Blockchain: The potential technology for the next generation business model

Overview

With all the industries that Blockchain is poised to disrupt, one of the side effects that will come of it is a change in internet business models. There are many different classifications of these decentralized applications powering business models, each with its own set of functions and use cases. The blockchain enables decentralized ecosystem by which goods and services can be exchanged in a way that’s vastly different than what we’re used to. These ecosystems are referred to as dApps or DAO’s (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations). Blockchain are an example of a distributed computing system with high byzantine fault tolerance.

Definitions

• A blockchain is a digital distributed transaction ledger, with identical copies maintained on multiple computer systems controlled by different entities.
• The blocks that make up the blockchain consist of: groups of transactions posted sequentially to the ledger – that is, added to the chain. Blockchain ledgers can be inspected publicly with block explorers, internet sites where you can see a transactions stream by entering a blockchain address.
• Blockchain database is shared by all network nodes, updated by miners, monitored by everyone and owned and controlled by no one.
• Technology that permanently records transactions in a way that cannot be later erased but can only be sequentially updated, in essence keeping a never-ending historical trail.
• Blockchain is a disruptive technology that uses a distributed messaging protocol to create a shared ledger between trading counter-parties to validate transactions.

In 1978, Leslie Lamport is one of the founding fathers of distributed computing and distributed algorithms. “A distributed system consists of a collection of distinct processes which are spatially separated, and which communicate with each other by exchanging messages. A network of interconnected computers such as the ARPANET is a distributed system.” Key requirement in the development of distributed computing is that a system made up of distributed processes has to be able to keep functioning, even when one or several of its components have ceased to (reliably) contribute to the functioning of the system as a whole. A distributed system can function reliably by using time as a fundamental part of its reliability. As a whole, the system can only function reliably on a permanent basis when the majority of separate components of the system maintain consensus with respect to the functioning of the system as a whole. It is therefore key for a distributed system that all components involved keep a ledger of how and with whom they have performed transactions by exchanging and sharing data and information. All components must have access to information about transactions logged in the distributed ledgers, which are intended to provide an overall view of all approved transactions.

Mr. Lamport develop an algorithm that lays the foundation for reliable consensus between systems that are separated in terms of time and space. The essential idea in the solution they come up with is that to establish consensus there have to be at least three plus one components and mutual exchange of qualified messages between them. A protocol to this consensus principle was added to regulate the voting that is needed to achieve consensus between the various components within a system. This protocol, which is also known as the Paxos algorithm, addresses things such as how to handle the voting between the various components, how to record the results of the voting between the components in central and decentralized ledgers, and how to guarantee the consistency of recorded information.

After Lamport, the most widely known application of this technology so far is attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto Bitcoin.

The blockchain has several features which financial services companies find compelling.

1. Decentralized (doesn’t have a single point of failure)
2. Secure (utilizing cryptography to validate every transaction)
3. Immutable history (write-once, spend-only attribute of the ledger)
4. Efficient (exchange of information is fast and easy)
5. Transparent (everything is documented)

It is the robustness and relative simplicity of the Bitcoin blockchain that has sparked the interest of similar technology to be applied everywhere.

Some of specialized use cases popular in financial service sector are

• Currency exchange,
• Supply chain management,
• Trade execution and settlement,
• Remittance
• Peer-to-peer transfers (lending, borrowing, payments)
• Micro-payments,
• Asset registration,
• Correspondent banking and regulatory reporting

Approach

• Evaluate Proof of concept/work to explore possible potentials of existing Blockchain technologies such as
• Bitcoin
• Ethereum
• Stratis
• Open source projects
• https://www.openchain.org/
• https://www.hyperledger.org

Most of players in race are exploring various use cases as they ride the hype cycle called Blockchain.

“In five to 10 years the financial services industry will be unrecognizable, they move value, they store value, they lend value, they exchange value, they account for value, they attest to value: every one of those could be disrupted very profoundly by this technology.” : Don Tapscott

• http://www.ibm.com/blockchain/business-use-cases.html
• https://letstalkpayments.com/an-overview-of-blockchain-technology/
• http://www.digitalistmag.com/digital-economy/2016/04/18/blockchain-good-bad-business-case-04145447
• http://bravenewcoin.com/news/moodys-new-report-identifies-25-top-blockchain-use-cases-from-a-list-of-120/
• http://www.i-cio.com/big-thinkers/don-tapscott/item/why-blockchains-will-rewrite-business-models-and-revolutionize-industries

Conclusion

• Blockchain concept and technology is still evolving
• Pilots and tests being run to explore all round (360 degree) potential of Blockchain technology
• Banking, Financial services & insurance sector is wary of security issues due to various breaches till date on various blockchain implementation including bitcoin and other crypto-currencies.
• Blockchain is receiving unprecedented attention due to first successful implementation of distributed computing based up on Decentralized architecture.
• Tech industry has worst track record of only under 20% deliveries leading to production unlike other industries. Was it centralized architecture of “Stacks” reason behind it?
• Looking back to connect dots (considering all these analysis and observations, it is more logical to find why blockchain is now considered as panacea for everything in tech space and now they want to rewrite everything including internet.
• Consulting, POCs, Testing and consuming technologies from early adopters (IBM, Microsoft, TCS etc.) could be some of the “low hanging fruits”.
• Else some of these highly rated use cases could be considered for investment to keep ahead in this “new gold rush”. These and new generation business cases /use cases could be delivered by aggregating Blockchain and currently trending technologies such as AI, ML, Data Science, NLP/Cognitive science, Context aware computing, Mesh, cloud, IoT, mobility etc.