital asset class is developing which arguably represents the most significant investment opportunity since the Internet.  Understanding this emerging asset class is critical for the development of new businesses, … Continue reading “What are the Different Types of Digital Assets? – Blockchain Review”

Cryptocurrencies have proliferated rapidly ever since the inception of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Yet a mere decade later, cryptocurrencies have become kinda old news. A whole new digital asset class is developing which arguably represents the most significant investment opportunity since the Internet. 

Understanding this emerging asset class is critical for the development of new businesses, smarter investment strategies and the diversification of traditional portfolios. 

What is a digital asset?

Digital assets all contain the same fundamentals, such as the use of cryptography, P2P networking, and public/private distributed ledgers, e.g. (a blockchain). According to the International Monetary Fund, digital assets:

“are digital representations of value, made possible by advances in cryptography and distributed ledger technology. They are denominated in their own units of account and can be transferred peer to peer without an intermediary.”

What types of digital assets exist?

Cryptocurrencies

The most talked about crypto asset in the market today. A cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that uses cryptographic principles (aka computer code to secure information). Cryptocurrencies have three main purposes – means of exchange, store of value and unit of account. The most popular cryptocurrency today is Bitcoin, an open-source P2P payment system that allows transactions to get sent via a decentralized platform, without a financial intermediary. A cryptocurrency’s primary use is to provide a means of exchange between two parties with a unit of account. Bitcoin, besides its use of speculative value, allows two or more parties to send transactions to each other without an intermediary.

Stablecoins such as Tether and MakerDAI also fall into this category. In general terms, a stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that has stable price characteristics. Most stablecoins are pegged against the US dollar, and they help investors retain their trading profits without the need to withdraw into FIAT currency and hedge against market volatility. 

Crypto commodities

A crypto commodity uses fundamental cryptographic principles within a platform to allow for the creation of new, independent digital assets that can represent an entirely unique set of values. A helpful analogy is Gold. Gold as a commodity, and a gold necklace as a refined version of the commodity with different values.

The largest crypto commodity in the market today is Ethereum, an open-source distributed computing platform, and operating system. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum enables the ability to develop uncensored, decentralized applications known as dApps. Decentralized applications under the Ethereum network utilize smart contracts that can be used to differentiate from another, in the form of ERC-20 tokens. Although it could be argued that Ether, the payment system that allows Ethereum’s machines to execute requested operations, could be valued as a medium of exchange, the primary functionality of it is to provide a fungible, economic good or service.

Ethereum and SIA represent crypto commodities – a more tangible form of crypto asset that allows its blockchain platform to create value and establish new units of value.

Utility tokens

Utility tokens, also known as user tokens or appcoins, provide future or current access to a company’s products and services. These are programmable blockchain assets that have utility in an application, they are not designed as investments. Utility tokens are like digital coupons that can be used for a service that is already live, or that is in the process of being developed.

Security tokens

Security tokens primarily derive their value from an external source, usually a tradable asset. They are essentially digital, liquid contracts for fractions of any asset that already has value, like a house, a car, a painting, or equity in a company, according to Investopedia. Security tokens are subject to federal securities regulations.

Security Token Offerings (STOs), widely regarded as the next phase of the crowdfunding revolution are similar to Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) for utility tokens. The advantages of tokenization include things like increased liquidity, lower issuance fees and the fractionalization of larger assets. Tokenization also provides issuers with access to a global pool of capital.

Hybrid tokens

Are tokens that do not necessarily carry the traditional features of a security but may be valued for both practical uses on a platform and investment purposes. Hybrid tokens provide benefits for two different types of holders: participants who want to access the right to a specific product or service, and investors who hold for speculative value.

Real-world asset tokens

Real-world asset tokens are a digital representation of a tangible real-world asset. Take gold-based tokens for example. The idea is best summed up by Jim Manning –  “The token and the particular amount of gold it represents are one and the same. So while it’s not entirely incorrect to think about the token as a unit of value that derives its worth from the price of gold, it’s even more specific, as the token represents a particular piece of gold you own. The token acts like your record of ownership of an asset, effectively becoming the digital shadow that a real piece of gold casts into the virtual world.”

Why are digital assets important?

Digital assets are tipped to be a trillion-dollar opportunity for companies and investors for one simple reason. The high-speed digital economy necessitates new ways of doing business and creating wealth. Digital assets, whether you’re talking about cryptocurrencies, crypto commodities, utilities, security tokens or real-world asset tokens provide a way to digitally redesign the global economy and develop new business models, creating more efficiency and unprecedented access to new opportunities.

Overall, digital assets have the ability to transform every industry in the economy, from financial services, insurance, and healthcare to energy distribution, real estate, and manufacturing.

5 Risks You Need to Know About Before Investing in Cryptocurrencies

Did you enjoy the article? Please take a quick moment to share it with your network. Also, if you have any questions or would like to connect you can find me on Twitter or email me at [email protected] I’m always interested in meeting people working, learning, or involved with the blockchain space.

Anthony is the head of content and research at Intrepid Ventures. He has spent the past several years researching and analyzing technologies and working with a diverse mix of blockchain companies to help them gain insight and develop authoritative content.

Also published on Medium.