About Author:
1 Confirmation with Jeff and Dave
Julia Travers is a journalist, writer, artist and teacher. She frequently covers technology, science and conservation. See more of her work on her portfolio (jtravers.journoportfolio.com) or on Twitter @traversjul.
On January 25, 2018, Canada announced the start of a pilot digital identity program called the Known Traveler Digital Identity system (KTDI). This system relies on biometric and other personal data as well as blockchain technology to create an ID that travelers can share with authorities. The project arose out...
On January 22, 2018, the UN announced the formation of a group called the “Climate Chain Coalition” (CCC). The coalition has the specific purpose of exploring and applying blockchain technology as a tool to mitigate climate change, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals...
On January 24, 2018, the central bank of the Netherlands (DNB) released a statement addressing cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. It expressed support for blockchain technology and explained it has been studying how it might best be used since 2015. While acknowledging there are inherent investment risks in the evolving cryptocurrency...
The Sweatcoin app counts users’ steps through their smartphone and then rewards them with its own cryptocurrency: the Sweatcoin. As of January 18, 2018, it is currently No. 5 out of the App Store's free apps, only behind the new Google Arts & Culture app, Netflix, Instagram and YouTube. Fitness...
Kodak announced it was entering into a partnership with WENN Digital to launch a cryptocurrency called KODAKCoin along with a blockchain-based image rights-management platform called KODAKOne. This platform and coin are designed to create a specialized business ecosystem for photography, in which photographers and photo agencies can have greater authority...
Decentraland followed up its initial coin offering (ICO) of MANA tokens in August 2017 with a virtual land auction on December 15, 2017. Decentraland is a virtual reality (VR) universe based on the Ethereum blockchain that allows users to buy land and create a unique VR experience for themselves, their...
On December 21, 2017, cryptocurrency firm and mining company Ducatus opened the doors of the new cashless, cryptocurrency-accepting Ducatus Café in Singapore, where, according to their Facebook page, “Cafe life meshes with the Crypto life.” Ducatus said its café is the first of its kind in Singapore and unique in...
Independent artists like Casey Pearl of London are taking control of their own music brand and distribution with blockchain technology. In Pearl’s case, she has created a PEARL Token through SingularDTV’s Tokit dApp (app based on decentralized technology). This process affords her greater authority and creative freedom in regard to...
The Rohingya Project, a branch of the nonprofit Restless Beings, is issuing blockchain-based IDs to stateless Rohingya refugees. The Rohingya are an ethnic group whom have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since the 1980s and are currently suffering severe prosecution. "They are disenfranchised. They are shut out. One of the...
Content producers in China face strict regulation and censorship. Blockchain-based content distribution systems may help online creators have more control over sharing their work, but may also bring about new government guidelines. Chinese Tradition of Online Censorship In China, internet access and online material are regulated by what is colloquially...
