From theregister.ac.uk
Blockchain-fanciers have been told to stop the “sexy noises” about its use in fintech and get real – though others remain hopeful the tech can hitch its cart to the techlash bandwagon.
“The world we’re talking to only sees the crypto hype, and at the moment they’re also seeing the crypto demise,” Lisa Short, founder of Changer Inc, told attendees at the London 2019 Blockchain Week.
The event, held on 11 and 12 February, had a markedly different tone to that of 2018’s conference, where, thanks to rising Bitcoin prices, fevered bros bragged about the invincibility of their tech.
That’s not to say initial coin offerings (ICOs), crypto exchanges and tokens weren’t discussed – and the real cheerleaders remained bullish to the point of absurdity. “The blockchain is the foot soldier of decentralisation. The samurai who will slash everyone in front of it,” said Alex Mashinsky, CEO of lending platform Celsius Network, with unwavering loyalty.
Others thought that blockchain could take advantage of the growing backlash against tech titans, and help ease public concerns about fake news, data protection and brokering.